Why should I run a background check on a roommate?

A background check can reveal criminal history, prior evictions, and identity issues that are hard to discover otherwise. Spending $25 upfront can save you thousands in lost rent, damage, or legal disputes later.

Do I need someone's consent to run a background check?

Yes. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you must have written consent from the person being checked before pulling a tenant screening report. Reputable services like SmartMove handle the consent step for you.

How much does a background check cost?

A standard tenant screening report through services like TransUnion SmartMove starts at $25. The cost is usually paid by the prospective roommate or split between both parties.

What does a background check include?

Typical reports include national and county criminal history, prior evictions across all states, sex offender registry checks, and identity verification. Credit information is often available as an add-on.

Are there free alternatives to a paid background check?

Yes. You can ask for references from prior landlords or roommates, verify identity through a free ID-verification feature on platforms like RoommateAds, request to see a recent pay stub, and meet in a public place to gauge the person before committing.

Does RoommateAds run background checks for me?

No. RoommateAds links to trusted third-party screening services like TransUnion SmartMove. We do not pull or store screening reports ourselves — results are delivered directly to you.

🔎 Background Checks

Run an optional background check on a potential roommate through TransUnion SmartMove, an independent tenant-screening service.

RoommateAds does not run background checks. RoommateAds is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We do not assemble, evaluate, store, or distribute consumer reports. The screening relationship described on this page is between you and TransUnion SmartMove; reports are delivered directly to you and never pass through RoommateAds.

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What a SmartMove Report Includes

A SmartMove tenant-screening report (run independently by TransUnion) can reveal:

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Criminal History

National and county-level criminal records search

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Eviction Records

Prior eviction filings across all states

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Sex Offender Registry

National sex offender database check

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Identity Verification

Confirms the subject is who they say they are

How it works: Click below to begin a report directly with TransUnion. The person being screened gives written consent to TransUnion (required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act) and the report is delivered to you. RoommateAds does not see, control, or retain any part of the report.

Run a Background Check via SmartMove →

If you decline someone based on the report

Federal law (the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681m) requires you to give the person an "adverse-action notice" if you deny them a roommate arrangement based even partly on information in the screening report. SmartMove provides templates and guidance for this. Failing to provide the notice can expose you — not RoommateAds — to statutory damages, actual damages, and attorneys' fees.

Other Ways to Screen

Not ready for a formal background check? You can also: ask for references from a previous roommate or landlord, verify your own ID to show you're trustworthy, or take the compatibility quiz to find better matches. Always follow our safety tips when meeting someone new.

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