The Ernakulam Rural police have issued an advisory making it mandatory for those renting out their properties to ensure police verification of their tenants to avoid legal issues.

Landlords can either apply for the certificate of Non-Involvement in Offences (NIC) online or by approaching the office of the District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) or the police station concerned. As per the dashboard of e-services of the Kerala Police, Ernakulam district has a disposal rate of 98.94% in terms of NIC Certificates, with 48,184 certificates issues against 52,240 applications. While 555 applications are being processed, 3,501 applications have been either rejected or returned.

The move assumes significance, especially in the wake of the drive against irregular migrants within the Ernakulam Rural police limits. Around 40 suspected irregular migrants from Bangladesh have been rounded up by the police so far this year.

“However, police verification is not limited to migrants alone but is applicable to local tenants as well. This would help landlords avoid legal consequences in the event their tenants end up in some criminal offences in the future. We have been insisting on that during our public interactions, besides warning labour contractors,” said District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) Vaibhav Saxena.

He cited how a convict who had jumped parole or a man exiled under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act could rent a property thus implicating unsuspecting landlords. Sources said that suspected irregular migrants accompanied by their families were more likely to find rental properties in residential areas than single migrants, who often preferred labour camp-style accommodations with many occupants in a single building.