Do you refund background check costs?

Question

My first tenant would like a roommate. The roommate she has chosen asked if I would reimburse him the cost of the credit /background check. Is this something that is normally done? I used a property manager to find the first one and I have no idea if they reimbursed her fees or not.

Linda S. · Answer

@Thomas Robb,

No, we do not reimburse background checks.   If they can't afford the $25, they probably can't afford the rent.   It's the  normal cost of applying.

Account Closed · Answer

Hi Thomas! It isn't typical to reimburse that cost due to your cost of running such a report.

Randy E. · Answer

No.  As @Linda D. said, if the applicant can't afford to spend $25 for an app fee, they can't afford to rent your property.

However, if an applicant expresses concern, I explain a few negatives that might eliminate them, like having a past eviction show up on their report.  That way, if they know they have such a negative, they can save their money and not apply.

Mike O. · Answer

I refund the background check fee when I collect first months rent and security deposit. Obviously if you fail the background check I am not going to reimburse you the money. It comes down to personal preference and I don't think either way is right or wrong

Dick Rosen · Answer

Absolutely not!

Oleg I. · Answer

No. If I struggle with some situation like that, I would normally ask myself a question: "What would a real apartment complex manager would do in this situation?" In this situation I would not allow a roommate (pain to evict or collect) and I would not reimburse anything to anyone. We don't run charity.

Jennifer T. · Answer

I know this isn't the norm, but I actually do allow my tenants to take the background check fee off the first month's rent.  The way I look at it is, the background check is for my benefit.  Because I'm the one who wants to know about their criminal/credit/eviction record.  So I feel I should pay for it.  Though, of course, I don't pay upfront.  Just in case a tenant changes their mind about renting or has lied/given misinformation and actually doesn't qualify.

With that said, in this particular situation, I wouldn't reimburse for the background check.  You already have a tenant.  You are being gracious enough to allow them to add a roommate, as long as that person qualifies.  New roommate should take that question to their buddy, your tenant, for a background check refund.

Matthew Paul · Answer

nope

Do you refund background check costs?

Most Popular Reply