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Most often the applicant will pay for the tenant screening reports themselves. However, ultimate level members get to choose whether the applicant or the landlord will pay! 

Very carefully. Let’s face it, with technological progress, we will see an advance in fraud. That makes identity verification a must when it comes to tenant screening reports. 

However, when using the tenant background check services through the Spark Landlord Landlord App, the credit bureau Experian’s Precise ID  verifies all rental applicants. This verification happens not only through the renter applicant’s identifying information (name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number, etc.) but also through their recent credit history and transactions.

Spark Rental takes privacy and security extremely seriously. Our website meets Level 1 PCI Compliance, extremely powerful SSL encryption, and we even partner with ThreatMatrix to maximize security.

Once you invite an applicant to complete a tenant background check
1. They will be taken to an online portal where not only will they fill in a rental application online (that you can print).
2. The rental applicant will be asked for all sorts of Information, including contact Information, address history, employment, any other income, assets, liabilities. They will also supply references, asked if they have pets and what kind of car they drive. All topped off with the names of all occupants, and an electronic signature providing authorization to run all background checks.
3. They will go through a verification process, just to be sure they are who they say they are.
4. And then payment is made

The credit report results in a soft inquiry on your applicant’s credit, so it doesn’t hurt their credit score, or even show as an inquiry on their report.

Yes, yes and did we say yes? A good tenant credit report score is an excellent measure. However, it should never be the only one.

How will you know if your renter applicant will take good care of the property? How do you know if your tenant applicant has a good, strong employment history?  A credit score will not provide these answers.

That is why we strongly urge landlords and property managers to not only speak to the current landlord but also the one before.

Make sure you ask these landlords questions such as:
1. How did the applicant care for the property?
2. Did you have to make any deductions from the security deposit?
3. Did the renter cause any nuisance complaints?

Similarly with the employer. Besides verifying the income, ask other important questions.
1. How long was so-and-so employed?
2. Do they show up for work every day?

The idea is to get as much of a background as possible to eliminate possible problems later.

Of course. We make it easy for to save off a PDF version of the rental application or print it directly within Spark Rental. When viewing the applicant, there is an option to “Download (PDF)”.

You can either run the reports instantly or request them to be tenant-authorized.

However, if you choose to run an instant tenant credit report, you will need a one-time site inspection. It’s the law! If you choose this route, there is a set-up charge.

However, you DO NOT need an inspection to run tenant-authorized credit reports including, criminal and eviction reports instantly. This means that your tenant goes through an easy process all done online to verify information and complete a free rental application.

Not only can you charge the tenant screening reports directly to the applicant, so you don’t even have to collect an application fee but it in many ways it is much easier all around.