How Do I Pay for a Renter’s Application and Screening Fee?
By default, the application and screening fee is charged to the renter. However, there may be times when you’d prefer to cover the cost yourself. TurboTenant gives landlords a simple way to do that.
This article covers the steps to pay for a prospective tenant’s application and screening report.
Option: Pay for the Screening Report Yourself
You can pay for the screening report directly from your TurboTenant dashboard. When you choose this option, the applicant will not be charged.
How to Pay for a Screening Report
Go to the Leads or Applicants tab in your dashboard.
Select Screen a Tenant.
Choose the applicant you want to screen.
When prompted, select the option to Pay for the Screening Report.
Complete checkout to finalize payment.
Once complete, the applicant will receive an email prompting them to authorize the screening. The report will appear in your dashboard as soon as it’s ready.
2. Select "Request a Report (Screening Report Only),"
3. Enter the prospective renter's information
4. After clicking Get Started, you'll want to fill in the renter's information, such as:
Legal First & Last Name
Whether you're requesting the report via Email, Text, or Email & Text.
Which property will they be applying to
Next, locate the section titled “Who will pay for the screening report?” and select “I will pay the fee.”
If you already have a payment method on file, click Next.
If you don’t have a payment method saved yet, click Request Report to add your card and proceed.
5. Enter your card information or proceed if you already have a card on file.
💡 TurboTip: You cannot pay the application and screening fee if you choose to complete the application first. After verifying their identity, the applicant can add their information by selecting "Add Information" on the renter portal.
How to Tell Who Paid for the Screening Report
After the application or screening report has been submitted, you can easily verify who covered the fee.
In your Applicants section:
If the renter paid for the screening, you’ll see the label “Paid by renter.”
If you covered the cost, the report will display “Paid by you.”
This label helps you quickly confirm payment responsibility for each applicant.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: If a renter has already started the application, can I pay for the application and report?
A: No, once the application has been started by the renter, there is not an option for the landlord to pay for the screening fee. You can reimburse the renter outside of the platform or by applying it to their first month's rent.
Q: I chose to pay for the report, but now I want the renter to pay. Can I switch who pays for the report after it has already been requested?
A: No, once the report is paid for by the landlord, it cannot be switched to the renter to pay. You may be able to ask them to reimburse you outside of the platform.
Q: I wanted the renter to fill out all of the information and complete the screening too, why does it say, "Screening Only"?
A: When a landlord pays for the fee, it is only for the screening report. If you'd like your tenant to pay the sc