How Much Does TransUnion SmartMove Cost?

SmartMove charges a flat screening fee per applicant; the standard full‑package (credit, background and eviction) costs $35 USD each. If you only need part of the report, the price drops to $25 for credit‑only, $15 for background‑only, or $10 for eviction‑only (see the SmartMove screening fee schedule).

• $35  - full credit, background, and eviction report
• $25  - credit report only
• $15  - background check only
• $10  - eviction search only

SmartMove's screening fee bundles three core reports for each applicant. You get a credit report, a criminal background check, and an eviction history - all in one price.

• Credit report from TransUnion, showing score, tradelines, and public records.
• Criminal background check that scans county, state and federal databases and provides a concise result.
• Nationwide eviction search pulling court filings and tenant‑landlord disputes.
• No charge for employment verification, rent‑payment history, or manual document review; those services are optional add‑ons.

SmartMove's headline $35 per applicant includes the basic credit, background and eviction checks, but several optional costs can raise the total.

• Premium criminal‑background add‑on - $15 extra per applicant for a deeper offenses report.
• Additional co‑applicant - $15 for each extra person you screen on the same lease.
• Expedited processing - $10 if you need the report within hours instead of the standard 24‑hour window.
• Report re‑run - a second pull of the same applicant's data costs the full $35 again.
• State‑specific surcharges - certain jurisdictions (e.g., Colorado, New York) require an extra $5‑$10 compliance fee.
• PDF download / API access - the web portal is free, but API integration or printed PDF downloads carry a $5 per‑report fee.

These charges sit on top of the base fee and can surprise landlords who assume the $35 covers everything. Understanding them lets you decide who should pay the screening fee, a topic we explore next in 'Decide who should pay SmartMove fees - you or the applicant.'

SmartMove screening fees can be paid by either the landlord or the applicant, but the decision hinges on legal compliance and market expectations. Under the Fair Housing Act and most state laws, you may charge a fee only if it is disclosed up‑front and does not discriminate; many landlords choose to absorb the screening fee to keep listings competitive, while others request payment from the applicant to offset the per‑person cost (currently $39‑$44 per applicant).

Because we already detailed the baseline cost in the 'what you'll pay per SmartMove applicant' section, weigh your budget against tenant‑attraction goals before deciding. If you cover the fee, you retain full control of the screening timeline; if the applicant pays, you must collect the amount before ordering the report, as explained in the upcoming '3 real tenant scenarios' section. For legal guidance, see HUD's Fair Housing compliance page.

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• Single, first‑time renter with clean credit. SmartMove charges the baseline screening fee - about $35 per applicant (see TransUnion SmartMove pricing page). The fee includes credit, eviction and criminal checks, so you pay $35 total.
• Applicant with a prior eviction. The eviction history is already covered by the baseline fee, so you still pay roughly $35. Adding a county‑level background search adds a $10 optional add‑on, raising the cost to $45.
• Two roommates filing a joint lease. SmartMove bills each person individually; two applicants mean 2 × $35 = $70. No discount applies, which is why the next section explains how co‑applicants, roommates, and joint applications affect cost.

Adding a co‑applicant, roommate, or joint applicant bumps the total screening fee because SmartMove charges $29 for each individual's credit, background, and eviction check. Two people sharing a unit cost $58, three cost $87, and the amount scales line‑by‑line with every extra applicant.

You can keep the expense down by screening only the primary tenant; SmartMove does not offer a reduced rate for joint applications, and each additional person still incurs the full $29 fee if you choose to run their report later. This strategy lets you defer roommate checks until you actually have a lease signed, saving money in the short term. For the exact pricing details, see the SmartMove pricing page.

SmartMove's yearly cost equals the number of screenings you run multiplied by the per‑applicant fee, plus any eviction checks you add.

1. Count expected applicants per year.
   Take the total units you rent and estimate turnover (e.g., 100 units × 12 % annual turnover = 12 applicants).
2. Apply the base fee.
   The standard SmartMove screening (credit + criminal) is $35 per applicant (see SmartMove pricing details).
3. Add eviction searches if needed.
   An eviction lookup costs $15 each; apply it only to applicants where you require it.
4. Calculate the total.
   Total = (applicants × $35) + (eviction checks × $15).
   Example: 12 applicants, 4 need eviction checks → (12 × $35) + (4 × $15) = $420 + $60 = $480 per year.
5. Adjust for co‑applicants or roommates.
   Each additional person screened adds another $35 (or $15 if only eviction). We'll break down those scenarios in the next section.

SmartMove costs a flat $35 per applicant, covering credit, background and eviction checks - all in one fee. Compared with the only other service we evaluate, thecreditpeople.com, SmartMove's all‑in‑one price is usually lower.

• thecreditpeople.com - basic credit check: free, but only a credit score; no background or eviction data.
• thecreditpeople.com - full‑report package: $39 per applicant for credit + background; eviction must be purchased separately (approximately $15).
• SmartMove: $35 total, no add‑ons required.

Because SmartMove bundles everything, landlords pay less per complete screening than they would buying separate components from thecreditpeople.com. This price difference becomes more significant when you run multiple applications each month, a point we'll explore in the next section on when paying for SmartMove actually saves you money.

Paying the SmartMove screening fee saves money whenever the potential loss from a problematic tenant exceeds the $35 per‑applicant cost for a credit + eviction report (or $25 for credit‑only).

For example, a $2,000 eviction or a month of unpaid rent dwarfs a single $35 fee, so screening ten applicants can prevent a loss well over $2,000 and still cost less than $350 total. Bulk discounts on larger portfolios further lower the per‑applicant charge, widening the margin between screening expense and avoided damages.

These savings offset the upfront fee and justify the expense before you reach the SmartMove pricing details section on refunds, cancellations, and billing disputes.

SmartMove will refund a screening fee only if you cancel before the applicant's report is generated; once the report is delivered the fee is non‑refundable, and any billing error is resolved through the support team's review process.

For example, you request a cancellation 10 hours after ordering a $35 full‑screening and SmartMove issues a full refund to the original payment method. If the same applicant's report is sent out at the 2‑hour mark, you cannot get the $35 back, even if the tenant later declines the lease.

If you notice a double charge on the same applicant, you open a ticket, provide the receipt, and SmartMove credits the extra amount after confirming the mistake. SmartMove cancellation and refund policy