Tenant Background Check Services for Landlords and Property Managers
A tenant background check shows who is about to sign your lease. We verify identity, then search criminal, eviction, bankruptcy, lien and judgment records, for $45.
FCRA-compliant reports, usually within 24 hours. No setup fee, no contract, and the applicant can pay for their own screening.
Fair housing first: Screen every applicant by the same written standard. Then, judge each record on its own, not by a blanket rule.
Evictions Are Expensive. A Tenant Background Check Is Not.
An eviction is slow and costly. Legal fees, lost rent, damage and disputes with neighbors add up fast. Moreover, a tenant can often stay for four to six months while the case proceeds.
Most problem renters leave a trail in the courts: prior evictions, judgments, liens and bankruptcies. Consequently, a $45 report usually shows the risk before anyone signs the lease.
The applicant gives you a name, date of birth and Social Security number. Then, our analysts cross-check every name, alias and address in the applicant’s history. Importantly, we search evictions, liens and judgments by hand, not by database alone.
What a $45 Tenant Background Check Includes
One package, one price, no hidden fees and no long-term contract. The report is built on public records, which show what an applicant has done.
| Search | Scope | Lookback |
|---|---|---|
| SSN trace | Aliases, former names and past addresses (SSN required) | Full history |
| Nationwide criminal database search | Courts, corrections and agencies in 56 jurisdictions | Varies by source |
| Sex offender search | All state registries | Current |
| USA Patriot Act / OFAC / SDN | Federal sanctions and watch lists | Current |
| Bankruptcies | Nationwide federal bankruptcy courts | 10 years |
| Evictions | Statewide, searched by hand under every name and address | 7 years |
| Tax liens and civil judgments | Statewide, searched by hand | 7 years |
| Credit history (optional) | Credentialed commercial clients only, extra fee | 7 years |
Price: $45.00 per report. Turnaround: 24 hours or less for most reports. Credit history is not part of the standard report; see the FAQ.
Tenant Screening for Every Kind of Rental
The same report serves a single rental house and a 300-unit portfolio. However, each owner uses it a little differently.
- 1
Multi-unit owners
One bad tenant can wipe out the income from several good ones. Screen every applicant, and apply the same criteria to each.
- 2
Single-family landlords
You may rent one home and meet the applicant once. Therefore, the public record is your best witness. Self-pay screening keeps your cost at zero.
- 3
Mobile home and RV parks
Park residents are often retirees or cash payers with thin credit files. Our mobile home park screening page explains why we report records, not scores.
- 4
Property managers
Brand the applicant portal with your logo, publish your criteria, and let applicants pay. Additionally, credentialed firms can add credit history.
- 5
Renters, too
Rental scams start with a fake landlord and an empty house. A real property search shows who owns the home and whether a foreclosure is pending.
- ✓
Every applicant, the same way
Fair housing law covers all of the above. Write your criteria down, give them to applicants, and apply them without exception.
How Self-Pay Tenant Screening Works
Let the applicant pay for their own tenant background check. You send a link; the finished report lands in your account. Furthermore, an application fee tends to deter problem renters before they apply.
- 1
Send the secure link
Email the applicant a secure link from your account. Alternatively, place one global link on your leasing website so every applicant uses it.
- 2
Customize and brand
Add your logo and adjust the wording of the consent form. The applicant sees your name, not ours.
- 3
The applicant submits and pays
The applicant enters their details, uploads a valid photo ID and pays online. Therefore, you type nothing and hold no card data.
- 4
Receive your report
Our analysts complete the report, usually within 24 hours, and post it to your secure account. Then, you review it against your written criteria.
FCRA and Fair Housing Rules for Landlords
A tenant background check is a consumer report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Fair housing law applies on top of it. Here are both in plain language.
1. Get written consent
Obtain the applicant’s written permission before you order. Our compliance forms page has the disclosure and authorization, and the self-screen portal collects it for you.
You also need a permissible purpose; a rental application is one.
2. Apply criteria consistently
The Fair Housing Act bars discrimination in rental housing. Use the same criteria for every applicant.
Furthermore, HUD’s 2024 screening guidance asks you to publish your criteria and limit lookback periods. It also says to ignore arrests without conviction and weigh each record on its own.
3. Send adverse action notices
If you decline an applicant because of the report, send a notice. It must name us and say that we did not make the decision. It must also explain the right to a free copy and to dispute (FTC guide for landlords).
HUD also recommends that you state which standard the applicant missed.
Tenant Background Check: Frequently Asked Questions
What does a tenant background check include?
Our $45 report starts with an SSN trace that lists aliases and past addresses. Then, it adds a nationwide criminal database search, a sex offender search and the OFAC list. Additionally, it covers nationwide bankruptcies for ten years, and statewide evictions, tax liens and civil judgments for seven years. Credit history is available as an extra for credentialed commercial clients.
How long does a tenant background check take?
Most reports finish within 24 hours or less. The database searches return within hours. However, our analysts search evictions, liens and judgments by hand under every name and address. Therefore, the full report usually lands the next business day. Common names can take a little longer.
Who pays for the screening, the landlord or the applicant?
Either. You can order the report from your account and pay $45. Alternatively, use Self-Pay, Self-Screen. You send a secure link, the applicant enters their details and pays, and the report posts to your account. Many landlords charge an application fee that covers the cost.
Can a private landlord get a credit report on a tenant?
Through us, only credentialed commercial clients, such as property management companies, can add credit history, for an extra fee. The credit bureaus require an on-site inspection and other paperwork for access. Private landlords can still screen with the public records in the standard report. Moreover, HUD’s 2024 guidance warns against overreliance on credit history.
Is a tenant background check FCRA compliant?
Yes, when you follow the rules. A tenant report is a consumer report under the FCRA. Therefore, you need the applicant’s written consent before you order, and a permissible purpose. If you decline the applicant because of the report, you must send an adverse action notice. Our forms page has the consent form.
What is a name variation algorithm, and why does it matter?
Databases match on exact name and date of birth. Consequently, a maiden name, a nickname or a typo can hide a record. Our name variation algorithms search three spellings at once, and the SSN trace adds every former name and address. Consequently, the report finds records a plain name search would miss.
Can I deny an applicant because of a criminal record?
Sometimes, but not with a blanket rule. HUD’s 2024 guidance says blanket bans are likely to have an unjustified discriminatory effect. Instead, weigh the nature of the offense, how old it is, and whether it relates to tenancy. Furthermore, verify any database hit at the county court before you rely on it.
Can a renter check a landlord before paying a deposit?
Yes. Rental scams start with someone who poses as the owner of an empty home. Our real property search shows who owns the property and whether a foreclosure is pending. A renter can also check the landlord’s criminal history before handing over a deposit.
Start Screening Applicants Today
Open your free account with BCS Background Screening LLC in minutes. Then, pay $45 per report, or let your applicants pay for their own screening.
All user accounts offer optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) security.
Disclaimer: This page offers general information, not legal advice. FCRA, fair housing and state landlord-tenant rules change, so consult legal counsel before you set screening criteria. Database records stay unverified until the source confirms them.