Toni,

If you send the prospective tenant the email application they are required to purchase the background and credit reports. If they have already submitted a written application you can still charge them for the cost of the reports. If this is an issue you might consider what some of our other landlords have done. Take the fee out of the deposit or the first months rent.

To get these reports after the application has been submitted:

• go to http://www.rentingauthority.com
• login using your email address and password
• click on “background and credit reports”
• agree to the disclaimer that the data will be used solely for rental purposes.
• input the applicants name, ss# and d.o.b.
• results will take about 3-5 min.

Your going to want to look for a good credit score. I personally consider 600 or higher as good. Take notice of the report summary and check that they don't have accounts in collections. Also, go over the background report to be sure that your applicant doesn't have any worrisome criminal history.

I hope this is helpful!

Shawndra

http://www.rentingauthority.com