Before running the credit/background checks I always check references, facebook pages, and the state criminal website: http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/default.aspxI don't collect any application fee, they just pay as mentioned above.

I graduated from college in 2017 with a degree in safety management and criminal justice.

I've used RentPrep for background checks (they do job history, credit, eviction, criminal search, call prior landlords, etc) for a few years and have been very pleased with their service. 

It is a crime and doing so warrants very serious criminal charges being brought against you on federal, state, and/or local levels.

It offers background, criminal, employment, credit, previous addresses and known aliases.  

The girlfriend has enough income herself to qualify by herself and has no criminal history.

It is liveable, and we have a friend who will be living in it to basically babysit it, so local criminals don't target it.

Read up on that criminal P.O.S. .

Criminal fines and judgments aren't dismissed by bankruptcy.Is it worth it to take shortcuts for a few dollars?

I primarily want to verify identity and criminal history.Since I can't run an application on the company, I usually charge a higher deposit of double or triple the rent or I will ask them to pay first, last, and deposit.I also try to negotiate a cleaning fee and use my professional cleaner after vacating.