Stop paying for background checks. VerticalRent passes the screening cost to the applicant — legally and transparently. You get the full report, they pay the fee.
No credit card · No contract · Applicant pays the screening fee
See the difference between the old way and the VerticalRent way.
What applicants pay — what landlords pay
Simple three-step process — no setup fees, no subscriptions required to start.
Create your landlord account in 2 minutes. No credit card required.
Send a screening invite link. The applicant pays their fee and consents to the background check.
The full credit, criminal, and eviction report appears in your dashboard within seconds. $0 cost to you.
Paying for screening actually benefits qualified renters.
Applicants who pay for a screening are genuinely interested. It reduces ghost applications and wasted time for everyone.
Qualified applicants want to stand out. Paying for a full report signals confidence in their own rental history.
Under the FCRA, applicants receive a copy of their own report. It's a useful record for future applications.
Yes, completely free. The applicant pays for their credit report, criminal check, and eviction history. You receive the full report at no cost.
The applicant pays: $8 for criminal background, $8 for eviction history, $12 for the full TransUnion credit report. The landlord pays $0.
You can decline to process their application. Serious applicants rarely object — requiring screening is standard practice in professional property management.
Yes, legal in all 50 states. Most states permit landlords to charge applicants the actual cost of background checks and credit reports. VerticalRent's fees are within all state limits.
Sign up free, add your property, and invite applicants. They pay their fee online, you get the full report in your dashboard. Takes under 5 minutes to set up.
Sign up in under 2 minutes. Applicants cover the fee. No cost to you — ever.
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