FrontLobby

FrontLobby brings tenant screening, rental records, rent reporting and unpaid-debt reporting into one service for landlords and property managers. It is strongest for housing providers who want these tasks together, from a small rental portfolio to one with 1,000+ units. The free membership supplies basic property and lease tools, while screening and debt reporting can be purchased separately.

Overview

Screening combines credit data, background information and verified Tenant Records from Landlord Credit Bureau; FrontLobby’s US screening page names TransUnion as its credit partner. A landlord submits applicant information and obtains the required consent before viewing results online. Most reports are available within five minutes, although package choice, identity verification and consent steps can affect the wait.

The service is designed for landlords and property managers, and FrontLobby says it serves 67,000+ housing providers representing more than 1 million rental units across North America. Its breadth suits owners who also want to maintain rental records and report rent or unpaid balances. For a single screening with no interest in those ongoing tools, a pay-per-report option may be the more relevant part of the service.

Key features

Screening reports: Options combine credit reports with Tenant Record searches and background checks. The screening bundles include eviction, criminal conviction, terrorist, sex offender and federal offender searches, plus an income estimator. Identity verification is also offered. That scope can support a fuller applicant review, but landlords should choose a package based on the searches they need rather than assume every report contains the same checks.

Rental and debt reporting: The membership offers rent reporting for a limited number of leases, while separate debt-reporting products let housing providers report unpaid rental debt to credit bureaus without a court order or collection agency. The debt plans say the report can remain for up to seven years. This combination is useful for landlords who want to build rental records as well as screen applicants; those seeking only screening can avoid a membership.

Flexible payment: Screening can be paid for by either the landlord or applicant, and no subscription is required for screening. Applicant-paid products shift the report cost to the renter, while landlord-paid options keep the purchase with the housing provider.

Large-portfolio support: Larger operators can use bulk screening, software integrations and API access, with dedicated onboarding and support, volume pricing and customizable packages. These options make the service more suitable for scaled operations, though pricing is custom.

Security and support: FrontLobby says HTTPS traffic is protected with TLS, passwords are hashed with bcrypt, and customer data is stored on AWS with encryption at rest through Amazon RDS. Support channels include email, callback requests, live chat in the account and a Help Center with guides, videos and articles.

Pricing

FrontLobby is freemium: its Free Basic Membership costs nothing, billed forever. It includes Landlord Assist, property management, lease and Tenant Record tools, resources and marketplace access. Screening and debt reporting remain pay-as-you-go, so the free tier is a useful starting point but not a free screening plan.

The Premium Membership costs $19.92 a year, billed annually/monthly. It includes rent reporting for 20 leases, with each additional lease at $1/lease, up to 50% off screening and debt reporting, and one-on-one setup and support. It fits landlords who will report rent across multiple leases and expect to use paid reports; the 20-lease allowance and additional per-lease charge matter as a portfolio grows.

One-time credit and screening prices vary by package:

Credit Report — Premium: $14.99, paid once, including a credit score and full report, previous-address tenant history and TeleCheck check verification.

Credit Report — Basic: $19.99, paid once, with the same listed contents as the Premium credit report.

Applicant-Pay Credit Report: $19.99, paid once; the applicant pays for a credit report.

Tenant Screening Bundle — Premium: $29.99, paid once, including a credit report, Tenant Record search, eviction and criminal conviction searches, terrorist, sex offender and federal offender searches, and an income estimator.

Tenant Screening Bundle — Basic: $39.99, paid once, with the same listed bundle contents as the Premium bundle.

Applicant-Pay Tenant Screening Bundle: $39.99, paid once; the applicant pays for a credit report, background check, Landlord Credit Bureau Tenant Records, LTB order search and ID verification.

The two debt-reporting options both cover reporting unpaid rental debt to credit bureaus without a court order or collection agency, for up to seven years. Debt Reporting — Premium is $99.99, paid once; Debt Reporting — Basic is $199.99, paid once. The stated contents are the same, so the price difference is not explained by a distinct listed feature. Larger portfolios can request custom pricing and packages.

Platforms

FrontLobby is available on the web and through an API. API access is also part of the enterprise options for larger portfolios.

Who it's for

FrontLobby is a good fit for landlords and property managers who want screening tied to lease records, rent reporting or debt reporting, and for larger operators that need bulk screening or integrations. A landlord who screens only occasionally can use pay-as-you-go reports without subscribing. It is less compelling for someone who wants only a free screening service: the free membership does not include free reports.

Pros and cons

Pro: A free membership covers property, lease and Tenant Record management, so landlords can use those tools without committing to a paid plan.

Pro: Screening can be purchased without a subscription and paid for by landlord or applicant, giving flexibility over who covers the report cost.

Pro: The screening bundles combine credit and Tenant Record data with multiple background searches, and the service also supports rent and debt reporting.

Con: The free tier does not include screening or debt reports, and screening remains a separate purchase.

Con: The Basic and Premium credit reports and screening bundles have overlapping stated contents but different prices; buyers should compare the package names and contents carefully.

Con: Premium Membership’s rent reporting allowance is 20 leases, with an added $1/lease beyond that, which can raise the cost for larger portfolios.

Alternatives

For a broader view of the category, see Tenant Screening Software. RentSpree is worth considering if mobile access matters: it supports Android, iOS and web, offers a free plan and trial, and its Landlord PRO plan adds automated rent collection with waived ACH fees for $6.99 a month billed annually, or $8.99 per month.

Rent With Clara may suit landlords who want a free platform without subscription, per-screening or activation fees; it supports Android, iOS and web. Ayillo Tenant Screening is a paid alternative with a free trial and a Core workspace plan at $49 a month, billed monthly per workspace, including the first five units.

Certn Tenant Screening offers paid screening on Android, iOS, web and API, including an Identity Verification option at £3, paid once. RentSafe has a free Property Manager plan with unlimited applications and no credentialing requirement; renter applications cost $45 as a one-time purchase per adult applicant.

SingleKey offers free pre-screening for interested leads and supports API and web. SoftScreen has a cost-free plan for landlords and real estate professionals, with no usage fees or membership costs stated. ApplyConnect offers property operators a free plan with an Experian credit report, criminal background check and eviction history, and is web-based.

Verdict

Choose FrontLobby if you are a landlord or property manager who wants applicant screening alongside rental records and rent or debt reporting, with pay-as-you-go reports and an optional membership. Its main advantage is that combination, backed by options for large portfolios. Look elsewhere if you want free screening or a simpler one-purpose report: the free membership does not cover reports, and package contents and prices call for careful comparison.