| Tenant Background Screening |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Questions and Answers (Q&As)
| General Questions about Tenant Screening |
| Questions about AccuSearch Services and Costs |
| Questions about Getting Started |
| General Questions about Tenant Screening |
1. What comprises a tenant background check?
Typically, property managers are most interested in an applicant’s creditworthiness, so tenant credit reports are frequently requested. Other popular services include employment verifications; prior landlord reference checks; and searches of eviction records, registered sex offender indices and county criminal records. Regardless of which screening services you request, it’s important that you be consistent so as to avoid any appearance of bias.
2. What information is included in a tenant credit report?
A tenant credit check can provide insight into how well an applicant has met past financial obligations. Each report includes personal identifiers; payment history information reported by creditors and lenders, including the date each account was opened, respective credit limits or loan amounts, account balances and payment history; as well as public record information concerning bankruptcies, foreclosures, suits, liens or judgments against applicants. You’ll also receive credit scores that are objective measures of applicants’ creditworthiness.
3. Are tenant credit reports easy to read and understand?
If you’re not very familiar with credit reports we will be pleased to provide some helpful hints so you can maximize the value you get from them.
4. What if I reject an applicant based on negative information included in the tenant screening report?
You should first review the Fair Housing Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. In order to comply with these laws, you will need to advise the applicant of your decision in writing. The applicant may, within 60 days of the date of the screening report, request a copy of the report, and may choose to dispute it.
| Questions about AccuSearch Services and Costs |
1. How much do tenant background checks cost?
AccuSearch tenant screening packages start at just $25 per name for a Financial Bundle that includes a tenant credit report and employment verification. Our Criminal Basic Bundle runs $45 per name and includes a tenant credit report; a SSN trace and address and alias search; plus searches of one state’s registered sex offender index, one statewide eviction database, and one county’s criminal records. Please note that additional fees will apply for searches of other names (e.g., maiden names or a spouse’s name), plus some courts, government agencies, and third-party information providers charge access fees which we pass along. Click on this link for details: Fee Schedule.
6. How long does it take to complete a tenant background check?
Tenant credit reports can typically be provided on the day they are ordered; however, verifications, reference checks and criminal record searches require more time. AccuSearch completes about 90% of all background checks within 72 hours.
3. Can anyone open an account with AccuSearch?
The company or organization must:
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be a legitimate entity; |
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supply evidence of its right to conduct business; |
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forecast the need for at least 10 tenant screens over the next 12 months; and |
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agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined in our Consumer Report User Agreement. |
4. Are there any sign-up fees or monthly fees or minimums?
No. There is no cost to set up or maintain an AccuSearch account.
| Questions about Getting Started |
1. How do I set up an account?
You must first submit a New Account Application. When you click on Open an Account we will ask for information about your company and primary contact, plus we will ask you to read and agree to the terms and conditions of our Consumer Report User Agreement. Once you’ve submitted your New Account Application online, you will be instructed to fax us a copy of an official document that proves your company’s right to conduct business, such as a business license. This is required as part of our authentication and verification process. Once we have completed our due diligence, typically within 24 hours, we will contact you to confirm account set-up and to provide orientation.
2. How do I order a tenant screen?
Once you have been set up, an AccuSearch account manager will provide a thorough orientation. Here’s how you would enter a new order.
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Print our Request and Release |
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Complete, sign and date page 1 (“Request”). This tells us exactly which services you are requesting for this applicant. It might help to consult our Price List when making your selections. |
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Give your applicant pages 2-4 |
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Page 2 (“Release”) - Instruct your applicant to read the notice, sign the authorization, provide the personal information requested and return the signed form to you. We also encourage you to make a copy of your applicant’s driver’s license and Social Security card for reference purposes. |
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Page 3 is a separate notice for applicants who are residents of California. |
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Page 4 is the FTC document, “A Summary of Your Rights under the FCRA.” |
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Submit your order one of two ways. During orientation you will be asked to designate which method you prefer |
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You can enter orders online. The advantage of entering your orders online is this: the sooner an order gets in the queue, the sooner we can begin processing it. |
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In AccuSearch Online, our web-based system that makes it easy to order and to track tenant screens, enter your applicant’s personal information and indicate which screening package and/or individual services you are requesting. Remember to enter the relevant information if you are requesting any verifications (e.g., of employment). |
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Fax to AccuSearch your Request (page 1) and the applicant’s signed Release (page 2). Also, if you made a copy of your applicant’s driver’s license and Social Security card, please include it with your fax, since this will help in verifying identity. |
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If necessary, AccuSearch can enter your order for you. Fax to AccuSearch your Request (page 1) and the applicant’s signed Release (page 2). Remember to include a copy of your applicant’s application if you are requesting any verifications. Also, if you made a copy of your applicant’s driver’s license and Social Security card, please include it with your fax. This will facilitate our identity check. |
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3. Our rental application includes a notice to applicants and asks for the applicant’s signed release? Will this suffice?
Your notice to an applicant must be a standalone document, separate from your rental application. If your notice and release meet this criterion we will gladly review your form(s) to ensure compliance, however we prefer that clients use our Release form. Among other things, it provides landlords the right to conduct a screen at any point in time so long as the applicant remains a tenant.
4. How and when will I be billed?
Shortly after month-end, AccuSearch will send to your designated billing contact an email that includes a link to an AccuSearch Online invoice. You or your A/P agent can view detailed invoices online 24/7 by clicking on the “Invoicing” tab then specifying a time range. Payment is due upon receipt of invoice. AccuSearch accepts all major credit cards. For added convenience, we can keep card information on file and automatically charge your card each month.
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