Tenant screening - how much do they have to pay?

[Jonny Morris]

Good morning all, 

Tightening up my rental process and developing the tenant screening stage. BP wrote a brilliant and informative article on "Tenant Screening" - which I have mostly digested. My question is really to reach out to the experienced members and hopefully gain an insight into your "systems". 

To clarify...

1) I have interested potential tenants. 

2) I have shared my 'standards' e.g. earn x3 the rent, no evictions etc

3) Set up a viewing for next week.

4) If they like the place, offer my rental application (from the BP site - specifically for my state). 

5) Use SmartMove to screen. 

My question is: 

Which option should I be using? Is $40 standard for an application? The less comprehensive option ($25 - credit based resident score and National Criminal Background Report)

If unsuccessful, what are your 'fair housing' tips/tricks to soften the blow of letting someone know they weren't chosen and you won't refund the $40/$25.

Many thanks as always, 

[Matt K.]

Run the most qualified first, they are responsible for it. No reason to run anyone after the first unless the first fails.

A few years back some people got busted for churning tons of people through applications with nothing to lease them, like tons and tons of people. Think they also added in some auto enroll for credit monitoring to get even more money.