Usually when we talk about landlord-tenant disputes, the complaints are against the landlord.

But a new Web site allows landlords to go online and post information about tenants who trash property, don't pay rent or create other problems they think other landlords should know about.

It's called DoNotRentTo.com, a way to help determine if a potential renter is a suitable candidate. In effect, it's a bad tenant database.

"I think what's going on here is they're trying to get unbiased information from a prior landlord," said Seattle attorney Chris Benis.

Benis represents the Rental Housing Association, a local landlord group. I had him review the site, with permission from the site operators.

Here's what it says about one local renter: "Complete lunatic. Don't even think about it."

Another posting accuses a local tenant of knocking holes in walls, leaving floors saturated with cat urine and skipping out on the lease. But the site shows that landlord collected rent from that tenant for nearly ten years.

"What I don't understand is why one couldn't call a prior landlord anyway," said Benis. "To me, the real question is whether or not this particular person had a pattern of not honoring their obligations in life. That's what I look to when I'm renting to folks."

Benis is not impressed.

"I wouldn't encourage one of my clients to post information on this site," he said.

Local tenant advocates worry about landlord abuse. Seattle-based Solid Ground sees the potential for retaliation, with landlords using unsubstantiated claims to discriminate against tenants.

I called DoNotRentTo owner Joe Collins in Michigan and asked about landlord screening. He told me landlords are advised to make sure they have documentation to verify their comments.

Collins does not screen landlord comments, but says if information is found to be incorrect it is immediately removed and the landlord's membership to the site is permanently revoked.

Right now it costs $30 to join the site and Collins says anyone can be a member, even renters who want to see if their names are in the database. Collins tells me many landlords are signing up, including landlords from this area.

Benis points out that if a landlord rejects your application based on screening, they are legally required to disclose the screening service in question so you can follow up and see what's being said.

DoNotRentTo.com says anyone who feels they've been denied unfairly based on inaccurate or misleading landlord posting can contact the site and site managers will investigate the landlord's documentation.