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. Rental applicants can submit the same application for up to three additional properties within thirty days for an additional $15.
Q.
Who can initiate an application using Apply Now?
A.
Real estate agents and landlords. Whether sent by the landlord or by the agent, the applicant will get an email with instructions and a link to complete the application.
Q.
Can an agent submit an application on any listing?
A.
Yes, and most listings in the Rental Beast platform have an Apply Now button for starting applications. However, agents 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. The agent or landlord can add additional applicants and/or cosigners when initiating the application.
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 owner, 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 other relevant application-related information. Additionally, criminal background checks, credit reports and eviction history are provided where available.
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 the application?
A.
Once the application has been initiated, the applicant will receive an email with a link to start their application. Once the applicant clicks on the link, detailed instructions are provided on how to complete the application.
Q.
What will an applicant 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 an applicant see the status of their application?
A.
Yes. The applicant can login to Rental Beast and select “Applications” under his/her name to view the application status.
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.
Contact the agent/landlord who initiated the application to ensure the correct email address was provided. If input correctly, check the spam folder in your email client. If you still cannot find the email, please contact Rental Beast support.
Q.
If a landlord requires additional documents, can those be uploaded?
A.
Yes. Applicants can upload documents during and after the application submission.