RentPrep Reviews: What Landlords Are Saying About RentPrep

RentPrep

Updated October 2024

Tenant screening is essential for finding reliable tenants who are likely to pay their rent on time and respect your property and lease agreement. RentPrep’s tenant screening service is an affordable and fast solution for conducting comprehensive and legal tenant screening checks to help avoid future problems.

This page explains how RentPrep works and shares what real users, landlords, and property managers think about RentPrep’s service to help you decide whether it’s the right tenant screening option for you.

Table Of Contents For RentPrep Reviews

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best tenant screening service for your rental business.

RentPrep User Ratings – 4.7/5 Stars

Overall, RentPrep is highly rated by landlords, with a rating of 4.7/5 stars on Google from 185 reviews (as of July 2024). LandlordGurus selected RentPrep as their top tenant screening service in 2023. Investopedia also chose RentPrep as their best tenant screening service for multiple properties in 2024.

Landlords have left positive reviews like the following:

“RentPrep is the best tenant screening company. I would not be surprised if they dominate property management software in the future. Their team is so helpful and responsive.” – Laura Quraish

“I’m a new customer to RentPrep but I have already ordered a couple background and credit checks on prospective tenants. The information contained has helped me immeasurably in making decisions on potential new tenants. They have everything I need in one place and it makes the screening process much faster and far less cumbersome than it was before I began using their services.” – Peter Greiner

“Wow, after years of struggling with a different screening company this experience was a pleasure. Easy upload of documents in order to establish landlord credentials, simple interface, clear instructions and oh-so-quick turnaround.” – Rosemary Langford

Guarding Your Assets: The Significance Of Tenant Screening

As a landlord, your rental property is not just an investment; it’s likely also connected to your financial future and overall peace of mind. Ensuring you select the right tenants is crucial to maintaining the value of your property and securing steady rental income.

Good tenant screening can:

Provide Financial Security

A thorough tenant screening helps you assess a prospective tenant’s financial responsibility. By examining credit reports and verifying income, you can determine whether the tenant can afford the rent and is likely to pay on time. This can reduce the risk of missed payments and costly evictions.

Mitigate Risks

Tenant screening helps identify potential red flags, such as a history of evictions or criminal activity. By knowing these details upfront, you can potentially avoid tenants who may pose a risk to your property or other tenants. This proactive approach minimizes the likelihood of property damage, legal issues, and disruptive behavior.

Reduce Tenant Turnover

Selecting reliable tenants who are likely to stay for the duration of their lease reduces turnover rates. High turnover can be costly and time-consuming, potentially involving excess cleaning, repairs, and marketing for new tenants. A thorough screening process helps find tenants looking for long-term housing who are more likely to take good care of your property.

Knowing you have conducted a thorough background check on your tenants gives you peace of mind. You can feel more confident you have made an informed decision and that your property and rental income are better protected.

How Much Does RentPrep Cost?

How Much Does RentPrep Cost?To start the tenant screening process, you’ll just need to register for a free account. Upon registering with your email, you’ll gain access to RentPrep’s advanced suite of screening packages and can proceed to purchase whichever services best meet your tenant screening requirements.

RentPrep offers a range of packages at different price points. In most states, the cost of tenant screening can be passed on to potential tenants as part of the application fee. RentPrep also lets you ask the applicant to pay the fee directly to RentPrep when authorizing their screening check.

Credit Report + Background Check – $49/Report

This is RentPrep’s most comprehensive tenant screening option. It requires applicants to respond to an email confirming their consent so you can receive the full details. This complete package includes:

  • Full Credit Report
  • Transunion ResidentScore®
  • Bankruptcies
  • FCRA-Certified Screener Review
  • SSN Verification
  • Address History
  • Nationwide Criminal & Sex Offender
  • Nationwide Evictions
  • Judgment & Liens
  • Optional Add-On: Income verification (+$10)

Landlord and tenant pay options available.

RentPrep Background Check Only – $29/Report

This is RentPrep’s more streamlined option, which does not require additional consent beyond what you have obtained as part of the tenant’s application process. The Background Check package includes:

  • FCRA-Certified Screener Review
  • SSN Verification
  • Address History
  • Nationwide Criminal & Sex Offender
  • Nationwide Evictions
  • Judgment & Liens
  • Optional Add-On: Income verification (+$10)

Landlord and tenant pay options available.

RentPrep Credit Report Only – $29/Report

The automated SmartMove package includes:

  • Full Credit Report
  • Transunion ResidentScore®
  • Bankruptcies

Landlord and tenant pay options available.

Enterprise High-Volume Resident Screening

For property managers undertaking high-volume screening, RentPrep offers an enterprise model with custom pricing, typically starting at 25+ monthly screenings. These services typically include tailored screening options and advanced systems integrations for efficiency.

RentPrep’s Key Features

These are some of the key features to consider when comparing RentPrep to other tenant screening services.

Results Turnaround Usually within one hour With results typically available within one hour, RentPrep ensures landlords can quickly assess tenant applications, facilitating faster decision-making and quicker lease-up.
Data Source TransUnion Access to TransUnion data provides landlords with a trusted source of information, enabling informed decisions that protect their rental investments.
Who Pays Landlord or Tenant (your choice) Offering the option for either landlords or tenants to cover screening costs allows flexibility in financial arrangements, accommodating different lease agreements and landlord preferences.
Application Type Online Online applications reduce paperwork and administrative burdens for both landlords and tenants, enhancing accessibility and convenience in the rental application process.
Hard Inquiry No By avoiding hard inquiries on tenants’ credit reports, RentPrep helps applicants maintain their credit scores, making it more attractive for prospective tenants concerned about their credit ratings.
Nationwide Criminal and Eviction Check Yes Access to nationwide criminal and eviction data helps landlords identify potential risks early on, reducing the likelihood of legal issues and tenant disputes down the line.
Felonies and Misdemeanors Yes By screening for both felonies and misdemeanors, RentPrep helps landlords maintain secure and compliant rental properties, mitigating potential risks associated with criminal activities.
SSN Fraud Check Yes SSN validation helps prevent identity fraud, helping to ensure landlords are dealing with verified individuals and protecting against potential rental scams.
Terrorist Check Yes The terrorist list search is an important component of any thorough background check.
Sex Offender Check Yes Incorporating a sex offender check helps landlords prioritize tenant safety, providing peace of mind by identifying individuals who may pose potential risks within residential communities.
Income Verification Yes, for an additional charge ($10) Income verification supplements the screening process by confirming tenants’ financial resources, contributing to reliable rental income streams and overall property profitability.

 

Pros And Cons Of RentPrep Tenant Screening

Based on user reviews from various sources, these are the principal pros and cons of choosing RentPrep as your tenant screening service.

RentPrep Pros

  • RentPrep’s website is highly user-friendly, both for landlords and applicants, which makes it easy to submit the information necessary for verification and payment.
  • Background checks are done by certified FCRA screeners, ensuring a higher level of accuracy than some automated services.
  • RentPrep’s prices are competitive compared to similar services. Similar services may cost around $30 to $75, depending on the specific needs of the landlord.
  • Soft credit checks don’t impact the applicant’s credit rating.
  • RentPrep offers excellent phone, chat, and email customer support from expert local team members.

RentPrep Cons

  • While reports are turned around quickly, by design, the process is not fully automated, so there can be a delay for some of the more complex reports.
  • Pass/fail credit checks don’t give you the complete picture of an applicant’s credit rating, making the full credit report option worth considering.
  • Applicants must cooperate with the process in order for RentPrep to successfully verify income, and some applicants can be slow to engage, thereby delaying the turnaround time.
  • The TransUnion SmartMove® report excludes criminal history information from twenty-four (24) states plus the District of Columbia: AL, DE, DC, HI, IA, ID, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NM, OK, RI, SC, SD, VT, WI, WY. This is generally due to state laws that limit the use of that information.

Give RentPrep A Try

Just click the “Get Started Here” button below.

FAQs About RentPrep

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about RentPrep and tenant screening services.

How accurate is RentPrep?

Users and reviewers agree that RentPrep’s service is highly accurate and thorough and that our reports are among the best-organized documents offered by screening services.

Is RentPrep secure?

When you use RentPrep, you can rest assured that we take significant steps to protect your data. We implement a variety of security measures that are designed to maintain the safety of your personal information when you place an order or enter, submit, or access it.

We offer the use of a secure server. All supplied sensitive/credit information is transmitted via Transport Layer Security (TLS) technology and then encrypted into our Payment gateway providers database, where it is only accessible by authorized users.

After a transaction, your private information (credit cards, social security numbers, financials, etc.) will not be stored on our servers. Personal information is only retained to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected.

Does RentPrep do hard credit inquiries?

RentPrep only does soft credit inquiries so that the screening process does not negatively impact the applicant’s credit rating.

Is RentPrep compliant with FCRA?

Yes, RentPrep complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Can I screen tenants without their consent?

To perform a background check, you must have the tenant’s written consent. RentPrep provides tools to help you obtain this consent.

What if there is an error in the report?

If you find an error in a report, contact RentPrep’s customer service to make us aware of the issue so we can work to correct the information.

Can RentPrep help with screening international tenants?

RentPrep primarily focuses on U.S.-based tenant screening. Additional checks may be required for international tenants, and availability can vary.

Is RentPrep suitable for small landlords?

Yes, RentPrep offers services tailored to both landlords with small portfolios and large property management companies, making it a versatile option for various needs.

Can I deny a tenant based on the screening report?

Yes, you can deny an applicant based on the results of the tenant screening report. However, you must follow the FCRA guidelines, including providing an adverse action notice that explains the reason for the denial and includes information about the reporting agency used.

What should I do if a tenant has a poor credit score but good references?

If a tenant has a poor credit score but good references and stable employment, you may consider charging a higher security deposit, requiring a co-signer, or offering a shorter-term lease to mitigate potential risks.

How can I ensure the screening process is non-discriminatory?

To ensure a non-discriminatory screening process, apply the same criteria and procedures to all applicants. Be consistent in your evaluation and avoid making decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.

Still Have Questions?

Our Live Chat button is displayed on our website during regular office hours. Clicking it will connect you to one of our FCRA-certified screeners right here on-site.

We don’t contract our support out overseas, and if you prefer to talk with someone, you’ll get right through to a Screener in our office at (888) 877-8501.

Note: RentPrep does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, or accounting advisors.