Best Background Check for Tenant Screening: A Complete Guide for Landlords

Why Tenant Background Checks Matter

Every landlord knows the nightmare scenario: a tenant who seemed great during the showing stops paying rent, damages the property, or needs to be evicted. The average eviction costs over $30,000 when you factor in legal fees, missed rent, and property damage. Even worse, nearly 1 in 3 rental applications contain fraudulent details.

A thorough background check is your first line of defense. It's not about being suspicious of every applicant—it's about making informed decisions that protect your investment and ensure a positive rental experience for everyone involved.

What Does a Tenant Background Check Include?

Before diving into specific services, you need to understand what you're actually looking for. The most comprehensive tenant screening reports include several key components:

Credit History and Score

Most landlords set a minimum credit score requirement between 600-670. While good credit is technically considered 700-749, most renters have lower-than-average scores because they don't have mortgage loans boosting their numbers. Beyond the score itself, look for patterns: Are there late payments? Collections accounts? The credit report tells a story about financial responsibility.

Criminal Background Check

Criminal searches typically scan multiple databases including county records, national databases, and sex offender registries. Important note: some jurisdictions limit how far back you can look or what types of records can be reported. Always check your state and local laws before making decisions based on criminal history.

Eviction History

This is critical for landlords. An eviction record search reveals whether your applicant has been formally evicted from previous rentals. Past evictions are one of the strongest predictors of future problems.

Employment and Income Verification

Most landlords require tenants to earn 2.5-3x the monthly rent. Some services offer automated income verification through bank statements or payroll records, while others require you to verify employment manually by contacting employers directly.

Identity Verification

With rental fraud on the rise, verifying that your applicant is who they claim to be has become essential. Modern screening services often include face-matching technology or knowledge-based authentication questions.

Top Tenant Screening Services Compared

Here's an honest breakdown of the major players in tenant screening:

TransUnion SmartMove

SmartMove is TransUnion's official screening solution, giving you direct access to their massive credit and eviction databases. They offer three tiers: SmartCheck Basic at $25 per screening (includes ResidentScore and criminal report), SmartCheck Plus at $40 (adds credit and eviction reports), and SmartCheck Premium at $47 (includes income insights). Most results arrive same day. The main drawback is that the fees can be higher than competitors, which may discourage some applicants from applying.

TurboTenant

TurboTenant is popular among DIY landlords because the screening is free for property owners—tenants pay $45-55 depending on your plan tier. Beyond screening, you get property management tools including listings, applications, lease generation, rent collection, and maintenance tracking. The platform is particularly good for landlords who want an all-in-one solution without paying monthly fees.

Zillow Rental Manager

If you're already listing on Zillow, their tenant screening integrates seamlessly. The application and screening reports are free for landlords, with renters paying a $35 fee. That fee lets applicants apply to unlimited participating rentals for 30 days, which can increase your applicant pool. Zillow partners with Experian for credit reports and Checkr for background checks.

RentPrep

RentPrep is a solid choice for landlords who need bulk screening (discounts start at 50+ reports). Their full report runs $40 per applicant and includes credit, criminal, eviction, and the TransUnion ResidentScore. The downside is you can't charge tenants directly—you'll need to collect the fee yourself.

Avail

Avail bundles TransUnion credit reports, background checks, and eviction reports. Pricing varies by location due to state-specific landlord-tenant laws. The platform also includes rent price analysis and digital lease templates. However, customization is limited, and you're restricted to TransUnion data only.

What to Look for Beyond the Big Services

While dedicated tenant screening platforms are useful, there are situations where you need additional verification. This is where general-purpose background check tools become valuable.

For quick preliminary checks or to verify information applicants provide, try our free Background Checker tool. It generates comprehensive reports with trust scores that help you assess overall credibility—useful for cross-referencing information before paying for a full tenant screening report.

Sometimes you also need to verify contact information. If an applicant provides a phone number for their "previous landlord" reference, you want to make sure it's actually the landlord and not their friend covering for them. Our Mobile Number Finder can help verify whether phone numbers match the people they claim to belong to.

The Legal Side: What You Must Know

Tenant screening is heavily regulated. Here's what you need to stay compliant:

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

All legitimate screening services must be FCRA-compliant. This means you need written consent from applicants before running checks, and you must provide "adverse action notices" if you deny an application based on the report. The notice must include the name of the screening company and inform applicants of their right to dispute inaccurate information.

State and Local Laws

Many jurisdictions have additional requirements. Some states limit how far back criminal records can be reported. Others restrict what you can charge applicants for screening fees. A few cities have "ban the box" laws that prevent asking about criminal history on initial applications. Always research your specific location's requirements.

Fair Housing Considerations

Your screening criteria must be applied consistently to all applicants. You cannot use background checks to discriminate based on protected characteristics. Having written, documented screening criteria that you apply to everyone is your best protection.

How to Build an Effective Screening Process

Here's a step-by-step approach that balances thoroughness with efficiency:

Step 1: Pre-Screen Before You Screen

Don't waste money on full background checks for unqualified applicants. Use your rental listing and application to filter out candidates who don't meet basic requirements (income threshold, no smoking, etc.). A quick phone screening can also reveal issues before you invest in formal reports.

Step 2: Require a Complete Application

Your rental application should collect: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number (with consent), current and previous addresses, employment information, income documentation, and references from previous landlords.

Step 3: Run the Background Check

Choose your screening service based on your needs. For occasional screenings, pay-per-report services like SmartMove work well. If you're managing multiple properties, platforms like TurboTenant or Avail that integrate screening with property management may save time.

Step 4: Verify References Manually

Don't skip this step. Call previous landlords directly—and verify you're actually reaching the landlord, not someone the applicant asked to pose as one. Ask specific questions: Did they pay rent on time? Did they leave the property in good condition? Would you rent to them again?

Step 5: Trust Your Gut (Within Legal Bounds)

Numbers don't tell the whole story. An applicant with a lower credit score but a solid explanation and strong landlord references might be a better bet than someone with perfect credit but evasive answers. Just make sure your decisions are based on legitimate business reasons, not protected characteristics.

Red Flags to Watch For

Beyond what shows up in formal reports, experienced landlords learn to spot warning signs:

• Pressure to rush: Applicants who push for immediate approval without proper screening often have something to hide
• Inconsistent information: Details that don't match between application, conversation, and verification
• Reluctance to provide references: Good tenants are happy to let you contact previous landlords
• Cash-only requests: While not always a red flag, unwillingness to pay by traceable methods deserves scrutiny
• Gaps in rental history: Where did they live during those missing months?

What If You Find Problems?

Not every issue in a background check should be an automatic rejection. Consider:

Context matters: A bankruptcy from seven years ago during a recession is different from chronic financial mismanagement. A single old misdemeanor is different from recent repeated offenses.

Mitigating factors: Can the applicant provide additional references? A co-signer? A larger security deposit (where legally permitted)?

Documentation: Whatever you decide, document your reasoning. This protects you if your decision is ever questioned.

Beyond Initial Screening

Smart landlords think beyond the initial background check. Consider:

• Requiring renter's insurance: Protects both you and the tenant from liability
• Clear lease terms: Spell out expectations about maintenance, noise, guests, and lease violations
• Regular communication: Tenants who feel comfortable reporting small problems prevent them from becoming big ones

For landlords who also work in B2B sales or recruiting, the same verification skills apply across contexts. Our Email Verifier helps ensure the contact information you're working with is valid—whether for tenant communications or professional outreach.

The Bottom Line

The best background check for tenant screening is one that gives you comprehensive, accurate information while staying compliant with all applicable laws. For most independent landlords, a service like TurboTenant, SmartMove, or Zillow Rental Manager will cover the essentials at a reasonable cost.

But don't rely solely on automated reports. The best screening processes combine technology with human judgment: verify references, ask good questions, and pay attention to how applicants communicate throughout the process.

Spending 30-60 minutes on thorough screening can save you months of headaches—and tens of thousands of dollars—down the road. That's an investment that pays for itself many times over.