How to Read a Tenant Screening Report (and How AI Can Help)

Applicant screening reports are packed with codes, ranges, and footnotes. Misreading one can mean approving a risky tenant or rejecting a good one. Here is a quick primer on the four parts that matter.

1. Credit

Look beyond the score. Check payment history trends, collections, recent inquiries, and debt-to-income pressure. A 650 score with clean history can beat a 700 score drowning in recent delinquencies.

2. Background

Review what is actually reported, the jurisdiction, dates, and severity. Minor old offenses matter differently than recent serious ones, and some items should not be considered at all depending on your state.

3. Eviction history

Confirm whether records are filings or judgments. A dismissed filing is very different from a completed eviction.

4. Income documents

Verify stated income against pay stubs, and screen those documents for fraud before trusting them.

Let AI do the reading

Leaserly's AI Tenant Screening accepts reports from TransUnion SmartMove, Experian, Equifax, RentPrep, or any provider. Upload the report and AI returns:

• A plain-English summary of each section
• Key findings ranked by severity
• A leasing recommendation with the reasoning behind it

You stay in control of the decision, but you no longer have to decode the report alone. Combined with AI document fraud screening, it is a complete, consistent application review process.

Try AI Tenant Screening during your free trial.