MySmartMove says it does not do background checks for Cook County

[Bonnie Clark]

Hello,

After reading recommendations on this site for tenant screening, I decided to sign up for Transunion MySmartMove. But in the process, it says that it will not run the criminal checks on Cook County residents. How do others still do background checks and you expect the applicants to pay for the $42 plus whatever else a background check costs?

Is there a better site to use that includes everything for tenant screenings? This is the first time I'm doing all this myself. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[Scott Trench]

Interesting - Did you use the "Tenant Screening" link under "tools" in the navigation bar at the top of your screen? If so, that's intersting that they don't run criminal checks in Cook County. Perhaps other Chicago investors can chime in here and help us out? Is there another tool that can be used? Is there a local ordinance that prohibits background checks in Cook County?

[John Warren]

@Bonnie Clark that is really strange. I have been using Zillow for a while now since it is quite a bit cheaper than smart move. Cook County passed the "just housing" ordinance a while back that muddied the waters around using criminal history as a screening tool. We aren't allowed to look at criminal history until after all other decision points, and we have a few limits on how far back we can go on criminal history. Maybe that is why they stopped working here? Most of the other sites just add a disclaimer when you click on background check that says to look there last. 

[Brie Schmidt]

@Bonnie Clark it is because of the ordinance passed in 2020

https://www.illinoisrealtors.o...

@John Warren Zillow will no longer be doing background checks here either

[Bonnie Clark]

Quote from @Brie Schmidt:

@Bonnie Clark it is because of the ordinance passed in 2020

https://www.illinoisrealtors.o...

@John Warren Zillow will no longer be doing background checks here either

Thanks for the info. So would you suggest to try to use another service that still provides background checks? If so, which one?

[John Warren]

@Brie Schmidt do you know if they are eliminating it completely on Zillow? I am still getting background checks on the units we are leasing. 

[Brie Schmidt]

@John Warren - There is a disclaimer that they will no longer be doing it in the city at least