Every year, over half of rental apartments in the US turn over. Yet the tenant screening and application process—critical for ensuring smooth operations—is outdated, inefficient, and increasingly prone to fraud. The result is a system that fails tenants and landlords alike, with financial losses, operational headaches, and poor tenant matchmaking.

In our latest Field Study: Tenant Screening and Application, we set out to tackle this broken process head-on. 

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Not to sound dramatic, but the stakes are high. Consider this: a single tenant mismatch can lead to $15k in foregone rent and eviction costs—and that’s before factoring in renovation and relisting costs. Fraud compounds the problem, with nearly 24% of eviction filings linked to fraudulent applications. In some geographies like Atlanta, Florida, and Texas, fraud rates are even higher due to lenient legal systems and faster eviction timelines.

But this isn’t just about dollars and cents. The tenant screening process is fundamentally broken. Legacy tools rely on static inputs like credit scores and income verification, which fail to account for context or change. They overlook job losses, medical emergencies, or other life events—and they offer little predictive power to gauge a tenant’s likelihood of renewal or payment consistency.

Why Now?

The rental market has evolved, but screening hasn’t. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing, fraud is rising, and tenants are demanding more streamlined experiences. At the same time, landlords are under pressure to reduce turnover and maximize occupancy rates, all while navigating complex local regulations.

We believe this moment presents an opportunity for innovation. With advancements in automation, data analytics, and integrated platform design, there is a unique opportunity to reset the system. Modern tools can de-risk tenant selection, improve tenant experience, and ultimately create more value for landlords.

What’s Next?

Our Field Study highlights two approaches reshaping the industry:

1. Screening Solutions
   Companies like Get 100 are introducing end-to-end platforms that eliminate fraud and friction from the rental process. Their “Verified Renter Network,” developed in partnership with CLEAR, sets industry standards for secure tenant profiles while streamlining applications for renters and operators alike.
   
2. Marketing & Tenant Management Tools
   Solutions like Reffie focus on funnel management by integrating tenant sourcing tools and streamlining communications between renters and property managers. By increasing application volumes and reducing lead times, these tools improve the odds of securing high-fit tenants.

What’s clear is that the future belongs to full-stack platforms: platforms that integrate screening, leasing automation, rent collection, and renewal management into one seamless experience for all stakeholders.

See Who’s Building the Future of Tenant Screening

Our Field Study doesn’t just diagnose the problem—it maps out the competitive landscape and investment framework for identifying winning solutions in this space. Curious which startups are leading the way? Download Field Study: Tenant Screening and Application now to explore actions that could transform your approach to tenant management.