Colorado's new Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) law, effective January 1, 2026, offers landlords a practical way to cut costs while maintaining thorough tenant screening. Here's how accepting PTSRs can improve your bottom line.
Traditional tenant screening comes with hidden costs that add up quickly. Between application fees, screening services, and extended vacancy periods, landlords face significant expenses with every turnover.
Most tenant screening services charge $30-$75 per applicant, according to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau research. When you're evaluating multiple applicants per vacancy, these costs compound. Add in the time spent coordinating screenings, verifying documents, and following up with applicants, and the true cost becomes clear.
With Rent with Clara's PTSR platform, landlords can reduce these expenses while accessing more comprehensive, verified tenant information.
Under HB25-1236, landlords cannot charge screening fees when applicants provide a valid PTSR. More importantly, you don't pay anything either, renters cover the one-time cost of generating their report.
This represents immediate savings compared to traditional screening methods where landlords either absorb the cost or risk losing quality applicants who balk at multiple application fees.
Time is money in rental property management. Every day a unit sits vacant costs you rental income. PTSRs streamline the screening process by providing quick access to verified information, helping you make faster, more confident decisions.
Traditional screening often involves waiting for background checks, verifying employment, and chasing down references. With verified tenant screening reports, all this information arrives pre-verified and ready to review.
Fraudulent applications cost landlords thousands in lost rent, legal fees, and property damage. Fake pay stubs, forged references, and identity theft are growing problems in the rental market.
PTSRs from platforms like Rent with Clara use multi-layer verification including biometric authentication, direct income verification through Argyle, and identity document verification through Veriff. This fraud-resistant approach protects your investment without additional cost.
This is a hypothetical scenario based on industry-standard costs and vacancy rates from CFPB and Apartment List research. The 10-day vacancy reduction is an estimate based on streamlined verification processes. Actual savings will vary by market, property, and individual circumstances.
Scenario: A Colorado landlord manages 10 rental units with an average turnover of 3 units per year. Each vacancy receives 8 applications.
Traditional Screening Costs (Annual):
PTSR Screening Costs (Annual):
Projected annual savings: $2,700 (47% reduction)
¹ According to CFPB research, application fees typically range $40-$59² Apartment List reports average time-to-lease of 33 days
Processing applications, coordinating screenings, and verifying information takes hours of your time. PTSRs arrive complete and verified, letting you focus on property management instead of paperwork.
Incomplete or inconsistent screening practices expose landlords to Fair Housing violations. PTSRs provide standardized, comprehensive information for every applicant, helping you maintain consistent, compliant screening practices.
Comprehensive verification means you're making decisions based on accurate information. Better screening may lead to better tenant selection, which can mean lower turnover, fewer evictions, and reduced property damage costs.
PTSRs offer Colorado landlords several key advantages:
Eliminate Most Screening Costs: Accept tenant-paid PTSRs and stop paying for background checks, credit reports, and verification services in most cases.
Reduce Fraud Risk: Multi-layer verification through biometric authentication, direct income verification, and identity document checks provides fraud-resistant screening without additional cost.
Fill Vacancies Faster: Quick access to complete, verified tenant information helps you make confident decisions faster, potentially reducing costly vacancy periods.
Simplify Compliance: Standardized reports help maintain consistent screening practices that comply with Fair Housing requirements.
Save Administrative Time: Pre-verified information eliminates hours spent coordinating screenings and chasing down references.
Accepting PTSRs doesn't mean compromising on screening quality. In fact, platforms like Rent with Clara provide more comprehensive verification than traditional methods:
Sign up for Rent with Clara to start accepting PTSRs and reduce your screening costs.
Colorado's PTSR law takes effect January 1, 2026. Landlords should prepare now by:
For more details on implementation, see our guide on how to accept PTSRs in Colorado.
Legal Requirements:
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Ready to start saving on tenant screening?
Create your free Rent with Clara account and start accepting PTSRs today. No cost to landlords, better information, faster decisions.
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