Tenant background
checks you can trust

Clara delivers verified, secure, and instant reports for every prospective tenant — with no subscriptions or delays. Get the complete picture of your applicants with our comprehensive tenant screening process.
Start Screening A Tenant Now

What's in a Clara Tenant Background Check?

Criminal and eviction records span federal, state, and local sources nationwide. Credit reports come straight from TransUnion. Income and identity are verified directly, never self-reported.
Criminal Background Check

Federal, state, and local records are all included in our countrywide criminal record search, which helps spot possible warning signs including violent felonies and sex offender registry status.

Credit Report

By gaining access to your potential renter's whole credit history, including their FICO score, payment history, credit utilization, and debt commitments, you can assess their degree of financial responsibility.

Eviction History

Get a comprehensive eviction history report covering all 50 states that discloses previous eviction filings, judgments, and rental-related legal proceedings that might not appear on credit reports.

Rental Application

With the help of our digital rental application, which gathers all necessary tenant data in a uniform format, comparing applications from multiple applicants is made quick and easy.

Income Verification

Bank and payroll API connection allows for direct employment and income verification. Get real income data instantaneously and do away with fraudulent employment letters and pay stubs.

Identity Verification

Document verification, biometric selfies, and government IDs are used for multi-factor authentication, ensuring the individual applying for your property is who they say they are.

See the full picture of your applicants

A background check shows you part of an applicant. Clara shows you all of it: criminal, eviction, credit, income, and verified identity, in one clear report.

Start Screening in Minutes
Rent with Clara Tenant Background Check

Why Landlords Trust Clara Over Other Tenant Screening Services

Clara was built specifically for independent landlords who want accurate, comprehensive tenant screening without the complexity or subscription fees of traditional services.
Features
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Subscription Required
No
No
Yes - Monthly fee
Mobile Experience
Fully optimized
Limited
Partial
Identity Verification
ID + Biometric
Basic
Basic
Income Verification
Direct Bank and Payroll integration
Self-reported
Self-reported
Results Delivery
Minutes
Same day
Same day

Testimonials

Love for Clara

Clara has completely transformed how I screen tenants. The biometric verification gives me confidence that I'm getting accurate information, and the direct income verification has caught several applicants who inflated their income. Worth every penny.

Sam, Landlord in Texas
Love for Clara

With a truly mission-driven approach and the latest collaboration features, this seamless technology has become my go-to screening platform for my team and clients.

Maria, Agent in Texas
Love for Clara

Clara has completely transformed how I screen tenants. The platform prioritizes all the relevant details I need to make decisions.

John, Landlord in Colorado
Love for Clara

The multi-layer verification within Clara gives me confidence that I'm getting accurate information from every applicant.

June, Agent in Texas
Love for Clara

With Clara, I have removed so much manual verification work from my screening process and significantly minimized the risk of fraud.

Scott, Landlord in Colorado

How It Works: Screen Tenants in 3 Simple Steps

Clara makes tenant screening effortless. Our streamlined process takes just minutes to complete and delivers comprehensive screening reports directly to your dashboard.
Send Application Link

Create and customize your application, enter your applicant's email, and send them a secure screening invite. No need to collect sensitive information yourself.

Applicant Completes Verification

Your applicant uploads their ID, takes a biometric selfie, verifies their income, and authorizes the checks, all from their phone.

Get Instant Results

Your applicant completes everything in minutes and submits. You get instant access to their tenant screening report with credit, criminal, eviction, income verification data, and verified identity, ready to review in your dashboard.

Ready to screen your next tenant?

Send your first request in under 5 minutes. Your applicant does the rest.

Screen Your Next Applicant

Common Screening Scenarios: When You Need a Tenant Background Check.

Clara's comprehensive tenant screening helps landlords avoid costly mistakes and protect their investment.
lease

Lease Turnover Situations

  • Compare every applicant in the same standardized format
  • Move quickly to keep vacancy days low
  • Decide based on complete, consistent information

When a unit turns over and applications stack up, Clara gives you a standardized report for each applicant, so you can compare fairly and fill the vacancy faster.

Remote Tenant Screening

  • Screen applicants without meeting in person
  • Confirm identity with government ID and a biometric selfie
  • Manage the whole process from your dashboard, anywhere

Whether you manage out of state or simply prefer not to handle paperwork in person, Clara lets you screen and verify applicants entirely online, with identity confirmed before any report is run.

Complete Criminal & Eviction History

  • Nationwide criminal search across federal, state, and local records
  • 50-state eviction history
  • See the full record in one place

Get the complete criminal and eviction picture for every applicant, sourced nationwide, so you can make an informed, consistent decision with nothing relevant left out.

Verifying Real Income

  • Verify income directly, not just self-reported figures
  • Confirm actual income against stated income
  • Verify employment status and tenure

Self-reported income is hard to rely on. Clara verifies income and employment directly, so you can confirm an applicant comfortably affords the rent.

Lease Turnover Situations

  • Compare multiple applicants with standardized reports
  • Quickly identify red flags across all applicants
  • Make data-driven decisions based on complete information

When you have multiple applicants for a vacant property, Clara helps you efficiently compare candidates and identify the most qualified tenant. Our standardized reports make side-by-side comparisons simple.

Remote Tenant Screening

  • Compare multiple applicants with standardized reports
  • Quickly identify red flags across all applicants
  • Make data-driven decisions based on complete information

When you have multiple applicants for a vacant property, Clara helps you efficiently compare candidates and identify the most qualified tenant. Our standardized reports make side-by-side comparisons simple.

Income Verification Challenges

  • Direct verification through payroll providers
  • Confirm actual income versus stated income
  • Verify employment status and tenure

Fake pay stubs and employment letters are increasingly common. Clara's direct income verification through payroll API integration confirms actual income and employment status, helping you avoid tenants who misrepresent their financial.

Lease Turnover Situations

  • Compare multiple applicants with standardized reports
  • Quickly identify red flags across all applicants
  • Make data-driven decisions based on complete information

When you have multiple applicants for a vacant property, Clara helps you efficiently compare candidates and identify the most qualified tenant. Our standardized reports make side-by-side comparisons simple.

Stay Legally Compliant

Clara's screening process is built around Fair Housing laws, FCRA requirements, and state-specific regulations. Our standardized approach applies the same criteria to every applicant, helping you make informed, defensible decisions.

Straightforward Pricing

No subscriptions, no hidden fees, no commitments. Just pay for the tenant screening reports you need, when you need them.
Complete Tenant
Screening Package
  • Full credit report with FICO score
  • Nationwide criminal background check
  • Eviction history search
  • Income and employment verification
  • Identity verification (ID + biometric)
  • Comprehensive rental application
  • Renters pay a one-time $49 fee to apply to unlimited Clara properties for 30 days.
It's Free for landlords and agents.
$49 paid by applicant
Start Screening a Tenant

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a tenant background check take?
Is Clara’s tenant screening compliant in all States?
Do I need the tenant's permission to run a background check?
What credit score do you need to pass a tenant background check?
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As good as renting gets.

Verified renter profiles. Transparent for both sides. Free for landlords.
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Resources / Guides
Best Tenant Background Check Software For Small Landlords
Top 5 Red Flags in Tenant Background Checks
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