New Tenant Screening, do you make the applicant pay?

[Jenna Columbus]

Good Morning Everyone,

I wanted to learn what other folks are using for tenant background, credit and criminal checks. Our current process is thru a website called Avail and that has been pretty smooth but the application comes with a $45 fee paid for by the applicant. I know it's essential to get all these reports run but I feel like the $45 fee scares folks off along with the process of applying online. We switched to this process a few years ago because of the convenience on our end with no paperwork.

Would you suggest also adding a paper application back into the mix at the time of showing for the applicant to fill out? If so, would I still be able to charge the applicant for there background checks? Do you have any sites that you would recommend that do good work but have a lessor fee of $45 per applicant.

All feedback and suggestions are welcome!

[Joe A.]

@Jenna Columbus I’ve also noticed that some people aren’t willing to pay the application fee, so they pass on my rentals. What I do now if I’m having trouble renting a property is to offer their fee back in the first month’s rent. So, two people moving in would pay the $80 application fee ($40 per person since I use Cozy) and then get $80 off their first month’s rent. As long as I have that amount in cash flow, I’m ok with doing that.