FCRA-Compliant · Applicant Pays · Free for Landlords

Free Tenant Screening Software for Landlords

Full credit reports, nationwide criminal checks, eviction history, and AI-powered risk scoring — FCRA-compliant and paid entirely by the applicant. You pay nothing.

Applicant pays the fee · $0 cost to landlords · Results in seconds

$0
Cost to landlords
<5 min
Average report time
6
Data sources per report
100%
FCRA compliant

Why tenant screening is free for landlords

Traditional screening services charge landlords $20–$50 per report. VerticalRent flips this model: the applicant pays the screening fee directly, the same way they pay an application fee.

This is 100% legal in all 50 states. In fact, it's the standard practice at large property management companies — now available to independent landlords.

Criminal background: applicant pays $8
Eviction history: applicant pays $8
Full credit report: applicant pays $12
Rental history report: FREE for applicants
AI Risk Score: included with your subscription
What you get vs. what you pay
TransUnion Credit Report
Full report + score
$0
landlord cost
Criminal Background Check
Nationwide
$0
landlord cost
Eviction History
All 50 states
$0
landlord cost
Identity Verification
SSN trace included
$0
landlord cost
Rental History
Previous addresses
$0
landlord cost
AI Risk Score
Plain-English summary
10 credits
landlord cost

Everything in One Report

Six data sources combined into a single, easy-to-read dashboard.

Full TransUnion Credit Report

$12

Complete credit report with score, payment history, open accounts, derogatory marks, and debt-to-income signals.

Nationwide Criminal Background

$8

Searches millions of court records, sex offender registries, and national watch lists across all 50 states.

Eviction History

$8

Nationwide eviction search across civil courts so past evictions don't become your problem.

Identity & SSN Verification

Included

Confirms the applicant is who they say they are with SSN trace and identity validation.

Rental History Report

Free

Verifiable rental history — previous addresses, landlord contacts, and length of tenancy.

AI Risk Score

Included

Claude AI reads the entire report and produces a plain-English risk summary with a 1–100 confidence score.

Powered by Claude AI

AI Risk Score cuts through the noise

Instead of wading through pages of raw data, our AI reads the entire report and gives you a plain-English summary — what stands out, what the risks are, and a 1–100 confidence score.

Flags high-risk patterns automatically
Explains findings in plain language
Contextualizes credit score against income ratio
Compares against local rental market norms
10 AI credits per score — included on paid plans
AI Risk ScoreLow Risk
82/ 100

Strong credit history (720+), no evictions, verified income at 3.8x rent. One 30-day late payment from 2022 — low concern overall.

How Tenant Screening Works

From invite to decision in under 5 minutes.

01

Invite the Applicant

Send a screening invite link from your dashboard. The applicant pays the fee directly — no cost to you.

02

Applicant Consents & Submits

FCRA-compliant digital consent is captured automatically. The applicant completes a mobile-friendly form.

03

Reports Arrive Instantly

Credit, criminal, and eviction reports land in your dashboard within seconds, along with the AI Risk Score.

04

Make Your Decision

Approve or decline with confidence. Adverse action notices are generated automatically to keep you FCRA-compliant.

Built for FCRA Compliance

We handle compliance so you don't have to

The Fair Credit Reporting Act governs how screening data can be used. VerticalRent bakes compliance into every step — from consent capture to adverse action notices.

FCRA-compliant adverse action notices generated automatically
Encrypted SSN storage — never stored in plaintext
Full audit log of every screening action
Permissible purpose documented on every order
Digital consent captured before every report
Data from TransUnion + Data Divers
Results in Seconds
No waiting for reports
FCRA Compliant
Every step of the way
Applicant Pays
Zero cost to landlords
Encrypted Data
SSN never stored plaintext
Landlord Guide
Learn more: How to Screen Tenants — Complete 2026 Guide

Step-by-step guide to running tenant background checks, setting screening criteria, and staying FCRA-compliant.

Read the Guide
FAQ

Tenant Screening Questions

Is tenant screening free for landlords?

Yes. Landlords pay $0. The applicant pays the screening fee directly — this is legal in all 50 states and is the industry standard for professional property management.

What does a tenant screening report include?

A full TransUnion credit report, nationwide criminal background check, eviction history search, identity and SSN verification, rental history, and an AI Risk Score that summarizes all findings in plain English.

How long does tenant screening take?

Most reports are returned within seconds to minutes. You'll have the full report — including the AI Risk Score — ready to review in under 5 minutes.

Is VerticalRent FCRA compliant?

Yes, fully. We capture digital consent before every screening, maintain a complete audit log, encrypt all SSN data, and automatically generate adverse action notices when you decline a screened applicant.

Can I require tenants to pay for screening?

Yes — this is legal in all 50 states. Landlords are permitted to require applicants to cover their own background check and credit report. VerticalRent handles all payment collection directly.

What credit score should I require for tenants?

Most landlords target 620+, though this varies by market. VerticalRent's AI Risk Score contextualizes the full report — credit score, payment history, eviction record, and income ratio — giving you a complete picture beyond a single number.

Start screening smarter — for free

Sign up in minutes. Applicants cover the screening fee. No credit card required.

Create Your Free Account
Free Tenant Screening Software for Landlords | VerticalRent | VerticalRent