Table of Contents
- What are tenant criminal background checks?
- What does a rental background check show?
- How do I get a tenant screening report?
- Best tenant screening services
- Best personal background check services
- How to do a background check on renters
- How long does a background check take for an apartment?
- Find out what's on your criminal record
- Average turnaround time
- Frequently asked questions about tenant background checks
Tenant screening is a process typically used by landlords and property managers to evaluate prospective renters during the leasing process. It can involve collecting information about an applicant and aggregating insights, such as credit, rental, background, and income-related data to help inform leasing decisions.
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What are tenant criminal background checks?
Tenant criminal background checks collect and review information about a tenant before entering into a rental agreement. The main reason that landlords and property management companies perform background checks is to mitigate risk—landlords want to know who they’re renting to so they can feel confident that their new renter will take care of their properties, pay rent as promised, and be a safe neighbor to current tenants. Ordering a tenant criminal background check and other background screenings provides landlords with information that they can use to make informed decisions about whether to accept or reject a rental application.
What does a rental background check show?
The information a renter background check shows varies based on the types of background screenings the landlord requests, but they often include the following standard screenings:
Criminal record
A criminal background check may include records of felony and misdemeanor convictions, violations, active warrants, and infractions at the federal, state, and local levels, depending on the scope of the background check.
Credit history
A credit background check may show the potential tenant’s credit score, payment history, current debt ratios, and recent credit inquiries.
Employment verification
An employment verification confirms position and job titles, dates of employment, and employment status. Where allowed by law, an employment verification may also include salary information.
Rental history
A rental history may include previous addresses and landlords or information about past evictions or related legal issues.
Income verification
An income verification is used to assess a potential tenant's ability to afford rent and meet their financial obligations. Landlords typically request various documents to confirm an applicant's income, such as paystubs or bank statements.
Run background checks on tenants
Are you a current tenant or applicant? Run self background checks here>
How do I get a tenant screening report?
You can run a background check on yourself to get a tenant screening report. Doing so lets you see what information a landlord may receive when running a tenant background check. This way, you’ll know what to expect and have an opportunity to dispute inaccuracies or provide context to any information in question.
Ordering a personal background check with Checkr is simple and results are often available within minutes. You can order a personal background check that includes:
- Social Security number (SSN) trace searches databases, like lending institutions, utilities, schools, and credit card companies, to provide basic information about a Social Security number such as associated names and addresses.
- Sex offender registry check searches registries from all 50 states, Washington DC, and US territories. The results may include the offender’s date of registration and current status.
- Global watchlist search searches multiple domestic and international government and regulatory databases for individuals who are prohibited from certain industries or included on "most wanted" criminal lists.
- National criminal search searches a collection of nationwide databases to identify potential records, which may include felony and misdemeanor convictions, pending cases, and other interactions with law enforcement that did not result in a conviction.
- County criminal search searches the nearly 3,200 counties in the US to report felony and misdemeanor convictions and related information, such as charge, disposition, and sentencing.
Best tenant screening services
Landlords have several options when choosing to conduct tenant background checks with a third-party provider. Here’s a look at the top three tenant screening services.
1. Checkr
Checkr is introducing a new tenant screening offering designed for property owners and managers, bringing together application data and screening insights into a single, streamlined workflow. As part of this early release, reports may include criminal history signals, with identity verification, credit history, and income verification capabilities currently in early access. This service is intended to help landlords more easily review prospective tenants and make informed leasing decisions, while expanding functionality over time as additional features become available.
Run background checks on tenants
Are you a current tenant or applicant? Run self background checks here>
2. TransUnion
SmartMove® by TransUnion is a tenant background screening solution for landlords. The reports may include a tenant’s credit, criminal, and eviction history as well as income information and identity verification. Landlords can choose whether to pay for the report or require the tenant to pay the screening cost.
3. E-Renter
E-Renter is a tenant screening service designed for landlords and property management companies, offering tenant background checks that may include a criminal record search, credit reports, eviction records, sex offender search, and identity verification. The company also offers free resources for landlords, such as background check forms and templated leases for houses and apartments.
Best personal background check services
1. Checkr
With Checkr, you can be informed and empowered with your personal background check results to see what landlords may see. Reports may include an SSN trace, sex offender registry check, global watchlist search, and national and county criminal searches. You can easily order your background check and review the results in the secure, online portal.
2. TruthFinder
TruthFinder enables individuals to conduct a personal background check online that includes a comprehensive search of public records, criminal records, social media profiles, and more. TruthFinder's reports may encompass details such as contact information, location history, criminal and traffic records, and associated social media accounts.
How to do a background check on renters
The easiest way for landlords or property management companies to conduct a background check on renters is to use a consumer reporting agency (CRA) that offers background checks for individuals. A landlord background check gathers the necessary information to make an informed decision about a rental application without the added time required for manually researching background information.
How long does a background check take for an apartment?
The turnaround time for a background check for an apartment can vary, but in most cases, the process is complete in one to three days. Some factors that can affect the turnaround time include the availability of online records and the scope of the background check; complex background screenings may take longer.
Find out what’s on your criminal record
As a tenant, knowing what’s on your criminal record is essential. Running a tenant background screening on yourself allows you to address inaccurate information with the CRA that performs the check. And while it doesn't replace an official background check, proactively supplying a prospective landlord with a copy of your own background check may help set you apart from other tenants.
With Checkr, you can quickly order a tenant criminal background check on yourself. Our pricing and intuitive platform make ordering a personal background check affordable and straightforward. Get started with a personal background check.
Average turnaround time
Type of screening | Average turnaround time |
Employment background check (a more comprehensive report that typically includes multiple screenings) | >1 hour to 1–5 days |
Criminal background check | 1–3 days |
Employment verification | 1–3 minutes (quick verification) to 2–7 days (manual entry) |
Reference checks | 2–5 days |
Driving record (MVR) check | >1 hour to 1–3 business days |
Drug testing | 10 minutes (onsite) to 3–10 days (lab-based) |
Frequently asked questions
How do landlords run background checks on tenants?
The most straightforward approach is to use a consumer reporting agency (CRA) that offers tenant screening services. Platforms like Checkr, TransUnion SmartMove, and E-Renter let landlords request reports without manually researching each applicant. The CRA gathers and compiles the information, so landlords can review it in one place.
How long does a tenant background check take?
In most cases, results are available within one to three days, but the turnaround time can vary based on the scope of the screening and the availability of online records. More complex checks may take longer.
Can I run a background check on myself before applying to rent?
Yes. Running a personal background check lets you see what a landlord is likely to find, so you can address any inaccuracies with the reporting agency before they affect your application. Checkr offers personal background checks that may include an SSN trace, national and county criminal searches, a sex offender registry check, and a global watchlist search. Results are often available within minutes.
What is the difference between a personal background check and a landlord-ordered tenant screening?
A personal background check is one you order yourself, primarily to preview your own record. A landlord-ordered tenant screening is requested by the property owner or manager as part of the rental application process. Both draw on similar data sources, but the landlord-ordered report is used to make a formal leasing decision.
Who pays for the tenant background check?
It varies by landlord and platform. Some landlords cover the cost themselves, while others pass it on to the applicant. Many screening services allow landlords to send an invite directly to the applicant, who then pays the fee and completes the authorization steps on their own.
How should I choose a tenant screening service?
Look for a service that covers the types of checks you need, returns results quickly, and doesn’t complicate the process for you or the applicant. Checkr is introducing a tenant screening offering that brings application data and screening insights into a single workflow. TransUnion SmartMove and E-Renter are also established options that include criminal, credit, and eviction history reports.
Disclaimer
The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.
Hayley Harrison began her career as a hiring manager at a mid-size regional bank in the Pittsburgh area. She now brings her experience and knowledge of hiring best practices to her work as a freelancer, helping employers refine and improve their processes.
