CIC Resident Screening vs Rent With Clara

CIC Resident Screening provides data rental housing providers can use to evaluate applicants against rental criteria. Credit reports are available from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion and can include a VantageScore, tradelines, address history, and fraud search. Its nationwide housing court search covers past court actions, unlawful detainers, and monetary judgments; criminal searches cover felonies, sex offenses, wants, and warrants. CrossNet Decision includes a rental checklist that applies the customer’s criteria. CIC says its Regulatory Matrix checks criminal and housing court records against national, state, and county restrictions using a property’s ZIP code, at no extra charge for clients. The service is available through web and API, with integrations for property management software and custom options through its open API. CIC describes itself as a consumer reporting agency regulated by the FTC and CFPB, reporting for clients with a permissible purpose under the FCRA. Pricing is from $9. Traditional account setup requires a subscriber agreement and onsite physical inspection.

Rent With Clara provides rental applications and tenant screening for renters, landlords, and real estate agents. Screening reports can include credit history and a FICO score, criminal and eviction records, application details, income and employment checks, and identity verification. For identity checks, Clara compares a live image of a government-issued ID with a biometric selfie for liveness and face matching. Income and employment can be verified through payroll, bank connections, or third-party-verified documents; Argyle is its named partner for direct-source verification. Clara says credit reports come from TransUnion. Renters can reuse a profile and active reports when applying to multiple landlords during a 30-day period. Profiles are encrypted and shared only with landlords or agents the renter approves. Reports remain active for 30 days, after which renters can refresh them. Clara says its screening process is designed around Fair Housing laws, FCRA requirements, and state-specific regulations. Landlords and agents can use the full platform without a fee; a renter application costs $49.00 USD once and covers unlimited Clara properties for 30 days.