Use Stessa’s rental applications and screening tools to identify reliable and responsible tenants. These features help you reduce the risk of:
Missed rent payments
Property damage
Tenant turnover
With a streamlined application process and best-in-class background checks powered by RentPrep and TransUnion, you can make informed decisions and protect your investment.
Rental Applications: What You Need to Know
What Is a Rental Application?
Stessa’s Rental Application is a simple, structured way to collect essential applicant information—without the need for a public marketing page.
When you share an application link for any property, applicants are asked to provide:
Personal details
Residence history
Employment information
Contact information for all intended occupants
Once submitted, each applicant is also required to complete a background screening.
How Rental Applications Help
Stessa applications help you:
Organize and track applications in one place
Review credit reports and background check results within Stessa
Ensure complete and accurate information is submitted by all applicants and co-applicants
Screening Background Checks
What Screening Options Are Available?
Stessa offers two core background screening options, both facilitated by RentPrep and backed by TransUnion:
1. Full Background Check + Credit Report
Includes:
FCRA-certified background check by RentPrep
Full credit report from TransUnion
Criminal and eviction history
This is the most thorough screening available.
2. Credit Report Only
Includes:
TransUnion credit report
A streamlined, lower-cost option
Optional Add-On: Income Verification
You can also add Income Verification to either screening package. This report includes:
Annual net income summary
Average monthly net income
Verified by Payscore
Who Pays for the Screening?
For Applications + Screening
Applicant Pay Only
Landlord Pay is restricted due to the co-applicants functionality- you don't want to end up paying for 5 screenings because they invited their whole family to apply!
Can I Screen without an Application?
Yes, you can screen applicants without requiring a rental application.
How It Works:
Select Screen Tenant and choose Screening Only
Select the screening report & submit the order
Receive full screening results within Stessa
Note: Landlord pay is available for Screening Only.
For more information visit, Screening Only.
Applicant Communication
What Emails Will Applicants Receive?
Applicants will receive the following emails:
Application + Screening Email - sent from hello@tenant.stessa.com
From here, the applicant will go through a flow to fill out the application and the screening all in one smooth process.
Screening Only Email – Sent from hello@tenant.stessa.com
From here the applicant will go through a flow to complete the screening request.
Payment Confirmation Email – Sent if the applicant is paying for their own screening
Income Verification Email – Sent from incomeverification@payscore.com when the income verification add-on is included
Reviewing Applications and Screenings
Once all applicants and co-applicants have:
Completed their rental applications, and
Submitted their screening reports,
You will receive a notification in Stessa. You can then:
Review all self-reported application data
View detailed screening results from RentPrep
⚠️ Important: An application is only considered complete once all parties have submitted both the application and the credit/background check.
Application Decisions
Approving an Application
Once you're ready to move forward with a tenant:
Mark the application as approved within Stessa
Notify the tenant directly (Stessa does not send approval emails)
Begin next steps, such as:
Collecting a deposit
Uploading a signed lease
Creating a tenancy
Preparing to collect rent
Denying an Application
To decline an applicant:
Mark the application as denied in Stessa
Notify the tenant yourself – Stessa does not send denial emails
You are responsible for:
Sending any required adverse action notices
Ensuring legal compliance with FCRA and other applicable laws
We recommend consulting with legal counsel to ensure all communications are accurate and compliant.
About RentPrep and Stessa
RentPrep provides all screening services for Stessa. Their team of FCRA Certified Screeners specializes in:
Background checks
Credit reports
Income verification
Stessa and RentPrep are both part of the Roofstock family of companies.
To learn more about RentPrep, visit: RentPrep.com