Frequently Asked Questions

We strive to make our ordering processes as easy as possible for both landlords and prospective tenants. To order a report, simply click here and create a free account in Stessa. You will then immediately be presented with the various RentPrep screening packages. Select a package and fill out the required info. We will then send your applicant(s) a link so they can complete their part of the screening process. It’s that simple!

Keep an eye on your email as we’ll notify you once your reports are ready.

SmartMove is an automated credit report that differs greatly from our full background check, which is hand-compiled by our FCRA-certified screeners. They pair together quite nicely though to give you a more complete picture of each applicant’s history!

We strongly advise against selecting the SmartMove “Credit Report Only” option if you have concerns about criminal/sex offender history, evictions, or judgements and liens as these red flags will not show up in credit reporting. Manual data extraction from a wide range of reporting sources is necessary to fill these gaps, which is exactly what our FCRA-certified screeners do to compile the Full Background Check reports.

Most civil judgments and more than half of all tax liens were removed from credit reports in July of 2017. This was part of the National Consumer Assistance Plan set up by the three major credit bureaus. SmartMove lost access to this data at that time and it is no longer included in their credit reports. Please be sure to order the Credit Report + Full Background Check option if you want to screen applicants for judgments and liens history.

Self-reported income is often unreliable and we’ve found that a “trust and verify” approach is often best when evaluating an applicant’s ability to live up to their rental obligations. Using their online banking credentials, applicants can connect to their bank accounts to generate an Annual Net Income Summary report in 3 easy steps: collect, confirm, and share.

The process starts when the applicant receives an email request to verify their income. They are then prompted to securely log into their bank account(s) to generate the report. There is no limit to the number of bank accounts an applicant can add. Applicants are be able to view the income summary report prior to releasing that information to the landlord. Applicants will not be able to edit the results, but can provide explanations for anything listed on the report.

As a landlord, you will be able to view an applicant’s annual Net Income Summary, which includes:

• Average monthly net income
• 3 months average monthly net income
• Up to 12 months of total non-recurring income

You will also see a summary of the accounts the applicant connected, which includes the applicant’s:

• Current balance
• Available balance
• Average balance
• Account type and the institution
• Up to 12 months worth of deposit history

RentPrep has partnered with Payscore to allow users to add income verification to their orders. Learn more about the income verification service.

Our Pricing and Packages page lays out the various options. The listed pricing is per tenant/applicant report. We don’t charge any recurring fees and you (or your applicants) only pay for as many reports as you need.

We accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover when you checkout through Stessa’s secure online portal.

There are no signup fees, no monthly minimums, no annual fees, and no long-term contracts associated with RentPrep’s retail screening services for landlords. Enterprise relationships for owners of 50+ doors are subject to custom arrangements. If your needs fall into this bucket, please contact the RentPrep Enterprise team.

The Credit Report Only option (SmartMove) is typically available within minutes of the applicant verifying their identity. We will send you an email notification and a link when the report is ready for viewing in Stessa.

For orders placed Monday–Friday during normal business hours, the Full Background Check reports are typically available within 2-3 hours of your applicant responding and verifying their identity. After-hours orders are generally completed the following morning of the next regular weekday.

Absolutely. We are proud to offer US-based customer support via phone, live online chat, and email Monday–Friday 9AM–5PM EST. Live chat and email are also available 10AM–3PM EST on Sundays.

RentPrep and Stessa are both owned by Roofstock and have an integrated service delivery model that benefits residential landlords of all shapes and sizes. Roofstock acquired Stessa in 2021 and acquired RentPrep in 2022.

If your report says there is insufficient credit this typically means the applicant has little to no credit history. If someone has never had credit cards or loans in their name, then the report may show “insufficient credit” as the result. In these instances, we highly recommend doing a full background check to unlock additional data points that may help you better evaluate a particular applicant.

Visit the Renters Relations page to print, fill out, and mail (or email) the customer dispute form. You’ll also need to submit a copy of your drivers license to verify your identity. This is required to protect sensitive information.

If you have 50 or more units in your portfolio you may qualify for RentPrep Enterprise. Fill out this quick inquiry form and we’ll get back to you shortly!