Background and credit checks
When an owner asks to run a background and credit check, what you’re authorizing, and your rights.
After you apply, the owner may ask to run a background and credit check. Nothing is run until you authorize it, and you authorize it for one home only.
What you’re asked
Under Applications, the owner’s request appears on your application. It explains that the owner and the screening company they use will get a consumer report about you, which may include your credit history, eviction records and criminal background, to decide on your application for that home.
To agree, type your full legal name, tick that you’ve read and authorize the check, and choose Authorize the check. If you’re not ready, choose Not now. You can change your answer later from the application.
This check is a hard pull on your credit, unlike the soft pull in your Passport.
Who pays
PropFit doesn’t charge you for the background and credit check ordered through PropFit.
Your rights
- You can ask the owner for the name and contact details of the screening company.
- If the owner turns you down because of something in the report, they must tell you. You can get a free copy of the report from the screening company and dispute anything that’s wrong in it. See Decisions and notices.
Criminal history in some cities
In some places, owners may only look at criminal history after they’ve made you a conditional offer. Where those rules apply, PropFit leaves the criminal history part out of the check until the owner records a conditional offer, and runs it after that, as part of the same check.
Co-applicants and guarantors
Each person on an application authorizes their own check. See Co-applicants and guarantors.