International/foreign national screening

[Shakil Ahmed]

Hi - wondering what the community experience is for such background check, identify verification etc. The potential tenant is a student at a College and does not have SSN/TIN. We use RentSpree for all screening, but most screening platforms require  SSN.

Would appreciate any recommendation that is fair and defensible legally, thank you.

[Jimmy Lieu]

Quote from @Shakil Ahmed:

Hi - wondering what the community experience is for such background check, identify verification etc. The potential tenant is a student at a College and does not have SSN/TIN. We use RentSpree for all screening, but most screening platforms require  SSN.

Would appreciate any recommendation that is fair and defensible legally, thank you.

Hi Shakil! Welcome to BP. This comes up pretty often with student and international applicants, and the key thing is keeping your process consistent so it’s fair and defensible. A lot of landlords handle the no-SSN situation by still running identity verification using passport info and visa or enrollment documents, then shifting the focus more heavily onto income proof, bank statements, and school enrollment status rather than traditional credit. Some also lean on a qualified guarantor or co-signer, which is pretty common for students, especially if the guarantor is domestic and can actually be screened through standard methods. If you’re using RentSpree or similar tools, you can usually still create a partial profile and just note that credit data is limited or unavailable, then document your alternative screening criteria in writing so you’re applying the same standard to any applicant without an SSN. The main goal is just making sure you’re not making ad hoc decisions case by case, but instead have a clear “no SSN path” that relies on identity verification, income ability, and a strong guarantor or other risk mitigants.