Is it legal (or a good idea whatsoever) to reimburse screening fees?

[Allende Hernandez]

Hello fellow landlords,

The properties in question are in a market that although it is not cheap, it draws lots of money-cautious tenants. I am foreseeing a bit of a push back or even turned-off potentially decent tenants by the $50/pp screening fee, mostly for a family of 4 ($200 out of pocket).

I was wondering if offering a credit of either 50% or the full 100% of the screening costs from the first or second month's rent is a good idea.

Thought?

Thank you as usual!

[Alecia Loveless]

@Allende Hernandez I credit back the amount for the screening on my first month’s rent. I only screen those 18+ so usually it’s only 2-3 people.

The credit back helps set me apart from other landlords in the area.

Typically the first set of tenants I screen are the ones who end up in the unit due to prescreening activities like my application and making sure I meet them.