What Is TransUnion SmartMove Tenant Screening?

SmartMove is TransUnion's online tenant‑screening service that instantly pulls an applicant's credit, eviction and criminal records, then delivers a concise risk score and detailed report for landlords to decide on a lease.

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• SmartMove returns a fixed set of data points that let you gauge creditworthiness, rental behavior, and legal risk in one view.
• Credit summary: score or rating, open accounts, delinquencies, and recent inquiries.
• Eviction and public‑record history: past evictions, bankruptcies, civil judgments, and liens.
• Rental payment history: prior landlords' reports of on‑time or late rent, lease dates, and amounts.
• Criminal background (optional add‑on): any convictions or pending charges from the national database.
• Identity and address verification: SSN match, current residence, and previous addresses.
• Risk score and landlord recommendation: algorithm‑generated risk level plus an 'Approve / Consider / Deny' suggestion; see SmartMove tenant‑screening features for details.

Run a SmartMove screening in five simple steps. Use the online portal, let the applicant finish the questionnaire, pay the fee, then review the instant report.

1. Log in or create a SmartMove account - go to the SmartMove website and sign in with your email and password.
2. Select a screening package and add the applicant - choose Standard or Comprehensive, enter the prospect's email address, and click 'Send Invite.'
3. Applicant completes the form - the tenant receives a secure link, enters personal details, authorizes a credit pull, and submits payment if you opted for them to pay.
4. Pay for the report - the fee (typically $35‑$45) is charged to the payer you designated; you can cover it or let the applicant pay.
5. Review the generated report - SmartMove returns credit, criminal, and eviction data in seconds; download the PDF or view it online to decide on the lease.

For pricing details see SmartMove tenant screening pricing.

SmartMove charges a flat fee per applicant - $35 for the Basic package, $44 for Standard and $59 for Premium - and the landlord normally pays it, though many landlords pass the cost to the applicant via a payment link.

• Basic ($35): credit score, eviction history, criminal search.
• Standard ($44): includes Basic plus income verification.
• Premium ($59): adds detailed background and full credit report.
• Fee payer: landlord's SmartMove account is billed; landlords can forward the charge to applicants using the built‑in payment request.
• Reference: SmartMove pricing page.

SmartMove credit and risk reports split an applicant's financial picture into three clear sections: Credit Summary, Risk Score, and Risk Level.

• Credit Summary lists total open accounts, total balances, and payment history. A high number of recent hard inquiries or a pattern of late payments flags potential trouble.
• Risk Score ranges from 1 (to 100). Scores 90‑100 indicate strong credit, 70‑89 suggest moderate risk, and below 70 warn of higher probability of default.
• Risk Level translates the numeric score into Low, Moderate, or High risk, letting you make quick decisions without crunching numbers.

Read the report by first confirming the applicant's overall risk level aligns with your screening policy, then drill into the Credit Summary for any red‑flag details such as recent collections or high credit utilization. If the Risk Score is borderline, use the payment‑history breakdown to judge whether late payments are isolated incidents or a recurring pattern. For deeper insight, consult the official SmartMove guide SmartMove landlord resources before moving on to spot the five red flags SmartMove reveals.

SmartMove highlights five key red‑flags that landlords should review before approving a tenant.

• An eviction filing or active eviction filing appears in the public‑record section.
• A civil judgment or monetary award against the applicant shows up as a public‑record entry.
• A criminal conviction for a violent or property‑related offense is flagged in the criminal‑record portion.
• The applicant's credit score is displayed; landlords set their own acceptable threshold.
• A bankruptcy filing appears in the public‑record summary, indicating recent financial distress.

Clean credit, steady income, and an accurate rental history give you the best chance to clear SmartMove checks. Make sure the Social Security number and address you provide match exactly what the credit bureaus have; mismatches raise 'unable to verify' flags that can halt the screening.

Before you apply, pull your own SmartMove report from the credit agency, dispute any errors, and pay down high balances to boost your credit score. Gather recent pay stubs, a signed lease from your current landlord, and proof of renter's insurance so you can upload the documents instantly. A tidy rental history - no unresolved evictions or unpaid utilities - also shows up as a green light. For a step‑by‑step guide, see the official SmartMove tenant screening overview.

SmartMove flags most credit problems, eviction filings, and major criminal convictions, but it can miss nuanced risks that still threaten a lease. For example, recent civil judgments, small‑scale cash‑only businesses, or eviction records hidden behind name variations may not appear in the report, leaving landlords unaware of potential cash‑flow gaps or undisclosed disputes.

Because the service relies on publicly recorded data, it cannot capture informal conflicts such as landlord‑tenant verbal agreements, undisclosed pets, or unreported property damage. Landlords who saw the 'spot 5 red flags' section should also request pay‑stubs, bank statements, or a personal interview to spot these hidden issues before signing a lease.

If a SmartMove report looks clean yet you suspect trouble, supplement it with a background check from another vendor or verify references directly. When inconsistencies arise, follow the 'dispute smartmove report errors fast' steps and consider the limitations of tenant‑screening services before making a final decision.

Dispute SmartMove report errors fast by initiating a formal challenge within 30 days of receipt and providing clear documentation that proves the mistake.

1. Spot the inaccuracy - Open the applicant's report, note the exact field (e.g., credit balance, eviction date) that looks wrong, and record the line‑item reference number.
2. Collect proof - Pull the original credit statement, court docket, or landlord letter that contradicts the erroneous entry. PDFs or scanned images work best.
3. Use the online portal - Log into the SmartMove dispute page, select 'File a dispute,' and paste the reference number.
4. Submit a concise statement - Write a one‑sentence description of the error, attach the supporting files, and request a reinvestigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
5. Track the timeline - SmartMove must acknowledge the dispute within five business days and complete the reinvestigation within 30 days. If you receive no update, email support <[email protected]> and cite the pending FCRA deadline.
6. Escalate if needed - Should SmartMove uphold the mistake, forward the dispute receipt to TransUnion's Consumer Assistance Center at TransUnion dispute portal and request a separate review.

Follow these steps, and you'll correct a SmartMove error in the shortest possible window, keeping your tenant‑screening decisions reliable.

Equifax Credit Boost asks you to link bank, telecom, utility, or other eligible accounts, which gives the service access to your account numbers, routing numbers, and recent payment amounts and dates. That data is used solely to verify payment history and to add a positive line to your credit report; it is not shared with other credit bureaus or third‑party marketers, as outlined in the Equifax privacy policy details.

The main risks are technical: Equifax stores the linked credentials and transaction snapshots on its servers, so a breach could expose your financial identifiers and spending patterns. If your login details are phished, a malicious actor could pull the same data Boost accesses. Encryption, multi‑factor authentication, and the ability to disconnect any account at any time reduce exposure. Regularly review the accounts you've linked and monitor your VantageScore and FICO score for unexpected changes; the next section shows how to troubleshoot failed additions.

SmartMove lets a small landlord run a full credit, eviction and criminal check for $35 per applicant, with the tenant paying the fee directly, so there's no monthly subscription or hidden cost; reports arrive in 24‑48 hours, include a risk score, and meet Fair Credit Reporting Act standards without requiring the landlord to collect sensitive data.

Alternatives such as Cozy, TenantScreening.com or Buildium either charge a subscription (Buildium $30‑$50 /month) or bundle basic checks for free but tack on $20‑$50 fees for credit or eviction data; they often need the landlord to set up a separate account, may provide slower turnaround, and can include extra features that small landlords rarely use, making per‑screen costs higher overall.