Know who you're renting to. Before you hand over the keys.
One bad tenant can cost thousands in unpaid rent, damage and legal fees. Landlord Studio runs a full TransUnion SmartMove check, so you decide on facts, not gut feel.
What's in a Landlord Studio tenant screening report?
Everything you need to make a decision, from TransUnion, in one report. It's a soft credit inquiry, so it won't affect your applicant's score.
Credit report
Accounts, balances, payment history and collections from TransUnion.
ResidentScore®
A 350–850 score built to predict evictions, not just credit risk.
Criminal background check
Nationwide criminal records, searched in every report.
Nationwide evictions
Past eviction filings and judgments, wherever they rented.
Bankruptcies
Any bankruptcy records on file for the applicant.
Address history
Previous addresses to check against their application.
SSN verification
Confirms the SSN belongs to your applicant, without you seeing it.
Identity verification
Applicants prove who they are before the check runs.
Screen an applicant in three steps
You send one email. Your applicant does the rest, and the report lands in your account.
Enter your applicant's email
No SSNs or sensitive data for you to collect.
They verify and consent
Your applicant gets an email to verify their identity and authorize the TransUnion check.
You get the report
Usually within 30 minutes of your applicant finishing their part.
See a screening from invite to report
Watch how to invite an applicant, what they fill in, and where the finished report shows up in your account.
One report fee. You choose who pays it.
No subscription needed to screen. Pass the fee to your applicant and it costs you nothing, or cover it yourself.
Screening works on every plan, including free Go for up to 3 units. Pro also adds bank feeds and tax reports, from $12/month billed annually.
*Free when your applicant pays the report fee. Some states and cities limit what you can charge applicants, so check your local rules before passing the fee on. Results usually arrive within 30 minutes of the applicant completing their part.
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"I realized that QuickBooks wasn't quite sufficient and I started to look around for an affordable tool to replace my spreadsheets and chose Landlord Studio."
Texas, USA
“My dad’s 75 and has over 20 units – Airbnbs, apartments and commercial. We needed a software to help us and Landlord Studio’s been the one. It’s made it so easy for him.”
Ohio, USA
"I tested out several other programs before purchasing Landlord Studio and I'm very happy with it so far. One of my favorite features is the ability to just snap a picture of a receipt and put it in the correct rental unit expense."
Chicago, USA
"Managing 20 rentals alone was overwhelming, but Landlord Studio became my one-stop shop. It simplified bookkeeping, rent, leases, and taxes — even my CPA loves it."
Tallahassee, USA
"I found Landlord Studio so much easier to understand after I looked at AppFolio, RentRedi, and Buildium. All three of them were so hard to understand."
North Carolina, USA
Guides
Screen tenants with confidence
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What Does A TransUnion SmartMove Report Show?
TransUnion Smartmove tenant screening helps landlords identify the best tenants for their rentals with accurate credit, criminal, and eviction reports.
What Is A Tenant Screening Report? Plus Examples
A tenant screening report provides landlords with essential information on prospective tenants so they can make informed tenant selection decisions.
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Best Tenant Screening Questions to Find Reliable Renters
Discover the best tenant screening questions to ask potential renters, so you get the information you need to reduce risk and secure great tenants fast.
The Landlord’s Guide To Tenant Screening
Tenant screening is an essential step in selecting a tenant. In this article, we explore how to screen tenants and what to look for in a great tenant.
Best Tenant Screening Questions to Find Reliable Renters
FAQs
Questions landlords ask before screening
Cost, consent, timing and what's in the report, answered.
What is the purpose of tenant screening?
Tenant screening helps you choose a tenant with confidence. A report shows a renter's credit history, financial stability and past rental behavior, so you can reduce the risk of late payments, property damage and costly evictions.
How much does tenant screening cost?
Screening is free for landlords. Each report costs $45 on Pro or $55 on Go, and you choose whether you pay or pass the fee to your applicant. Some states and cities limit what you can charge applicants, so check your local rules.
What's included in a tenant screening report?
A full TransUnion credit report and score, ResidentScore, nationwide criminal background check, nationwide evictions, bankruptcies, address history, SSN verification and identity verification.
Can I run a background and credit check on tenants?
Yes. Every report combines a criminal background check with a credit check: a nationwide criminal search, nationwide eviction and bankruptcy records, and a full TransUnion credit report with ResidentScore. Screening is free for landlords, and you can pass the report fee to your applicant.
How long does a tenant screening report take?
Usually as little as 30 minutes after your applicant completes their part. You get an email when the report is ready, and you can view it on desktop or in the app.
Do I need the applicant's permission to run a screening report?
Not under federal law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) lets a landlord get a screening report when someone applies to rent, so the written-consent rule that applies to employment checks doesn't apply here. Some states and cities add their own rules, so check yours.
With Landlord Studio, your applicant authorizes the TransUnion SmartMove check themselves and enters their own details, including their Social Security number.
Is tenant screening required by law?
No. Tenant screening isn't legally required, but it's standard practice for landlords. A screening report helps you avoid high-risk tenants and gives you a record to support your decision if it's ever questioned. If you do screen, apply the same criteria to everyone, and send an adverse action notice if you turn an applicant down based on the report.
Will screening affect my applicant's credit score?
No. The TransUnion SmartMove check is a soft inquiry, so it doesn't affect the applicant's credit score.
Do I have to collect their Social Security number?
No. Your applicant enters their own details directly, so you never collect, see or store their SSN.
Why screen with Landlord Studio instead of buying a report directly?
Cheaper direct packages often leave out the credit report or eviction records. Landlord Studio reports include a TransUnion credit report, ResidentScore, and nationwide criminal and eviction records, and they sit alongside your leases, rent collection and accounting.
How many applicants should I screen?
Screen every adult who will live in the property, and use the same criteria for every applicant. Some states limit the fees you can charge applicants.