Massachusetts Screen Service or Process?

Question

Good Morning Everyone!

I am currently stuck on the Screening process when I am reviewing applications.

I am having a hard time trying to find a good tenant screening service that works best for Massachusetts and is fairly cost-effective. So, it doesn't hurt as much when they are rejected.

Also, if the applicant provides me a copy of their recent credit report from CreditKarma or such, I'm wondering if I still need to do a credit screening on the applicant, .

Does any one have any recommendation and/or advice for a Tenant screening service or process they use? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

Ryan Barone · Answer

@Thomas Phu if it's a helpful to do what you want, you can invite them to prequalify and then request a screening from the prequal.  That way, they don't have to do a full application and you can get the screening you want

Brad Hammond · Answer

Hey @Thomas Phu, I do the same thing.  I have a paper application they fill out and email back to me.  Once they complete that stage and I have verified employment and previous landlords, I will send them a link for the background/credit check.

My general rules are a credit score of 620 or higher (average for everyone that is financially responsible on the lease), no evictions, makes 3X the rent, and no violent or financial felonies.  Your criteria might be different depending on the type of property, and how much interest you are getting in the property.  I use cosigners as extra insurance if an applicant doesn't have quite enough of one qualification on their own.

Brad Hammond · Answer

Hi @Thomas Phu, I use Cozy for tenant screening. It costs $40 for criminal and credit checks and the tenant pays it themselves. Depending on what is common in your area, you should be charging the applicant an application fee of around $50.

The general rule is not to allow people to provide you with their own credit reports because they could be falsified.

Thomas Phu · Answer

@Filipe Pereira Hey Filipe, I really appreciate you for looking out and mentioning that. I definitely am aware of the fact that in the state of MA, landlords can't charge an application fee. I have been telling my applicants that I do not charge for application fee and I tell them upfront + on listing + on prescreening interview that I require to do a background/credit check and that will require a fee and that is sent to them and they can wish to proceed if they still desire to.

Please let me know what you think, and what you think I should do going forward. Thanks so much

Filipe Pereira · Answer

Hi @Thomas Phu , one thing I've noticed in this thread is that no one has mentioned that it is illegal to charge an application fee in the state of Massachusetts. Whatever you are doing to screen the tenant, make sure you are not the one charging for the background / credit check. You can make these reports a requirement as a part of the application, but you really have to allow the tenants to provide their own and can't force them to use a particular one if there is a cost tied to it.

Thomas Phu · Answer

I just found out Massachusetts does not allow screening services to pull criminal data, we have to manually go to the police department to obtain such information.

Thomas Phu · Answer

@Sam Horton Hey Sam, I wanted to use Rentredi but my applicants were applying through paper applications and Rentredi didn't have the option to send applicants just a screening request. So I would have to make the applicants reapply through Rentredi inorder to process the screening.

Also, I researched on https://masslandlords.net/tena... for which screening service checks off all the boxes for the state of MA and saw that TransUnion didn't include the MA criminal check, In which is the screening service Rentredi uses. Zumper is lacking in that as well, based on what Masslandlord article stated.

Please let me know if I wrong with any of this info, keep me honest!

Sam Horton · Answer

@Thomas Phu We use RentRedi & Zumper. Can I ask why you are trying to get away from RentRedi?

Thomas Phu · Answer

@Brad Hammond Hey Brad, thanks so much for your response and advice! I have been looking into Cozy screening service and I am currently using Rentredi and I was wondering for Cozy does it require the applicant to apply through Cozy (because i used Paper applications) first or can I send an invitation to Screen for their background/Credit?

Thank you for the rule of thumb advice on credit screening because i was actually wondering about that as well.

Massachusetts Screen Service or Process?

Most Popular Reply