How to Check a Tenant Credit Report with E-Renter

When you own an apartment complex or manage a rental property you’ll need to find tenants to move into those vacant places. You can take a chance on someone that looks good and seems nice or you can research that person and make sure they’re a good fit for your property. While it was once hard to do tenant screening, websites like E-Renter have made it incredibly easy. You can use their website to do a full background and credit check of all applicants to find the right people for your property.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet access
• Applicant's social security number
• Credit card

Instructions

1. Decide first on the type of search you want to run on a potential applicant. E-Renter has three options on their website: a simple background check, a background check and credit check or a background check, credit check and in depth search of the applicant’s past.

2. Visit the E-Renter website and select the option that describes your situation: individual landlord or commercial accounts. An individual landlord is a landlord who doesn’t have a business identification number, while a commercial account is for those who have multiple properties.

3. Register for an account with E-Renter by entering all of your information on their server. The website requires a name, address, phone number and email address. You’ll also need to create a unique password for your account and check the “I Agree” box after reading through their terms.

4. Go back to the main page and log into your account. If you’ve just registered for an account with the website your information will already exist and you should be logged in. Select the type of check you want to do on your applicant from the three options given.

5. Choose the criteria you want your applicant to pass such as information relating to their credit score, evictions, past bankruptcies or current financial records. Enter your credit card or payment information on the page and press the enter key. The website will then offer you information relating to your applicant and tell you if they meet the qualifications you set earlier.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use a commercial account you must first meet certain requirements before you can use the website, including a visit of your property. This ensures that you’re an actual business and not someone just trying to do a background check.

• Don’t set the parameters or qualifications too high or you might have difficulty finding a qualified applicant. You should use a mixture to ensure that you find someone who has an average credit report, but not a perfect one.

Resources

• E-Renter