What is the best tenant screening service for landlords?
Updated
Quick answer
The best tenant screening service is the one that returns credit, criminal and eviction history with the applicant's written consent, lets you choose whether the applicant or you pays, and hands you what you need to send a lawful adverse action notice if you decline. Report prices sit roughly between $25 and $50 depending on how much the report includes.
What a screening report should actually contain
A report worth paying for covers four things: a credit file, a nationwide criminal search, an eviction history search, and some form of income verification. Cheaper reports usually drop the last two, which are the two that most often change a decision.
Two things to understand before you compare prices. Most rental screening uses a tenant-specific score rather than a raw FICO, so the number will not match what the applicant sees on a credit app, and that is normal. And a tenant-initiated report, where the applicant pulls it and shares it, is a soft inquiry that does not affect their score.
Report prices, side by side
| Provider | Report price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MySmartMove (TransUnion) | SmartCheck Basic: $25 SmartCheck Plus: $40 SmartCheck Premium: $49 | Plus tax where applicable. Includes TransUnion's ResidentScore rather than a raw FICO. |
| RentSpree | Standard report: $39.99 (credit, background and eviction) Comprehensive report: $49.99 (adds bank-verified income) | Landlord plans: Basic $0/mo, Landlord PRO $6.99/mo billed annually ($8.99 monthly), RentSpree PRO $15.83/mo billed annually ($19.99 monthly). $3 per recurring rent payment, waived on Landlord PRO. |
| TurboTenant | Screening report: $45 (paid by the renter) | Paid plans advertise lower screening fees. |
| Avail | Credit, criminal and eviction: varies by state | Avail states report cost varies by location because of state law, and is most often paid by the applicant. |
Read from each provider's own pricing page on 2026-08-27.
The step most landlords skip: adverse action
If you decline an applicant, raise their deposit, or require a co-signer because of something in a screening report, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires you to tell them. This is an adverse action notice. It is not optional and skipping it carries statutory damages.
It must state that the decision was based in whole or part on a consumer report, name the agency that supplied it with contact details, say the agency did not make the decision and cannot explain it, and tell the applicant they can get a free copy within 60 days and dispute it. It applies to a deposit increase or co-signer requirement too, not just an outright decline.
Whichever provider you pick, check it either sends this for you or gives you the details to send it yourself.
Write your criteria down before you look at anyone
Decide what a qualified applicant looks like before the first application arrives, and apply the same test in the same order to everyone. This is the strongest fair housing defence a small landlord has, because it turns a judgement call into a documented, repeatable test.
Note in particular that HUD guidance treats blanket criminal-history bans as a fair housing risk. An individualised assessment, considering what happened, how long ago and what has happened since, is the safer and fairer approach. Count all lawful income, including housing vouchers where your state or city requires it. See what questions violate fair housing rules.
Related questions
Should the applicant or the landlord pay for screening?
Can I run a background check without the applicant's permission?
Does a tenant screening check hurt the applicant's credit score?
How far back do eviction records go?
How Rentari helps
Rentari runs credit, criminal and eviction screening with income and ID verification, against the written criteria you set once and apply to every applicant. Applicant states stay neutral on screen on purpose: fair housing and FCRA mean colour should never carry an adverse decision.
More landlord answers
- Should I accept a tenant with a past eviction?
- What is an adverse action notice and when do I send one?
- How do I check an applicant's eviction history?
- How do co-signers and guarantors work on a lease?
- What is FCRA compliance for landlords?
- How do I screen tenants?
This article is general information for landlords, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules vary by state and city; verify specifics with the official statute or a licensed professional. See our state law guides.