Credit checks, straight from the bureaus.
Run a tenant credit check on any applicant in minutes. See their credit score, payment history, and debt pulled directly from the credit bureaus. Soft pull. No impact on their score.
What is a tenant credit check?
A tenant credit check is a credit report pulled on a prospective renter so a landlord can evaluate their financial responsibility before approving a lease. The report shows the applicant's credit score, payment history, outstanding debt, accounts in collections, and recent credit inquiries. With Checkr Tenant, the data comes straight from the credit bureaus and the pull is a soft inquiry, which does not affect the applicant's credit score.
Every credit signal you need to pick the right renter.
Credit reports for tenant screening come direct from the credit bureaus, the same source banks and lenders use. Each section opens with a clear summary, so you can read a rental credit report in minutes instead of digging through pages of statements.
The applicant's credit score, reported in the language renters and landlords already use.
On-time, late, and missed payments across credit cards, loans, and accounts.
Accounts sent to collections or in default, flagged so you don't miss them.
Total outstanding balances and how much of their available credit they're using.
New credit applications in the last 24 months, so you can spot a pattern.
A verified identity match, so the credit report belongs to the person on the lease.
Illustrative summary. Ranges shown follow FICO Score bands. Actual score summary returned depends on the applicant. Credit data sourced direct from the credit bureaus.
Run a tenant credit check in under an hour.
From signup to first report in less time than a coffee break. The applicant does their part on their phone. You see live progress on your end.
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1
Make a free landlord account
Takes about five minutes. No credit card. No contracts. Just your name, email, and the address of the place you're renting out.
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2
Pick a package with a credit check
The Essential Package ($34.99) includes the credit report and score, plus eviction history. The Complete Package ($44.99) adds income and assets from the applicant's bank.
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3
Send the applicant a screening link
We text or email the applicant. They open it on their phone, consent to the credit pull, take a selfie with their ID, and pay the screening fee. You don't chase paperwork. (See what they see, on the right.)
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4
Read the credit report. Decide.
Most rental credit checks come back the same day. You get a notification, open the report, and see the renter's credit score, payment history, and debt right next to their eviction and criminal records.
Our tenant credit checks do not impact the applicant's credit score.
A credit check for tenants from Checkr Tenant runs as a soft inquiry on the applicant's credit history. They can apply for as many rentals as they want without their credit score taking a hit, and you still get the full picture you need to make the call.
Hard inquiries, the kind banks and lenders run for new credit cards or loans, typically knock fewer than five points off a FICO score and stay on the credit report for two years, though they only affect the score for the first year. A tenant credit check from Checkr Tenant is a soft inquiry, so it does not show up that way.
Illustrative. Actual score impact from hard inquiries varies by bureau and credit profile.
Built for renting.
A tenant credit check is shaped around what landlords actually need to see. It's different from an employment credit check or a lender credit check, even when the underlying bureau data overlaps.
Tenant credit check
Pulled with the applicant's consent to evaluate them for a lease. Soft inquiry, no score impact. Focuses on payment history, debt, collections, and rent-relevant signals. This is what you're on.
Employment credit check
Run by employers as part of a background check for hiring. Different consent forms, different reporting requirements, and not what landlords need. Checkr handles this on the employment side.
Lender credit pull
Hard inquiry pulled by banks and lenders when someone applies for a loan or new credit card. It can ding the applicant's score. Not appropriate for a rental application.
Credit data in a single view beside everything else.
A rental credit report is one signal. See it side by side with every other check you need so you have the whole picture in one place without switching between tools and platforms. Everything to give your most confident, “Yes.”
Credit-check pricing.
The applicant pays.
A credit report is included in both Essential and Complete. No monthly fees. No contracts. Pay per screening.
Core criminal checks for landlords just getting started.
- Criminal History Criminal History National criminal database search covering felony and misdemeanor records across 900M+ records from 2,800+ state and county data sources nationwide, plus county courthouse searches. National DB - State - County
- Sex Offender Registry New Sex Offender Registry Checks U.S. public sex offender registries across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, tribal territories, and the federal NSOPW (National Sex Offender Public Website). 50 State Registries - DC - Tribal - NSOPW
- Global Watchlist New Global Watchlist Search Searches a comprehensive list of government and regulatory watchlists. Denied Persons List - Interpol Most Wanted - OFAC Sanctions - FBI Most Wanted - And More
- Identity Protection for $2.95
The complete picture: financials, rental history, and background in one report.
- Everything in Starter
- Full eviction history Full Eviction History Searches housing court records for eviction filings and judgments nationwide. Coverage is limited in a small number of states due to court data availability. State Housing Courts
- Credit Score Credit Score Rental-specific credit scores that gives you the confidence you need to make informed decisions. Credit Report Agencies
- Credit Report Credit Report Include payment history, number of open accounts, average payment per month, and credit utilization ratio. Credit Reporting Agencies
- Identity Protection for $2.95
Adds income verification on top of the full background and credit picture.
- Everything in Essential
- Income Information Income Verification Verifies income directly from the applicant's bank account. No pay stubs or uploads required. Bank Records
- Assets & Bank Report Assets & Bank Verification Directly information from your renter's bank account, allowing you to know asset and income stream information from source. Bank Data
- Identity Protection for $2.95
Applicant pays at checkout. The credit pull is a soft inquiry, no impact on their score.
Quick answers
What is a tenant credit check?
A tenant credit check is a credit report pulled on a prospective renter so a landlord can evaluate their financial responsibility before approving a lease. With Checkr Tenant, the data comes straight from the credit bureaus and includes the credit score, payment history, debt, collections, and recent credit inquiries.
Does running a credit check hurt the renter's credit score?
No. Checkr Tenant uses a soft credit pull, which does not impact the applicant's credit score no matter how many times it is run. Hard pulls happen only when the applicant applies for new credit, not when a landlord runs a tenant screening.
What credit score is good for renting an apartment?
Landlord requirements vary widely by market. Industry surveys suggest a common minimum in the mid-600s, with 670+ generally considered strong and 700+ common in competitive markets. Most landlords weigh income, payment history, and rental history alongside the score rather than relying on a single cutoff. Checkr Tenant shows the full report so you can see the context behind the number.
How long does a renter credit check take?
Most tenant credit checks come back the same day, often within a few hours. The clock starts when the applicant finishes their part on their phone. As soon as the credit bureau returns data, the report appears in your dashboard.
How much does it cost to run a credit report on a tenant?
A tenant credit report is included in the Essential and Complete packages at $34.99 and $44.99 per screening. The applicant pays at checkout. There are no monthly fees and no contracts.
What's actually in a tenant credit report?
A tenant credit report from Checkr Tenant includes the renter's credit score, payment history on credit cards and loans, current and past accounts, total debt and credit utilization, accounts in collections or default, and recent credit inquiries. All of it is pulled direct from the credit bureaus.
Is a credit check legal for tenant screening?
Yes. Tenant credit checks are legal in all 50 states when the applicant has given written consent. Checkr Tenant is FCRA compliant and PBSA accredited. The applicant consents to the credit pull before any data is requested, and they can dispute anything they believe is inaccurate.
Can a landlord run a credit check without the tenant's permission?
No. Federal law requires the applicant's written consent before a landlord or property manager can pull a credit report. Checkr Tenant captures that consent automatically as part of the applicant's screening flow.
Here to make it easier.
Short guides written for landlords doing this for the first or hundredth time.
What makes a good tenant?
The signals that actually predict on-time rent and a kept-up unit, including how much weight to give a credit score.
Read articleQuestions to ask before saying yes
A simple script for renter interviews. Spot red flags early and stay fair-housing compliant when you discuss credit.
Read articleRun a tenant credit check today.
Make a free landlord account and send your first credit-check invite in under five minutes. The applicant pays. The pull is a soft inquiry.
Run a credit checkCredit report included from Essential ($34.99) - Soft pull - The applicant pays
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