Tenant background checks
A screening report is a consumer report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. On Seayora it is ordered against an application, only after the applicant authorizes it in writing, and the applicant pays for it — the landlord is never charged. Screening can be ordered only while a consumer reporting agency is connected to Seayora; when none is, no report can be ordered and no applicant is charged.
What a report covers
Criminal, eviction and credit history and an identity check, as the reporting agency supplies them and as the law where the unit is allows. Some places limit or forbid using criminal history in a housing decision — New York City's Fair Chance for Housing Law among them — so check the rules for your unit before you rely on one.
How screening works
- Enter the applicant's email address in your dashboard. Seayora emails them a secure link to apply.
- The applicant verifies their identity, authorizes the report in writing and pays the screening fee to Seayora. Nothing is charged to you.
- You are emailed when the report comes back, and read it in your landlord portal.
Adverse action
If a report plays any part in declining an applicant — or approving them on stricter terms, such as a higher deposit or a co-signer — the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires an adverse action notice. Seayora works out whether a decision is adverse action from the reasons you select, composes the notice, issues it as a PDF and keeps a copy against the application. The obligation is the landlord's; the notice is how it is met.
Frequently asked questions
How much does screening cost the landlord?
Nothing. The applicant pays the screening fee to Seayora when they apply.
Is the applicant's Social Security number stored?
No. It is passed to the consumer reporting agency to run the searches and is not kept on Seayora.
Can I screen somebody who has not applied?
No. A report is ordered against an application, and only after that applicant has authorized it in writing.