Apply Now is free to landlords and real estate agents. Prospective tenants pay the application fee. The price per applicant is dictated by our partners and usually ranges from $45 to $80.
Q.
Should I contact the landlord or listing agent before initiating an application?
A.
Yes! Agents and prospective tenants always need to contact the landlord to ensure the owner/listing agent will accept an electronic Rental Beast application prior to starting an application.
Q.
Can an applicant reuse an application for another property?
A.
Absolutely! Tenant applications remain valid for 30 days from the original date of submission. This means tenants can apply for more than one property right away, or in cases where an initial application is not accepted.
Our partners dictate the frequency and any fees associated with application reuse. While most partners allow prospective tenants to apply the same application for up to three additional properties for an additional $15 per application, others allow for unlimited applications at no additional fee. If a fee for reuse is required, it will be disclosed prior to submitting an application.
Q.
Who can initiate an application using Apply Now?
A.
Applications can be initiated by a prospective tenant, a real estate agent, a landlord, or a designated property manager. In cases where an application is begun by an agent, landlord or property manager, prospective tenants will receive email invitations with instructions and an accompanying link to complete a leasing application.
Q.
Can I submit an application on any rental listing?
A.
Yes, and most Rental Beast listings have an Apply Now button for starting applications. However, agents and prospective tenants always need to contact the property owner or listing agent prior to starting an application, to ensure the owner/listing agent will accept an electronic Rental Beast application.
Q.
Why would a listing not have the Apply Now button?
A.
If a property owner, manager, or listing agent has told Rental Beast they will not accept an electronic Rental Beast application, we will remove the Apply Now button from their listing.
Q.
Can more than one applicant be added to the application?
A.
Yes. Additional applicants can be designated when starting the application process.
Q.
What do I do if there is a co-signer or guarantor?
A.
Simply add the cosigner as an additional applicant. It’s a good idea to also contact the landlord or listing agent to let them know a guarantor has been added as an additional applicant.
Q.
Does Rental Beast do the screening?
A.
Screening is done by a major U.S.-based credit bureau. All credit-related information is derived directly from the bureau. Rental Beast does not view or retain non-public, credit-related information.
Q.
How long will the screening process take?
A.
Most reports are processed within minutes. However the entire application process can take up to 3-4 days from the initial submission until the Landlord reviews and makes the decision. All parties will be notified when the screening reports have been generated as well as each status change throughout the process.
Q.
Who sees the results?
A.
Results are only seen by the landlord or a proxy designated by the landlord, such as a property manager, as required by the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Q.
Does Rental Beast provide advice to landlords on accepting or declining an application?
A.
No. Information is provided by a major credit bureau directly to the landlord or property owner. Rental Beast does not view or retain non-public, credit-related information.
Q.
How does a landlord access the applicant(s)’ reports?
A.
Landlords are notified by email when an application is ready for review. The landlord can easily review the application, request more information and/or make a decision via the Rental Beast landlord dashboard.
Q.
What information is provided to the landlords about the applicants?
A.
Landlords will be able to see full rental application forms, including general tenant information, income, employment, and other relevant application-related information. Additionally, criminal background checks, credit reports, and eviction history are provided where available, subject to regulations.
Please note: Eviction histories are not always available, and in some states criminal reports are not available.
Q.
How will an applicant know how to start an application initiated by a landlord or real estate agent?
A.
Once the application has been initiated, prospective tenants will receive an email with a link to complete their leasing application. Once the applicant clicks on the link, detailed instructions are provided on how to complete the application.
Q.
What will applicants need to complete the application?
A.
Applicants will need relevant personal information such as date of birth, social security number, etc., as well as vehicle information, proof of income, employment information, credit and personal references, housing/rental history, and a copy of the applicant’s ID as applicable.
Q.
Can prospective tenants see the status of their applications?
A.
Yes. Any applicant can login to Rental Beast and select “Applications” under his/her name to view application statuses.
Q.
Will this impact an applicant’s credit?
A.
No. This particular check, referred to as a “soft pull”, does not impact a consumer’s FICO score.
Q.
As an agent, what should I do after I have initiated an application?
A.
We recommend following up with both the applicant(s) and the landlord until the application process is complete.
Q.
What should I do if I didn’t receive any email notifications regarding an application and I am a participating party?
A.
In cases where an application was started by an agent or landlord, we recommend that you contact them to ensure the correct email address was provided. If input correctly, check the spam folder in your email client. If you submitted the application directly or otherwise cannot find the email, please contact Rental Beast support at support@rentalbeast.com.
Q.
If a landlord requires additional documents, can those be uploaded?
A.
Yes. Prospective tenants can upload documents during and after the application submission.