The best tenant screening service depends on where you let property. US landlords usually want credit, criminal and eviction reports, often with the applicant covering the report, while UK landlords need referencing and Right to Rent checks. This page lists ten in no particular order, then explains the notice rule that applies after a US denial.
Screening a tenant is the one hour of admin that can save you a year of trouble. But the checks themselves are only half of it. What you do with the results, and how you tell an applicant no, is where landlords get caught out.
Below are ten tenant screening and referencing services in no particular order, sorted alphabetically: seven for US landlords and three for the UK, because referencing is sold differently there. Each description comes from the provider's own website, re-checked today. If you're preparing a property between lets, my notes on keeping a rental safe and secure are a good companion.
Tenant screening services side by side
A quick word on the free plan column, because it's easy to misread. For several US services, Yes means the landlord can screen without being charged, because the applicant covers the report when they apply. It doesn't mean the report is free for the applicant. Trial only means a time-limited trial of a wider platform, and No means checks are bought one at a time or arranged through a demo.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| ApplyConnect | US tenant credit check service | US landlords wanting screening at no charge | Yes |
| Credas | UK Right to Rent checks | UK landlords and agents needing ID checks | No |
| ezLandlordForms | US landlord forms and screening | US landlords also needing leases and forms | Yes |
| Findigs | Rental decisioning software | Portfolio owners wanting a quote sized to units | No |
| Goodlord | UK tenant referencing platform | UK agents and landlords wanting digital referencing | No |
| Oops Insurance | UK landlord referencing | UK landlords buying single checks | No |
| RentPrep | US human-reviewed screening | US landlords wanting reviewed reports | Yes |
| RentSpree | US screening and applications | US landlords and agents wanting free screening | Yes |
| TenantCloud | Landlord platform with screening | Landlords wanting screening inside one platform | Trial only |
| TransUnion SmartMove | US credit bureau screening | US landlords wanting bureau-backed reports | Yes |
Ten screening and referencing services for landlords
ApplyConnect
Best for: US landlords and property investors who want screening without being charged, with renters covering a portable report they can share with up to three landlords.
Credas
Best for: UK letting agents and landlords who need certified digital Right to Rent checks on every tenant and lodger aged 18 and over, arranged through a demo.
ezLandlordForms
Best for: US landlords who also need state-specific leases and want TransUnion credit, criminal and eviction reports, with the applicant covering the screening.
Findigs
Best for: Portfolio owners and property managers wanting rental decisioning software quoted to their number of units, with renters applying without being charged directly.
Goodlord
Best for: UK letting agents and their landlords wanting digital tenant referencing alongside rent protection insurance and guarantor products, arranged through a demo.
Oops Insurance
Best for: UK landlords wanting to buy a credit check, full reference, guarantor reference or Right to Rent check one at a time, with an instant credit report.
RentPrep
Best for: US landlords wanting credit and background reports reviewed by an FCRA-certified screener, with nothing for the landlord to cover when the tenant pays.
RentSpree
Best for: US landlords and agents wanting free-to-use screening with bank-verified income checks, rental applications and listing syndication on a free plan.
TenantCloud
Best for: US landlords wanting TransUnion criminal, eviction and credit checks, covered by the tenant, inside a property management platform after a 14 day free trial.
TransUnion SmartMove
Best for: US landlords wanting TransUnion credit, criminal and eviction checks with ResidentScore, choosing whether to cover the report or pass it to the applicant.
The FTC notice US landlords owe a rejected applicant
This rule is US law, and it's the one I'd want every landlord to know before running a single report. The FTC's guidance for landlords on using consumer reports says that if you reject an applicant, ask for a co-signer, raise the rent or deposit, or take any other adverse action based partly or completely on a consumer report, you must give that person an adverse action notice. It can be written, electronic or oral.
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The notice has to include the name, address and phone number of the screening company, a statement that the company didn't make the decision and can't give the specific reasons, and the applicant's right to dispute the report and get a free copy if they ask within 60 days. The FTC says it's required even if the report played only a small part in your decision. So before you choose a service, check whether it gives you a notice template or sends one for you, and keep a record of every notice you give.
In the UK, the FTC rule doesn't apply. UK landlords should check their Right to Rent duties and their data protection duties under GDPR separately, and the UK services on this list focus on referencing and Right to Rent checks.
What a screening report should cover
- Credit history: how an applicant has handled borrowing and bills.
- Criminal and eviction records: where the law in your area allows you to use them.
- Income checks: some services verify income through bank data rather than payslips alone.
- Identity and Right to Rent: in the UK, a check on every adult who'll live in the property.
- References: previous landlords and employers, who can still tell you a lot.
A fair screening routine, from listing to keys
- Write your criteria down before you advertise, and apply them the same way to everyone.
- Get the applicant's consent before you run any check.
- Use one service for every applicant so the reports are comparable.
- Read the full report, not just the summary at the top.
- If you turn someone down or ask for a co-signer in the US, send the adverse action notice.
- Store reports securely and delete what you no longer need.
Once your tenant's in, the work shifts to keeping things running smoothly, and my guide to running a rental without the stress picks up from there.
Do you make tenant screening or referencing services? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on screening tenants
If you're a US landlord with one or two properties, an applicant-pays service is a sensible start, as long as you're comfortable that the applicant covers the report. Pick one, use it for everyone, and have your adverse action notice ready before your first viewing.
If you're in the UK, think in terms of referencing plus Right to Rent rather than a single credit report, and decide whether you'd rather buy checks one by one or work through an agent's platform. Whichever side of the Atlantic you're on, the fairness of your process matters as much as the report itself.
Frequently asked questions
What does a tenant screening service check?
Usually credit history, and in the US often criminal and eviction records too. Some services also verify income or identity.
Who pays for tenant screening?
It depends on the service. Several US services let the applicant cover the report, so the landlord isn't charged; others ask the landlord to buy each check.
Do I need to tell an applicant why I rejected them?
In the US, if a consumer report played any part, the FTC says you must give an adverse action notice. It names the screening company, says that company didn't make the decision, and explains the applicant's right to dispute the report.
Is tenant referencing the same as tenant screening?
They overlap. In the UK, referencing usually means credit checks plus landlord and employer references, while US screening leans on credit, criminal and eviction reports.
Do UK landlords need Right to Rent checks?
Landlords in the UK should check which Right to Rent rules apply to their property. Some services on this list carry out certified digital checks.
Can I screen tenants for free?
As a US landlord, often yes, when the applicant covers the report. But that isn't free for the applicant, so be upfront with them about it.
