Online Applications, Fees & Screening Reports

Accepting online rental applications, application fees and ordering tenant screening reports through Rentec Direct software helps streamline tenant placement and fill your rentals quickly. 

System Note: For security reasons and to remain in compliance, all new Rentec Direct clients will be prompted to validate their identity before any of the following features can be enabled. This is a one-time process that is required to ensure the security of your data.

• Tenant Screening
• Online Payments
• Syndication

GETTING STARTED

The information below is an introduction to help you get started with Online Applications, Fees, and Screening reports. Each subject has clickable links to detailed instructions and more information about the topic.

1. Ordering Tenant Screening and Credit Reports
2. Receive application fees online
3. Creating your online application with a fee
4. Marketing or advertising available rentals
5. Providing applicants a link to apply
6. How to access received applications

ORDERING TENANT SCREENING AND CREDIT REPORTS 

Tenant Screening reports can be ordered through your Rentec Direct software, and with a quick application, you will also be ready to order Credit reports. 

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Reports
2. Select Screening Reports
3. Under Ready to Order Credit Reports, click the  "CLICK HERE" link to complete your application.

Note: We can have you set up to pull credit report cards within 24 business hours.

Learn more about Ordering and Viewing Tenant Screening Reports

RECEIVE APPLICATION FEES ONLINE

Receive application fees online through your Rentec Direct software with an active merchant account and CC/Debit Card option selected.

Apply now for Payment Processing Setup | Enrollment

Important Notes:

• Most merchant applications are approved on the same day and set up with Rentec Direct on the next business day.
• When applying for a merchant account, you will have the option of ACH and CC/Debit Card or ACH only. CC/Debit Card is required for online application fees. If you prefer, default settings can indicate ACH only for rental income.

Pro Tips: In addition to Application Fees, here are some of the other online financial transactions that may be processed through your Rentec Direct account with an active merchant account:

• Rental Income via ACH and/or credit or debit card
• Pay Vendors via ACH
• Owner Contributions via ACH
• Owner Disbursements via ACH

CREATE YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION AND ESTABLISH YOUR APPLICATION FEE

Customize your Online Rental Application and Fee in Rentec Direct.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Settings
2. Under Program, click on Rental Applications
3. Set Enable Online Applications to Yes
4. Select the Default Questions to be displayed on the application
5. Indicate any Instructions for completing the application or providing documentation
6. Add Custom Questions you'd like to add and indicate:
   1. If you would like to allow a Single or Multiple Line response
   2. If an answer is Required. If an answer is Required, the application cannot be submitted without a response to that question.
7. Under Application Fees:
   1. Enter the Application Fee Amount to be applied
   2. Choose if you want to Apply the collected fee to the property as income
   3. If you do not want the application fee to post to the property and deposit into a different merchant account than Use the dropdown to choose Which account will the application fee credit to?
   4. Use the dropdown to choose which category the Application Fee is to be applied to
8. Click on Save Changes

System Notes: When selecting the account application fees are to deposit into

* The account must be linked to a merchant account

* The account can be different than the 'Income Account' indicated in the property

Learn more about Online Payment Processing, Multiple Deposit Accounts for ACH and Credit Card Payments, and Managing Rental Applications

Tip: If you prefer to have applicants pay for their screening reports separately, you may want to contact ApplyConnect or RentPrep screening services.

MARKETING OR ADVERTISING YOUR AVAILABLE RENTALS 

Marketing your available property on your website and syndicated sites is simple with your Rentec Direct account.

The following steps guide you through enabling marketing options for your properties.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Properties
2. Right-click on the property and select Marketing Info

   1. Enter the Property Identification, Search Criteria (lead tracking), and photos (upload, drag & drop, or share from the file library).

      Pro Tip: Use the ChatGPT AI listings generator to transform a basic property description into a well-crafted marketing tool. Learn more about the AI listing generator Instant Property Descriptions For Rental Listings

3. Under Publishing, check:
   1. Publish Online Listing - To change the status of the property to available on your website 
   2. Accept Online Applications - To display a link to your online application

   3. Enable Syndication - To send your listings to third-party sites such as Zillow, Trulia, and Apartments.com.

      System Note:  If you only want the property listed on your website, uncheck Enable Syndication

Learn more about Marketing Your Rental Through Online Listings and the Syndicated Sites

PROVIDE APPLICANTS A LINK TO APPLY

When a potential tenant is interested in your available property, you can direct them to your website or send them a link to the application using the following steps.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Properties
2. Right-click on the property and select Marketing Info
3. Under Resources, right-click on This Property's Public Page for the specific property or All Public Listings and select copy link address (send to applicant)

VIEW APPLICATIONS & PULL TENANT SCREENING REPORTS

• Rentec Pro application alerts are emailed to the Account Administrator
• Rentec PM application alerts are emailed to the Marketing Manager designated in the property

While viewing online applications, you will have the option to order Tenant Screening Reports through a link on the application.

Applications can be viewed:

1. Through the Quick Access Links on the Summary Page
2. Through the Applications Page

From the application, you can order Background Checks on each applicant, approve or decline the application, add applicants as tenants, and place them in the property. To access the Applications Page:

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Properties
2. Click on Applications
3. Click on the Application

Learn more about Managing Rental Applications