Screening Tenants in Canada

[Dan Jensen]

Hi BP

I am new so please forgive me if this has been answered.

I just purchased my first home (home with legal basement suite) and take possession on Dec 15th.  Part of the deal is that the basement is currently leased out, with that lease due to expire at the end of December.  I have asked the tenant to reapply for a renewal since I don't have any of his background information.  On the surface he keeps a very clean house for having a dog and having been in the suite for a year, so it would be nice the have the house hack set up from day 1.  I am using an application form that I received from a local continuing education course that I took.

The only unanswered questions I have are: How do I check a person's credit? Do I simply get a personal report/score from Equifax for the ~$30 or is there another method? Also, do you typically have the tenant pay for it and provide it, or do you do the application yourself?

I would appreciate any feedback as I would like to have this situation sorted in the next day or so.  Thanks very much.

[Account Closed]

Hello Dan, 

The easiest and most pain free way I have found to screen tenants is by using a company called Naborly. You have to pay a one time membership fee plus a yearly subscription per door, but it is only $2 per door, and they take care of absolutely everything for you, including credit scores and criminal history. The cost is the same as an Equifax credit check, but you also get a report on the applicant that gives you a recommendation for what they will do and how high of a risk they are. It was started by a Canadian in Ontario and now is used world wide. I have been using it since September and find it amazing as there is no work on your end, no more calling references or having to pull credit scores or criminal records. Check it out and I hope it helps you,