Yes — tenant consent is legally required before running a credit check or accessing any sensitive personal information. At SingleKey, we ensure this step is built into the process to protect both the applicant and the landlord.
🔐 Why Consent Matters
A credit check is a form of a background screening that involves accessing private financial data. According to privacy laws in Canada, written consent is mandatory before pulling a credit report. Without this, the report cannot be generated.
📄 Uploading Consent Manually
If you’re manually entering a tenant’s information using the “Enter Tenant Information” option, you will be required to upload a consent document as part of the process. This document is often collected through a signed rental application form.
Make sure the consent form includes:
-
The tenant’s full name
-
Their signature
-
Permission to run a credit check
-
Date of consent
📧 Using the “Create Invite” Option
If you don’t have a signed consent document, you can use the “Create Invite” option instead. This method sends an email to the tenant, prompting them to:
-
Enter their personal information directly
-
Review and digitally consent to the credit and background check
This approach ensures consent is securely collected without requiring paperwork on your end.
🔍 Optional: Use the Pre-Screening Tool
Want to gather more information before requesting a full report? You can also use our “Pre-Screening” tool, which allows you to:
-
Collect preliminary details from the applicant
-
Decide if you want to proceed with a full credit check
-
Request consent later in the process if needed
In Summary
-
Yes, tenant consent is required.
-
You can either upload a signed form or use our digital invite to collect consent.
-
Our tools are designed to make this process easy, compliant, and secure.
For any questions about how to properly collect consent, feel free to contact us at info@singlekey.com. We’re happy to help.