How do I screen a tenant?

Help Center For Landlord Operations with Tenant Tenant Screenings

Tenant screening is a process used primarily by residential landlords and property managers to evaluate prospective tenants. The purpose is to assess the likelihood the tenant will fulfill the terms of the lease agreement and will also take great care of the rental property in question. The process culminates in a decision as to whether to approve or decline the applicant.

Please note! Insular areas and freely associated states are not allowed to request screening reports.

Our software provides four screening packages powered by TransUnion: Full Check Report ($39), Full Check Plus (45$) Background Check Report ($25), and Credit Check Report ($30).

Full Check Report (39$) includes:

  • National Criminal Search
  • Instant State Data
  • National Sex Offender Data
  • OFAC/Most Wanted Searches
  • SSN Verification/Address History
  • Bankruptcies Search
  • Full Credit Report with Resident Score
  • National Eviction Search

Full Check Plus (45$) includes:

  • National Criminal Search
  • Instant State Data
  • National Sex Offender Data
  • OFAC/Most Wanted Searches
  • SSN Verification/Address History 
  • Bankruptcies Search
  • Full Credit Report with Resident Score 
  • National Eviction Search
  • Income Insights

Please note! Income Insights won’t be visible to tenants.

Background Check (25$) includes:

  • National Criminal Search
  • Instant State Data
  • National Sex Offender Data
  • OFAC/Most Wanted Searches

Credit check (30$) includes:

  • SSN Verification/Address History
  • Bankruptcies Search
  • Full Credit Report with Resident Score

Please note! To proceed with the screening, a landlord has to activate the listing website, add a property and their listings will be shown on the landlord website:
How do I activate and edit content on my landlord website?

To be able to list rentals on Zillow and other partners' marketing websites LL/PM has to pass the verification of their identity and list each unit on Listing websites:

How do I verify my account?
How do I list a unit to Marketing websites?

NOTE! Marketing websites are available for properties based in the USA. It is possible to screen only US residents.

If you would like to receive rental applications online, you have to activate “I want to receive rental applications online“ toggle button on Rental Application Settings:
How do I invite tenant to apply online?

Or you can add an application manually and then run screening:

Or you can request a Full Check Plus screening report once listing a rental. While listing a rental, agree to require tenants to get screening. In this case, the prospective tenants won’t be able to submit their rental application without the screening report:

Or you may want to invite to apply potential applicant available in your leads section:

To proceed with screening, select Applications in the left-side menu of your dashboard. You’ll see the list of new rental applications submitted by potential tenants or created by you manually. Press "Request screening report" for the applicant you want to screen:

Choose the report that suits your needs:

Additionally to the Full Check Report, you can get Income Insights information for $6 (Full Check Plus) to be informed whether the income information provided by rental applicants matches the income information reported with their screening.

Select who will pay for the report by clicking on "I'd like to pay" or "Request from tenant", fill in all the required data, and complete the necessary steps for the screening:

Once the request is submitted, you will see a pop-up window informing you that the screening request has been sent to the applicant, who will be notified via email about further steps. When the report is complete, you will also be notified via email.

The grey diagram around the applicant's photo indicates the screening has been requested for this tenant. When the screening is "Ready", there is a multi-colored and active diagram around the applicant's photo and you can view the Credit score on it:  

If you paid for the report, a temporary hold (3 days) will be placed on your card. You’ll only be charged for the successfully completed reports.

The screening will be generated as soon as the prospective tenant will complete their identity verification. The Screening report is available for an applicant and a landlord for a period of 30 days. Press on “View ” to open it. The records are divided into tabs and relevant sections:

You may also print and download a PDF version of the report:

 

Last updated:
Jun. 8, 2023

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