Criminal Background Check for Tenants — $5 per report · $5 verification becomes 1 credit
VerticalRent searches 2,800+ active jurisdictions and 2.4 billion criminal records nationwide. See offense type, date, disposition, and state of record — FCRA compliant, with adverse action notices included.
Any single report is 1 screening credit ($5). Platinum includes identity and 1 report each month. Applicant-pays is available on invites.
Records sourced directly from courts through bulk data purchases, internal aggregation of public records, and third-party data providers — cleaned, deduplicated, and regularly re-aggregated to stay current.
What Shows Up on a Tenant Criminal Background Check
VerticalRent searches nationwide criminal databases and returns structured results for each of the following record types.
Felony convictions
Federal and state felony convictions, including violent crimes, drug offenses, and financial crimes.
Misdemeanor convictions
Including dismissed or expunged records where state law permits reporting.
Sex offender registry
Nationwide sex offender registry search covering all 50 states and federal registry.
Offense date and disposition
Not just 'convicted' — the full outcome, including acquittals, guilty pleas, and sentencing.
State of record
The jurisdiction where the offense occurred, essential for evaluating severity under applicable law.
Case and docket number
Official case identifiers for independent verification with the originating court.
What does NOT show up:
- Arrests without conviction (in most states)
- Offenses beyond the 7-year lookback (where state law limits reporting — CA, NY, KS, MD, MA, MT, NH, NM, WA)
- Expunged records where state law requires their removal from reports
How Our Criminal Background Check Works
From order to results in under 5 minutes — fully FCRA compliant at every step.
Landlord places the order
Order a criminal background check after you verify. Criminal alone is 1 screening credit ($5). Applicant-pays is available.
Applicant submits electronic consent
FCRA requires written consent before running any background check. VerticalRent collects consent electronically, with a timestamp and IP address for your audit log.
System searches 2,800+ jurisdictions simultaneously
We search 2.4 billion criminal records spanning 2,800+ active jurisdictions across all 50 states — federal records, state repositories, and sex offender registries. Data is sourced directly from courts and regularly re-aggregated to stay current.
Results returned in 2–5 minutes
You receive a structured report showing every match: offense type, date, disposition, jurisdiction, and docket number.
AI interprets results in the Risk Score
The Platinum AI Risk Score reads offense type, severity, recency, and pattern — then synthesizes criminal, eviction, and rental history into a 0–100 score. Credit reports are not live.
Adverse action notice auto-generated if denying
If you deny the application based on the criminal check, VerticalRent automatically generates the FCRA-required adverse action notice — saving you from a compliance mistake.
Criminal Background Check + AI Risk Score
A criminal background check returns raw data. VerticalRent's AI Risk Score interprets it. A DUI from 2009 with no subsequent offenses is a very different risk signal than a fraud conviction from 2023. The AI reads offense type, severity, recency, and pattern — then synthesizes it with eviction and rental history into a 0–100 risk score with a plain-English explanation. Credit reports are not live. Risk scores are landlord Platinum.
Example AI Interpretation
“One misdemeanor assault from 2017, no subsequent criminal history in 7 years. Pattern suggests isolated incident rather than ongoing risk. Combined with strong rental history and no eviction records, overall risk classification: Low-Moderate.”
AI Risk Score is landlord Platinum ($5/mo) and costs 10 AI credits — it is not included in the report price. Learn how AI screening works →
FCRA Rules for Using Criminal Records in Tenant Screening
Violating FCRA when screening tenants can expose you to lawsuits and regulatory penalties. Here is what you must know.
FCRA Compliance Requirements
- You MUST get written consent before running a criminal background check on any applicant.
- You CANNOT categorically deny all applicants with criminal records in many jurisdictions — HUD guidance and local "ban the box" laws require individualized assessment.
- You MUST send an adverse action notice before formally denying an application based on criminal records.
- The 7-year lookback rule applies in some states (CA, NY, KS, MD, MA, MT, NH, NM, WA) — older records may not be reportable.
- VerticalRent handles consent collection and adverse action notices automatically — protecting you from the most common FCRA mistakes.
See our full compliance guide: FCRA Compliance Checklist for Landlords →
Criminal Check Pricing
Any single report is 1 screening credit ($5). Platinum includes identity and 1 report each month.
Screening Report Prices
Criminal Background Check
2,800+ jurisdictions · 2.4B records · felony + misdemeanor + sex offender
Criminal + Eviction
2 credits when you order both. Rental history is included when paired. Credit reports are not live.
Rental History / SSN Trace
Free for renters every 6 months. Included when paired with a paid report — not a standalone $0 landlord order.
Applicant-pays option
Send a link — applicant pays directly
Compare Criminal Background Check Providers
Any single report is 1 screening credit ($5). A $5 identity check becomes 1 credit. AI Risk Score is Platinum (10 credits) — not included in the screening package.
| Feature | VerticalRent | SmartMove | RentPrep | MyRental |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per report | $5 | $25–$38 | $18.95–$34.95 | $24.99–$39.99 |
| Nationwide coverage | ||||
| AI Risk Score | ||||
| Applicant-pays option | Limited | |||
| Adverse action notice | Auto | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| FCRA compliant |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a criminal background check for a tenant cost?
Any single report is 1 screening credit ($5). A $5 identity check becomes 1 credit. Platinum includes identity and 1 report each month. Credit reports are not live.
What shows up on a tenant criminal background check?
Felony and misdemeanor convictions, sex offender registry, offense date, disposition, and state of record. Does not show arrests without conviction or expunged records where state law requires removal.
Can I deny a tenant based on a criminal record?
In many jurisdictions, blanket denial based on any criminal record is not permitted under HUD guidance. You must evaluate the nature, recency, and relevance of the offense. Consult your state's specific landlord-tenant laws.
Is a criminal background check required for tenant screening?
Not legally required, but strongly recommended. Eviction history and criminal background are the two most predictive factors for tenancy risk.
Does VerticalRent's criminal check cover all 50 states?
Yes. We search 2,800+ active jurisdictions across all 50 states, covering 2.4 billion criminal records including federal records, state repositories, and sex offender registries nationwide.
Run Your First Criminal Background Check Today
Any single report is 1 screening credit ($5). Platinum includes identity and 1 report each month. Results in under 5 minutes. FCRA compliant with adverse action notices included.
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