How to Get Started with RentPrep Tenant Screening

Updated

You can start screening a tenant on RentPrep by ordering a package directly on the site — Credit Report Only, Full Background Check Only, or the Complete Screening Package — while landlords and property managers with 50 or more doors can instead request a custom Enterprise quote. Which path fits you depends on two things: how many units you manage, and whether you need credit data, background data, or both.

Choose your starting path

RentPrep splits customers into two tracks. Individual landlords order a package online and run the check themselves. Larger portfolios go through Enterprise, which is quoted rather than priced on the page.

Your situation Path to start What you get
Fewer than 50 doors, need credit only Order Credit Report Only Full credit report, ResidentScore®, bankruptcies, optional add-ons
Fewer than 50 doors, need background only Order Full Background Check Only SSN verification, nationwide criminal and sex offender search, nationwide evictions, judgments and liens, bankruptcies, FCRA-certified screener review
Fewer than 50 doors, need both Order Complete Screening Package Everything in both packages above
50+ doors Inquire about Enterprise Solutions Custom pricing, onboarding, workflows, and account support

The page lists Credit Report Only and Full Background Check Only at 29 each, and the Complete Screening Package at 49. Treat those as the listed figures at the time of writing — confirm current pricing at checkout before you commit.

Ordering a standard package

  1. Pick the package that matches your decision. If you only need to verify income-to-debt behavior, credit alone may be enough. If you are screening for prior evictions or criminal records, you need the background check or the complete package.
  2. Place the order on the site. The page shows an "Order Now" action next to each package.
  3. Expect a pre-verification step before the check runs. RentPrep says an FCRA-certified screener verifies the applicant's identity by comparing name, SSN, and date of birth against its databases before any background check is performed.
  4. Wait for human validation. After the check runs across multiple sources, screeners verify each record to reduce false matches — this is the step that separates a validated report from a raw database dump.
  5. Receive an FCRA-compliant report. The final step is a compliance check; non-compliant records are omitted from the report.

The practical takeaway from that sequence: your report is not instant, because two human steps sit between order and delivery. Budget for that if you are screening against a tight lease-signing deadline.

Who pays

Payment options differ by package, and this is easy to get wrong:

  • Credit Report Only — landlord and tenant pay options available.
  • Full Background Check Only — landlord pay only.
  • Complete Screening Package — landlord and tenant pay options available.

If you want to shift part of the cost to the applicant, the background-check-only route will not let you. Choose credit-only or the complete package instead.

Going the Enterprise route (50+ doors)

If you manage 50 or more doors, the page directs you to inquire about Enterprise Solutions rather than order a standard package. The stated Enterprise features are:

  • All property types
  • Easy onboarding
  • Custom workflows
  • Advanced searches
  • Tier screening
  • Applicant pay options
  • Dedicated account rep
  • API integration

Pricing for Enterprise is listed as "Custom," so there is no published number to compare against the 29/49 packages. You will need to inquire to get a quote. The pitch on the page is aimed at managers who feel stuck with whatever screening their property management software bundles by default.

What you are actually buying

RentPrep's stated positioning is risk reduction: the page says screening has been shown to reduce tenant defaults by up to 25% versus other screening solutions, citing a study done with a partner. That is a vendor claim, not an independent benchmark — weigh it accordingly, but it explains why the product is framed around eviction cost rather than convenience.

The three-step process (identity pre-verification, human record validation, FCRA compliance check) is the mechanism behind that claim. If your main worry is false matches flagging the wrong person, the human validation step is the feature to care about.

Common snags to plan around

  • Assuming one price covers everything. Optional add-ons are listed separately on each package, so the headline number is a base.
  • Expecting tenant-pay on a background-only check. Not available.
  • Ordering Enterprise features à la carte. Custom workflows, tier screening, and API integration are Enterprise features, not standard-package options.
  • Screening at the last minute. The two human review steps mean you should start earlier than you would with a fully automated tool.