When it comes to protecting your rental property, the cheapest option is rarely the best value. A low-cost report that misses a past eviction or fails to properly verify income can end up costing you thousands in lost rent, property damage, and legal fees. The real value comes from getting accurate, comprehensive information that helps you place a reliable tenant from the start. This is where honest tenant background check reviews become so important—they reveal the true performance behind the price tag. In this guide, we’ll go beyond the sticker price to help you find a service that delivers the complete picture you need to safeguard your rental income.
Key Takeaways
- Make decisions with data, not just a gut feeling: A comprehensive screening report is your best tool for protecting your investment. Look for a service that provides a full credit history, criminal background check, and eviction records to get a clear and objective picture of every applicant.
- Create your rental criteria before you list your property: To ensure you’re complying with fair housing laws, establish your minimum requirements for income, credit, and rental history ahead of time. Applying these standards consistently to every applicant is the key to a fair and legally sound process.
- Find a service that fits your landlord style: The best screening tool depends on your needs. Whether you manage one property or fifty, consider factors like cost, must-have features, and integrations with other tools like rent collection to choose a platform that simplifies your workflow.
Why You Need to Screen Tenants
Think of tenant screening as the foundation of a successful landlord-tenant relationship. It’s not about being distrustful; it’s about being diligent. Taking the time to properly vet applicants is one of the most effective ways to protect your property, ensure consistent cash flow, and avoid future headaches. A thorough screening process helps you move beyond first impressions and gut feelings, allowing you to make an informed decision based on concrete data. This single step can be the difference between a smooth, profitable rental experience and a costly, stressful ordeal.
The Real Cost of a Bad Tenant
A difficult tenancy can cost you far more than just a few months of missed rent. The expenses can quickly spiral to include legal fees for eviction, costly repairs for property damage, and the lost income from the unit sitting empty while you resolve the issues. The problem is that traditional background checks can be unreliable. Reports often contain outdated or incorrect information, and some applicants may not even know an error exists on their record. This means you could be making a critical decision based on flawed data, putting your investment at risk without realizing it. A comprehensive Tenant Report is your first line of defense against these hidden costs.
How Screening Protects Your Investment
A robust screening process is your best tool for safeguarding your rental property. By verifying an applicant’s financial stability, rental history, and background, you get a clear and accurate picture of who you’re renting to. This allows you to confidently choose a reliable tenant who is likely to pay on time and take good care of your property. It’s about making a smart, data-driven choice that minimizes your risk from day one. For an even greater layer of security, pairing a thorough screening with a Rent Guarantee ensures your income is protected, giving you complete peace of mind.
What to Look For in a Tenant Screening Service
Not all tenant screening services are created equal. With so many options available, it can be tough to figure out which one will give you the most reliable information without creating a ton of extra work. When you’re comparing services, focus on these five key areas to ensure you’re getting a clear picture of your applicant and protecting your investment.
Accurate and Comprehensive Reports
A basic credit score doesn’t tell the whole story. You need a service that provides a complete file on your potential tenant to help you make an informed decision. Look for a tenant screening service that offers a full credit report from a major bureau like Equifax, a criminal background check, and a detailed eviction history. This combination gives you context for their financial habits and rental background. A comprehensive report helps you understand if an applicant is likely to pay rent on time and take care of your property, giving you the confidence to hand over the keys.
Fast Turnaround Times
In a competitive rental market, speed is everything. A great applicant won’t wait around for days while you process their information; they’ll move on to the next available property. You need a screening service that delivers detailed reports quickly, often within minutes. A fast turnaround allows you to verify an applicant’s qualifications and send them a lease agreement before another landlord does. This efficiency not only helps you secure the best tenants but also minimizes the time your property sits vacant, which is crucial for maintaining your cash flow.
A Simple User Experience
As a landlord, you’re already juggling a dozen different tasks. Your tenant screening tool shouldn’t add to your workload. The best platforms are straightforward and intuitive, allowing you to request a report and understand the results without any confusion. Look for a clean dashboard, easy-to-read reports, and a simple process for applicants to follow. A user-friendly experience saves you time and frustration, letting you focus on the important part: choosing the right person for your property. The process should feel seamless for both you and your potential tenant.
Built-in Legal Compliance
Navigating the legal landscape of tenant screening can be tricky. You need to adhere to privacy laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and various fair housing regulations. A top-tier screening service will have compliance built into its process. This means they handle getting the applicant’s consent, securely manage their data, and provide you with the necessary tools, like adverse action notices, if you decide to deny an application. Using a service that prioritizes compliance helps you avoid legal trouble and ensures you’re treating every applicant fairly and lawfully.
Strong Data Security
You’re handling highly sensitive personal information when you screen a tenant, including their Social Security number and financial history. It’s your responsibility to protect that data. Choose a screening service that uses robust security measures to safeguard applicant information. This not only protects your potential tenant from identity theft but also protects you from liability. A secure platform demonstrates professionalism and builds trust with applicants, showing them that you take their privacy seriously from the very beginning of your landlord-tenant relationship.
The Best Tenant Screening Services, Compared
Choosing the right tenant screening service can feel overwhelming with so many options available. Each platform offers a slightly different mix of features, pricing, and report details. To help you find the best fit for your rental business, I’ve compared some of the top players in the industry. We’ll look at what makes each service stand out, from all-in-one property management tools to specialized, human-verified reports, so you can make an informed decision.
SingleKey
SingleKey is designed to be a fast and straightforward solution for landlords who need more than just a background check. The platform delivers detailed tenant screening reports powered by Equifax, giving you a clear picture of an applicant’s credit and rental history. What really makes it different is the integration with other essential landlord tools. You can go from screening a tenant to collecting rent and even protecting your income with a Rent Guarantee all on one platform. This streamlined approach saves time and helps you manage your properties more efficiently, making it a great choice for landlords looking for a comprehensive risk management system.
SmartMove
Backed by TransUnion, SmartMove is a popular choice that leverages the power of a major credit bureau. Its reports provide landlords with a ResidentScore, which is specifically designed to predict the likelihood of a bad rental outcome. Beyond the credit check, SmartMove offers detailed criminal background reports and valuable income insights to help you verify an applicant’s financial stability. Because the applicant sends their information directly to TransUnion, it can be a secure option for tenants concerned about their personal data. It’s a solid, credit-focused service for landlords who prioritize in-depth financial and risk analysis when making their decisions.
RentPrep
RentPrep takes a more hands-on approach to tenant screening. Their standout feature is the use of human screeners to compile and review background reports, which can help reduce errors and false positives that automated systems sometimes produce. This focus on accuracy is their core business, as they don’t offer broader property management tools. You can choose from different report packages, from a basic background check to a more comprehensive report that includes credit information. If your top priority is getting the most accurate criminal and eviction data possible and you appreciate the idea of a human touch, RentPrep is a service worth considering.
Zillow Rental Manager
If you already list your properties on Zillow, using their built-in screening service is incredibly convenient. Zillow Rental Manager allows prospective tenants to submit one application for multiple listings, which can create a larger applicant pool for your property. The screening, conducted through partnerships with Experian and CIC, covers all the essentials: a full credit report, background check, and eviction history. While it may not offer the specialized features of a dedicated screening service, its seamless integration into a platform you’re likely already using makes it a practical and efficient choice for many landlords, especially those managing just a few properties.
MyRental
MyRental, another service from a major credit bureau (CoreLogic), focuses on predictive analytics to assess tenant risk. It provides a proprietary Tenant Score that evaluates an applicant based on a detailed analysis of their credit and eviction history. This score gives you a simple, at-a-glance indicator of a tenant’s potential reliability. The service also provides access to multi-state criminal and sex offender registry checks. MyRental is a good option for landlords who appreciate a data-driven approach and want a straightforward scoring system to help guide their rental decisions without getting lost in the raw data of a full credit file.
E-Renter
E-Renter is a straightforward, no-frills tenant screening service that has been around for a while. It’s known for providing reliable and comprehensive reports that cover the core needs of any landlord. Their packages typically include credit checks from major bureaus, nationwide criminal and eviction searches, and other valuable checks like Social Security number verification. While it may not have the sleek interface or integrated property management features of some newer platforms, E-Renter delivers solid, dependable information. It’s a practical choice for landlords who just want a thorough, standalone background check without paying for extra bells and whistles.
TurboTenant
For landlords looking for an all-in-one solution, TurboTenant is a strong contender. It’s a full property management platform that includes marketing, lead management, online rent collection, and, of course, tenant screening. The screening reports are comprehensive, pulling data from TransUnion to provide credit, criminal, and eviction histories. Because screening is integrated into the broader management system, you can easily move an applicant from one stage to the next. This makes it an excellent choice for landlords who want to streamline their entire rental process, from listing a vacancy to managing a signed lease, all within a single tool.
Breaking Down the Costs
Understanding the costs associated with tenant screening can feel a bit like reading the fine print on a contract—it’s easy to get lost in the details. But don’t worry, it’s simpler than it looks once you know what to look for. The price of a tenant background check can vary quite a bit between services, depending on the reports included and the pricing model they use. Let’s break down the common cost structures so you can find a service that fits your budget without sacrificing quality.
Pay-Per-Report vs. Subscription Plans
Most tenant screening services fall into one of two camps: pay-per-report or subscription-based. The pay-per-report model is straightforward—you pay a one-time fee for each screening you run. This is a great option if you only manage one or two properties and don’t need to screen tenants very often. It gives you the flexibility to pay only for what you use, without any monthly commitment.
On the other hand, if you’re a property manager or a landlord with a larger portfolio, a subscription plan might be more cost-effective. These plans typically involve a monthly or annual fee and might include a set number of reports per month or offer a discount on each report you purchase.
Watch Out for Hidden Fees
When you’re comparing services, it’s important to look beyond the advertised price. Some companies bundle everything into one neat package, while others use a more à la carte approach where the costs can add up quickly. A basic package might only include a credit check, with extra fees for criminal background and eviction history reports.
Before you commit, read through the pricing details carefully. Are there setup fees? What exactly is included in each tier? Some services might seem confusing, but taking a few extra minutes to understand the full cost will save you from surprises down the road. A slightly higher price might even be worth it if it means you get better support, like having a real person help verify information that’s hard to track down.
Who Pays for the Report?
Here’s some good news: in many cases, you don’t have to pay for the screening report at all. The most common model today is the “tenant-pays” system. With this setup, you invite the prospective tenant to apply through the screening service’s platform, and they pay the application fee directly. This approach is a win-win. It makes the tenant screening process free for you, and it also acts as a great filter for serious applicants. Someone who is genuinely interested in your property and confident in their rental history is usually more than willing to cover the modest fee. This streamlines the process and shifts the administrative and financial responsibility to the applicant.
How to Get the Best Value
Finding the best value isn’t just about finding the lowest price. The real value comes from getting accurate, comprehensive information that helps you place a reliable tenant and protect your investment. A cheap report that misses a crucial detail, like a past eviction, could end up costing you thousands in the long run.
When choosing a service, look for one that offers the essential reports you need—credit, criminal, and eviction history—in a clear, easy-to-read format. The best services also provide helpful tools, strong data security, and a simple user experience. Ultimately, investing in a quality screening service is one of the smartest moves you can make for your rental business. It’s the foundation for a successful tenancy and helps you protect your rental income from the start.
Must-Have Screening Features
A thorough tenant screening report is more than just a single score; it’s a complete picture of your applicant. While it’s tempting to rely on a credit score alone, that number doesn’t tell you the whole story about their reliability or how they’ll treat your property. The best services bundle several key checks into one easy-to-read report, giving you all the information you need to make a confident decision. Think of it like putting together a puzzle—each piece provides a different clue, and only when they’re all assembled can you see the full picture.
This comprehensive approach helps you move beyond gut feelings and base your choice on objective, verifiable data. By looking at everything from credit history and income to past evictions and criminal records, you can assess an applicant from multiple angles. This isn’t about digging for dirt; it’s about performing your due diligence to find a responsible, qualified tenant who is a great fit for your property. A comprehensive screening report protects your investment, ensures a safer community for your other tenants, and ultimately saves you from the stress and financial strain of a bad rental situation. When you’re comparing services, make sure they include these essential features.
Credit Reports and Scores
Think of a credit report as a detailed look into an applicant’s financial habits. It shows you their history of paying bills on time, how much debt they carry, and if they have any accounts in collections. This is crucial because a history of responsible payments often translates to paying rent on time. Most landlords rely on reports from trusted bureaus like TransUnion, which provide a reliable overview of an applicant’s financial health. A good screening service won’t just give you a score; it will provide the full report in an easy-to-understand format, helping you see the story behind the number while ensuring the entire process is compliant with privacy laws.
Criminal Background Checks
Your top priority is keeping your property and your community safe, and a criminal background check is a fundamental step in achieving that. This check searches national and local databases for relevant criminal history, giving you insight into an applicant’s past. It helps you identify potential risks and make an informed choice about who you trust with your property. Reputable screening services conduct these checks carefully, ensuring the information is accurate and that you are acting in compliance with fair housing regulations. This isn’t about being judgmental; it’s about performing due diligence to protect your investment and your other tenants.
Eviction History
Past behavior is often the best predictor of future behavior, and this is especially true when it comes to renting. An eviction history report is one of the most important parts of any tenant screening, as it tells you if an applicant has ever been formally removed from a property by a previous landlord. An eviction is a significant red flag, as the process is costly and time-consuming, and it often signals serious issues like consistent non-payment of rent or major lease violations. A service that provides a nationwide eviction history check gives you a much clearer picture of an applicant’s reliability than their self-reported rental history alone.
Income and Employment Verification
An applicant might look perfect on paper, but if they can’t consistently afford the rent, you’re heading for trouble. Income and employment verification confirms that an applicant has a stable and sufficient source of income to cover their rental obligations. Many landlords use the “3x rule,” where the applicant’s gross monthly income should be at least three times the rent. Modern screening platforms can instantly verify income by securely connecting to an applicant’s bank account or by using AI to analyze pay stubs. This saves you the hassle of manual checks and significantly reduces the risk of accepting fraudulent documents.
Identity Verification
Before you dive into someone’s financial and rental history, you need to be absolutely sure they are who they claim to be. Identity verification is the critical first step in preventing rental fraud. Scammers often use stolen or synthetic identities to secure a lease, only to disappear without paying rent, leaving you with a vacant unit and a major headache. A reliable screening service will use advanced methods, including cross-referencing government-issued IDs with official databases, to confirm an applicant’s identity from the start. This simple check protects you from sophisticated scams and ensures the person you’re screening is the one who will be living in your property.
Rental History
While a credit report shows financial responsibility, a rental history report reveals what an applicant is actually like as a tenant. This involves checking their record with previous landlords to ask the important questions: Did they pay rent on time? Did they take good care of the property? Were they a respectful neighbor? Did they give proper notice before moving out? While some services can help automate reference checks, this report gives you qualitative insights you can’t find anywhere else. It helps you understand an applicant’s track record and whether they’ll be a responsible, long-term tenant for your property.
Document Authentication
In a world of easy-to-use editing software, fraudulent documents like fake pay stubs and altered bank statements are becoming more common. Document authentication is a must-have feature that uses AI-powered technology to analyze uploaded files for signs of tampering. This advanced check can spot inconsistencies that the human eye might miss, giving you confidence that the financial information you’re basing your decision on is legitimate. Using a service with built-in document authentication adds a powerful layer of security to your screening process and helps you stay one step ahead of potential fraudsters.
How to Screen Tenants Legally
Screening tenants is about more than just finding someone who will pay rent on time and take care of your property. It’s also a process governed by specific laws to protect both you and the applicant. Getting this part wrong can lead to serious legal and financial headaches. The good news is that staying compliant is straightforward when you know the rules and use the right tools. Let’s walk through the key legal considerations you need to keep in mind.
Follow FCRA Guidelines
Whenever you use a third-party service to run a background or credit check, you must follow the rules of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This federal law regulates how consumer credit information is collected, accessed, and used. For landlords, this means you need to get an applicant’s written consent before running a credit report. It also means you have specific obligations if you decide to deny their application based on what you find. Using a professional tenant screening service is the easiest way to stay on the right side of the FCRA, as these platforms are built to handle the entire process securely and ensure you meet all legal requirements.
Comply with Fair Housing Laws
The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. To comply, you need to establish a consistent set of screening criteria and apply it equally to every single applicant. For example, if you require a minimum credit score or a certain income-to-rent ratio, that standard must be the same for everyone. Documenting your criteria and your process is the best way to protect yourself and demonstrate that you’re making decisions based on objective business reasons, not personal biases. This creates a clear, defensible record if your decision is ever questioned.
Know Your State and Local Laws
While federal laws provide a baseline, many states and even cities have their own landlord-tenant laws that add another layer of rules. These can affect everything from the maximum application fee you can charge to the types of questions you’re allowed to ask. For instance, California law limits the screening fee a landlord can charge to a specific amount, which is adjusted for inflation annually. Other areas might restrict asking about criminal history from long ago. Before you even list your property, take some time to research the specific landlord-tenant regulations in your area to ensure your screening process is fully compliant from start to finish.
Protect Applicant Privacy
When a potential tenant fills out an application, they’re trusting you with a lot of sensitive personal information, including their Social Security number and financial history. You have a legal and ethical obligation to protect that data. This means storing paper applications securely and using a screening service with strong data security measures. At SingleKey, we prioritize data privacy and compliance with credit bureau regulations, so you can be confident that your applicant’s information is handled with the highest level of security, protecting both them and your business.
Send Adverse Action Notices Correctly
If you decide to deny an applicant based on information found in their screening report—or if you approve them but with conditions, like requiring a co-signer or a larger deposit—you must send them an adverse action notice. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, many landlords fail to do this correctly. The notice must inform the applicant of the decision, provide the name and contact information of the screening company you used, and let them know they have the right to dispute the information and get a free copy of their report. Using a platform that provides templates or automates this step can help you handle this critical communication properly.
How to Choose the Right Service for You
With so many tenant screening services available, picking the right one can feel overwhelming. The truth is, the “best” service isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It really depends on your specific needs as a landlord, the size of your portfolio, and how you manage your properties. Think of it like finding the right tool for a job—you wouldn’t use a hammer to turn a screw. To find the perfect fit, you need to assess your own requirements first. The following points will walk you through exactly what to consider so you can choose a service that protects your investment and simplifies your life.
Consider Your Portfolio Size
The needs of a landlord managing a single-family home are very different from those of a property manager overseeing a 50-unit apartment building. If you’re just starting out or have a small portfolio, you’ll likely want a service that’s affordable and straightforward, offering comprehensive reports without a hefty subscription fee. For those managing a larger number of properties, scalability becomes key. You might need a platform with enterprise-level features that can handle volume, offer team access, and provide more advanced analytics. Before you start comparing services, take a moment to evaluate your current portfolio and where you see it going in the next few years. This will help you filter out options that are either too basic or too complex for your situation.
List Your Must-Have Features
Not all screening reports are created equal. To avoid paying for features you don’t need or, worse, choosing a service that misses a critical piece of information, make a list of your non-negotiables. What information do you absolutely need to feel confident in your decision? For most landlords, this list includes a full credit report, a criminal background check, and an eviction history search. You might also decide that income and employment verification are essential for your process. Having a clear list of must-haves will make it much easier to compare services and find a tenant screening solution that gives you the complete picture you need to make a sound, legal decision.
Look for Key Integrations
Think about your current rental management process. Are you looking for a specialized tool that only handles tenant screening, or do you want an all-in-one platform that streamlines your entire workflow? Some services focus exclusively on background checks, and they do it very well. Others integrate screening into a larger property management system that also includes tools for online applications, digital lease signing, and even automated rent collection. An integrated platform can save you a lot of time by keeping everything in one place, reducing manual data entry and simplifying communication. Consider which approach best fits your management style and existing toolset.
Evaluate Customer Support
When you’re trying to fill a vacancy quickly, the last thing you want is to get stuck with a technical issue and have no one to turn to. Customer support might not be the first thing you think of, but it can make or break your experience with a screening service. Before committing, check what kind of support options are available. Do they offer phone, email, or live chat support? What are their hours of operation? A service with responsive and helpful customer support is invaluable, especially when you’re dealing with sensitive information or tight deadlines. Think of it as a safety net—you hope you won’t need it, but you’ll be incredibly relieved it’s there if you do.
Read User Reviews
One of the best ways to get an honest look at a tenant screening service is to see what other landlords are saying about it. While a company’s website will highlight all the best features, user reviews on third-party sites and forums like Reddit offer real-world insight into the user experience. Look for patterns in the feedback. Are landlords consistently praising the platform’s ease of use and quick turnaround times? Or are there frequent complaints about inaccurate reports or a clunky interface? Reading reviews will help you understand a service’s true strengths and weaknesses, giving you a much clearer idea of what you can expect before you sign up.
Best Practices for a Smooth Screening Process
Finding the right tenant screening service is a huge step, but how you use it matters just as much. A thoughtful and consistent process not only helps you find a great tenant but also protects you legally and builds a positive reputation. By implementing a few best practices, you can make your screening process more efficient, fair, and effective. It’s all about creating a system that works for you and your applicants, ensuring every decision is based on clear, objective information. This approach minimizes stress and helps you confidently choose the best person for your property.
Standardize Your Process
The best way to ensure fairness and consistency is to create a standard screening process and stick to it for every single applicant. This means using the same application, running the same set of reports, and asking the same follow-up questions. When you have a repeatable system, you reduce the risk of unconscious bias and make your decisions easier to defend if they’re ever questioned. Using a comprehensive tenant screening service is the easiest way to do this. It ensures you get the same high-quality, detailed report for everyone, giving you a reliable baseline for comparing applicants and making an informed choice.
Set Clear Criteria
Before you even list your property, decide on your ideal tenant qualifications. What is your minimum credit score? What income-to-rent ratio are you looking for? Do you have specific policies on pets or smoking? Establishing these criteria upfront and applying them uniformly to every applicant is essential for complying with fair housing laws. You can even pre-screen tenants using a set of initial questions to make sure they meet your basic requirements before moving forward. Having these benchmarks in place removes guesswork and helps you evaluate each application objectively, ensuring a fair process for everyone involved.
Keep Good Records
Meticulous record-keeping is a landlord’s best friend. Hold onto every application, screening report, and piece of communication (like emails or text messages) for every person who applies, not just the one you choose. These documents serve as proof of your standardized process and can be invaluable if a rejected applicant files a discrimination complaint. A good tenant screening platform will help you keep all this information organized and accessible in one place. This habit might seem tedious, but it provides a crucial paper trail that can protect you from potential legal disputes down the road.
Communicate Professionally
Maintaining professional and timely communication throughout the screening process shows respect for your applicants’ time and effort. Keep them updated on the status of their application, and be clear about your next steps. If you decide to deny an applicant based on information in their screening report, you are often legally required to send them an adverse action notice. This letter explains the reason for the denial and provides the contact information for the reporting agency you used. Even if it’s not required, it’s a professional courtesy that helps maintain transparency and protects your reputation as a fair landlord.
Maintain Compliance
Navigating the legal landscape of tenant screening can feel complex, but it’s non-negotiable. You must adhere to federal laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair Housing Act, as well as any state and local regulations. The easiest way to stay on the right side of the law is to use a screening service that is fully compliant. These services understand the legal requirements and build them into their process, from getting proper consent from applicants to providing legally sound reports. This helps you screen tenants legally and securely, giving you peace of mind that your process is both thorough and compliant.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who usually pays for the tenant screening report? In most cases, the applicant pays for the screening report. The most common setup is a “tenant-pays” model where you invite the applicant to fill out their information through a secure platform, and they pay the service directly. This is a great system because it costs you nothing and also serves as a good filter, ensuring that only serious candidates complete the application process.
What do I do if I have to deny an applicant based on their report? If you decide not to rent to someone because of information in their screening report, you are legally required to send them an “adverse action notice.” This is simply a formal communication that informs them of your decision, names the screening company you used, and lets them know they have the right to see the report and dispute any errors. A quality screening service will often provide templates or automate this step to help you handle it correctly and professionally.
Is a good credit score all I really need to look at? A credit score is a helpful starting point, but it doesn’t give you the full picture. Someone could have a great score but also have a recent eviction, which is a major red flag. A comprehensive report that includes eviction history, a criminal background check, and income verification gives you the context needed to make a truly informed decision. It helps you understand an applicant’s history of financial responsibility and their track record as a tenant.
How can I be sure I’m treating all applicants fairly? The best way to ensure fairness is to establish your rental criteria before you even list your property and then apply those standards consistently to every single applicant. Decide on your minimum income requirements, credit score, and other qualifications ahead of time and document them. This creates an objective system for evaluating everyone, which protects you from accusations of discrimination and helps you make sound business decisions.
What if a great applicant has no credit history or is new to the country? This is a common situation, especially with students or recent immigrants. In these cases, you can place more weight on other parts of the application. Focus on verifying their income and employment, and be diligent about checking their references. Some screening services also offer specialized tools, like international credit checks, which can give you the verified information you need to confidently assess applicants from abroad.