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Tenant Screening — My Rental Spot
🔍 Property Manager Feature

Tenant Screening

Comprehensive background checks powered by TransUnion. Credit reports, criminal history, and eviction records — all for $30 paid by the applicant. Zero cost to landlords and property managers.

$30
Applicant Pays
TransUnion
Powered By
3 Reports
Credit • Criminal • Eviction
Spot reviewing screening checklist with magnifying glass
$30
per applicant

💰 Applicant-Paid Screening — $0 for Landlords

The $30 screening fee is paid entirely by the renter/applicant during their application. Property managers and landlords never pay for screening. This applicant-paid model ensures you only receive applications from serious, qualified renters who are invested in the process. The fee covers all three TransUnion reports: credit, criminal background, and eviction history.

Free for landlords
Applicant pays $30
Filters out unserious applicants
All 3 reports included

Screen Applicants with Confidence

Three comprehensive reports give you everything you need to make informed rental decisions

💳

Credit Report

Full TransUnion credit report with ResidentScore, tradelines, collections, public records, and payment history. Understand your applicant's financial responsibility and creditworthiness.

🔍

Criminal Background

National criminal database search, sex offender registry check, global sanctions, and county-level records. Know who you're renting to with comprehensive background checks.

🏠

Eviction History

Housing court records and eviction history search. Identify applicants with prior evictions, unlawful detainer actions, or landlord-tenant disputes before signing a lease.

🔒

Applicant-Paid ($30)

The $30 screening fee is paid by the applicant during their application. No cost to property managers or landlords. Only serious applicants will complete the screening.

Identity Verification

TransUnion knowledge-based authentication (KBA) questions verify the applicant's identity before reports are generated. Prevents fraud and ensures accurate results.

Fast Results

Most reports complete within minutes. Some state-specific criminal searches may take 24-48 hours. You're notified via email when results are ready to review in your dashboard.

How Tenant Screening Works

A simple 4-step process from application to informed decision

1

Invite Applicant

Send applicants a link to apply for your property. They complete the application form with personal info, household details, rental history, income, and employment.

2

Applicant Pays $30

At the final step, the applicant authorizes the screening and pays the $30 fee. This covers credit, criminal, and eviction reports. You pay nothing.

3

Identity Verification

TransUnion asks the applicant knowledge-based authentication questions (addresses, vehicles, people) to verify identity. This prevents fraud and ensures accurate reports.

4

Review Reports

View the completed credit report, criminal background check, and eviction history in your dashboard. Make an informed decision with reliable TransUnion data.

Renter Application Flow

What applicants see when completing their background screening — the $30 fee is clearly shown before payment

myrentalspot.com/apply
🏠My Rental Spot
123 Demo Street, Sample City, CA - Unit 34
Sample City, CA 94000
Rent: $2,200/moType: 2 Bed, 1 BathSize: 850 sq ft
Info
Household
History
Income
Review
6
Payment

Background Screening

Final step: Complete your background check to submit your application

🔒

Secure Screening Package

$30

One-time fee — includes all three reports

What’s included:
✓ Credit-based ResidentScore & full credit report
✓ Criminal background check (national + county)
✓ Eviction history & housing court records
✓ Sex offender registry check
✓ Global sanctions screening
🔒 Your privacy matters: This is a soft inquiry and won’t affect your credit score. Your information is encrypted and securely transferred to TransUnion.

Screening Information

Social Security Number *
•••-••-••••
We have your Social Security Number
Date of Birth *
01/15/1990
I authorize My Rental Spot to obtain my credit report and background information from TransUnion for tenant screening purposes under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
← Back
Submit Application & Pay $30 →

Identity Verification (KBA)

After payment, TransUnion asks knowledge-based authentication questions to verify the applicant is who they say they are

myrentalspot.com/apply/verify
My RentalSpot

Exam for identity verification — answer questions based on your personal records.

Q.1 Which of the following people lives or owns property in RIVERSIDE COUNTY?

Michael Johnson
Sarah Williams
Robert Davis
Jennifer Martinez
None of the Above

Q.2 Which of these street names are you associated with?

Oak Avenue
Maple Street
Cedar Lane
Pine Road
None of the Above

Q.3 Which of the following vehicles have you owned or leased?

Ford F-150
Toyota Camry
Honda Civic
Chevrolet Malibu
None of the Above
Finish

Reports Being Generated

What landlords see while waiting for screening results to complete

myrentalspot.com/applications/john-smith

John Smith

⭐ Rental Score: 500
📞 (555) 123-4567  ·  ✉️ johnsmith@email.com
View Full Profile

Documents (0/5)

ID
Upload
Pay Stubs
Upload
References
Upload
Employment Letter
Upload
⚠️Credit Report
Pending

Background Checks

Your reports are being generated.
Some reports, depending on the state, may take up to 24-48 hours to complete. You will be notified once they are ready.

📅 Application Timeline

Application Submitted
01/28/2026 8:30 AM • John Smith

Completed Background Checks

Once reports are ready, landlords can view detailed screening results directly in their dashboard

myrentalspot.com/applications/john-smith

Background Checks

📊Credit ReportShared
Credit Score: Available
Report created: 01/28/2026
View Report
🔍Criminal Background ReportShared
✓ No issues found
Report created: 01/28/2026
View Report
🏛️Housing Court RecordsShared
✓ No issues found
Report created: 01/28/2026
View Report

📅 Application Timeline

Background Check Complete
01/28/2026 8:32 AM • System
Application Submitted
01/28/2026 8:30 AM • John Smith

TransUnion Credit Report

Full credit report with ResidentScore, tradelines, collections, and payment history

TransUnion Consumer Report

DISCLAIMER: This report does not guarantee the accuracy or truthfulness of the information as to the subject of the investigation, but only that it is accurately copied from public records.

TransUnion
powered byASURINT
CONSUMER REPORT

Applicant: John Smith

Details

Email Address
johnsmith@email.com
Report #
TS833DDXZ5
SSN Message
No-hit returned and no match processing was performed.
Current Address
456 Previous Lane, Sample City, CA 94000
Property Address
123 Demo Street, Sample City, CA 94000
Reported
01/28/2026

Profile Summary

Tradelines
4
Collections
0
Public Records
0
Inquiries
2

Tradelines

Count
4
Balance Total
$12,450
Total Credit Limit
$35,000
Total Past Due
$0
CreditorAccount TypeCredit LimitBalanceStatus
Chase BankCredit Card$15,000$4,200Current
Capital OneCredit Card$10,000$2,800Current
Wells FargoAuto Loan$25,000$5,450Current
DiscoverCredit Card$10,000$0Current
© 2026 TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions, Inc.
1/28/2026 10:31:39 AM
TransUnion

Criminal Background Report

National criminal database search with county, federal, and sex offender registry results

TransUnion Consumer Report

DISCLAIMER: This report does not guarantee the accuracy or truthfulness of the information as to the subject of the investigation, but only that it is accurately copied from public records.

TransUnion
powered byASURINT
CONSUMER REPORT

Applicant: John Smith

Criminal and Public Records

No Reportable Records
LocationCompletion DateSearch Strategy
Sample County, California01/28/2026National Search
National Sex Offender Registry01/28/2026National Search
National Expanded Search ●01/28/2026National Search

● National Expanded Search utilizes Asurint's national criminal database to find records for locations outside of the applicant's address history.

Sanctions

No Reportable Records
ProductCompletion DateSearch Strategy
Global Sanctions01/28/2026National Search
END OF REPORT

Housing Court Records

Eviction history and landlord-tenant dispute records

TransUnion Consumer Report

DISCLAIMER: This report does not guarantee the accuracy or truthfulness of the information as to the subject of the investigation, but only that it is accurately copied from public records.

TransUnion
powered byASURINT
CONSUMER REPORT

Applicant: John Smith

Housing Records

No Reportable Records
Housing Records SearchCompletion Date: 01/28/2026
END OF REPORT

Everything Under the Hood

💳 TransUnion Credit Reports

Comprehensive credit reports include ResidentScore, tradelines (credit cards, loans, mortgages), collections, public records, and payment history. Understand your applicant's financial responsibility and creditworthiness with reliable data from TransUnion, one of the three major credit bureaus. The credit check is a soft inquiry and does not impact the applicant's credit score.

  • Credit-based ResidentScore
  • Active tradelines and accounts
  • Collections and delinquencies
  • Public records (bankruptcies, liens)
  • Credit utilization ratio
  • Payment history timeline
  • Total debt and credit limits
  • Inquiry count
  • Address history
  • Soft inquiry (no credit impact)
⭐ Related: Renter Scoring →

🔍 Criminal Background Checks

National criminal database search covers county records, federal records, sex offender registries, global sanctions lists, and expanded national searches. Know who you're renting to with comprehensive background checks that search multiple jurisdictions and databases. All checks are FCRA compliant and results are available directly in your dashboard.

  • National criminal database
  • County-level searches
  • Federal court records
  • Sex offender registry
  • National expanded search
  • Global sanctions check
  • Multi-state coverage
  • Address-based searches
  • FCRA compliant
  • Fast turnaround (minutes)
📝 Related: Application & eSign →

🏠 Eviction History Reports

Housing court records reveal prior evictions, landlord-tenant disputes, and unlawful detainer actions. Identify applicants with eviction history before signing a lease. Reports search court records nationwide to find housing-related civil cases including judgments for possession, money owed, and case outcomes.

  • Eviction history search
  • Housing court records
  • Unlawful detainer actions
  • Landlord-tenant disputes
  • Judgments for possession
  • Nationwide coverage
  • Historical records
  • Case details and outcomes
  • Date and location info
  • Landlord/plaintiff names
📄 Related: Digital Leases →

Frequently Asked Questions

The screening package costs $30 and is paid entirely by the applicant (renter) during the application process. This covers credit check, criminal background, and eviction history — all powered by TransUnion. There is absolutely no cost to property managers or landlords. The applicant-paid model ensures you only get serious, qualified applicants who are invested in their application.
The Secure Screening Package includes three comprehensive reports: (1) Credit Report with ResidentScore, tradelines, collections, and payment history, (2) Criminal Background Report with national database search, sex offender registry, global sanctions, and county-level records, and (3) Housing Court Records / Eviction History report. All reports are powered by TransUnion and ASURINT.
Most reports complete within minutes of the applicant submitting payment and passing identity verification. However, some state-specific criminal searches may take 24-48 hours depending on the jurisdiction. You'll be notified via email when all reports are ready. Your dashboard shows a "Reports being generated" status until complete.
No. MyRentalSpot uses a soft inquiry for tenant screening, which does not affect the applicant's credit score. This is clearly communicated to applicants: "This is a soft inquiry and won't affect your credit score." The applicant's credit remains unaffected regardless of the screening outcome.
After payment, TransUnion asks knowledge-based authentication (KBA) questions to verify the applicant's identity. These questions are generated from the applicant's credit file and personal history — things like "Which street names are you associated with?" or "Which vehicles have you owned?" This prevents fraud and ensures reports are generated for the correct person. Applicants must answer correctly to proceed.
Yes! Reports marked as "Shared" can be viewed by other landlords on MyRentalSpot if the applicant chooses to share them. This saves applicants from paying multiple $30 screening fees when applying to multiple properties. As a landlord, you'll see the "Shared" badge on reports originally ordered for a different property. The applicant controls whether to share their reports.
From your MyRentalSpot dashboard, go to your property listing and click "Invite Applicant." You can send them a direct link to apply. The applicant fills out the 6-step application (personal info, household, rental history, income, review, and payment/screening). Once they pay the $30 and complete identity verification, reports are generated automatically and appear in your dashboard.
Yes. All screening reports are generated in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Applicants must provide explicit written authorization before any reports are run. TransUnion, as a major credit bureau, follows all federal and state regulations for consumer reporting. Adverse action requirements apply if you deny an applicant based on screening results.
✓ Free for Landlords · ✓ $30 Applicant-Paid · ✓ TransUnion Powered

Screen Tenants with Confidence

TransUnion-powered credit, criminal, and eviction reports for just $30 — paid by the applicant, not you.

No credit card required. Property managers and landlords screen for free.