Property managers sometimes think of a background check as a single step. In fact, it’s several steps that should connect so seamlessly that the prospect doesn’t even realize it. This guide covers how tenant screening works in Yardi Breeze, what the report checks and how the process differs between the U.S. and Canada. We’ll also touch on which screening tools are specific to Yardi Breeze Premier.
Key takeaways
- Tenant screening on Breeze Premier combines credit, criminal, civil and public records into one report
- Screening is run by ScreeningWorks Pro in the U.S. and built on Equifax and Certn data under the product name Yardi Resident Screening in Canada
- You get a risk score and the records behind it, then you make the decision
- In the U.S., screeningWorks Pro add-ons such as ID Verify, Income Verification and Document Authentication further enhance your ability to protect your renters and your business from fraud
What tenant screening checks
A tenant screening report combines several separate searches into one result. In Yardi Breeze, the screening is run by ScreeningWorks Pro, a service that integrates seamlessly into the leasing workflow in Breeze. ScreeningWorks Pro completes more than 2 million screenings a year for over 9,500 properties. The credit portion is a soft check, so running it does not affect the applicant’s credit score. Instead of a credit score, the report returns a risk score and provides up to five reasons for the score. It’s important to note that screening does not choose renters for you.
Integrated AI fraud detection
In 2025, Yardi partnered with SentiLink to add free synthetic identity fraud detection to ScreeningWorks Pro, available to both Breeze and Breeze Premier clients. The tool targets Credit Privacy Number (CPN) fraud, an illegal Social Security Number substitute sometimes marketed as a credit repair trick, using machine learning to catch fabricated or purchased identity data.
SentiLink is built directly into ScreeningWorks Pro, so property managers can flag risky applications, cut unnecessary manual reviews, reduce fraud losses and move qualified applicants through leasing faster.
How tenant screening works in U.S. vs. Canada
The biggest difference between the two markets is the data behind the report. Each country keeps its credit and public records in different systems, so a U.S. report and a Canadian report draw on different sources.
| U.S. | Canada | |
| Screening tool | ScreeningWorks Pro, owned by RentGrow | Equifax and Certn, run under the Yardi Resident Screening setting |
| Credit data | Experian, Equifax and TransUnion | Equifax |
| Background & public records | National criminal, civil court, sanctions and watchlist | Certn report: public and legal records; adverse media; sanctions and watchlist; politically exposed persons |
| Available add-ons | ID Verify, Income Verification, Document Authentication via Snappt | Not currently available in Canada |
| How applicants are screened | From the RentCafe application once the fee is paid | RentCafe data transfers to Breeze, then the operator processes the screening |
| Application fee | Set by the operator | Not required to screen |
| Turnaround | Most results return in seconds; criminal hits can take up to three business days | Same turnaround as the U.S. |
| Result | Risk score on the 300 to 850 range plus the records; conditional on your criteria | Equifax credit data plus Certn records; conditional on your criteria |
U.S. screening: Three national bureaus
In the United States, screening draws credit data from the three national bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
Canadian screening: Equifax & Certn
In Canada, screening runs under the Resident Screening setting in Breeze Admin, combining an Equifax credit report with a Certn report. The Certn report pulls public and legal records, adverse media and politically exposed persons, along with global sanctions and watchlist hits.
No application fee is required to screen in Canada, though clients still need to pass identity verification and keep an online payment method enabled.
U.S. screening add-ons to consider
Income verification
ScreeningWorks Pro Income Verification checks an applicant’s income and employment without the back-and-forth of calling an employer or chasing down pay stubs. Through The Work Number, it reaches more than 350 million records covering over 80% of Fortune 500 companies and federal employers, returning verified results in minutes instead of the days a manual check usually takes.
For affordable housing operators, the same verification flows into recertification, cutting a process that once took a week or more down to a few minutes per household. The result for a Breeze client is a fast, reliable way to help evaluate applicants.
Document authentication
ScreeningWorks Pro Document Authentication, powered by Snappt, scans the documents an applicant submits and flags signs of tampering, such as altered pay stubs or doctored bank statements, before a leasing decision gets made. Snappt’s detection technology checks for visual discrepancies, font inconsistencies and text insertion. These are the kinds of edits that are nearly impossible to catch by eye.
Document authentication software can reduce renter fraud by 35% within the first few months of use. It isn’t a replacement for full screening, but it closes a gap that credit and background checks alone don’t cover.
Identity verification
ScreeningWorks Pro ID Verify confirms that an applicant is who they claim to be, using computer vision and AI to scan and authenticate a government-issued ID in seconds. It shows up at the points in the leasing journey where identity matters most: before a self-guided tour, during the online application and at move-in, so the person who shows up to collect keys is the same person who passed the initial check. Once a prospect verifies their identity for a tour, they don’t have to repeat the process if they go on to apply, which keeps the leasing flow moving instead of adding friction. ID Verify is currently available for U.S. domestic clients only.
How to turn on tenant screening
Applicants usually reach screening through the application itself. When a prospect applies through your RentCafe listing and pays the application fee, the screening runs from that application. You can also screen manually in Breeze for a walk-in who applies in the office.
Are you a Breeze or Breeze Premier user or simply exploring property management software and want to explore which tenant screening options are right for you? Start a chat with our AI assistant, so we can connect you to the right product expert.
Tenant screening FAQs
An applicant applies through your RentCafe listing or in the office, and Breeze runs the screening through ScreeningWorks Pro in the U.S. or through Equifax and Certn data under Yardi Resident Screening in Canada. You get a report with the records and a risk score, and you decide whether to approve.
No. The credit check is a soft inquiry, so it does not affect the applicant’s credit score.
U.S. screening draws on Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, plus criminal, civil and sanctions records. Canadian screening uses an Equifax credit report and a Certn report covering public records, adverse media, sanctions and politically exposed persons.
Pricing depends on your screening package. Your account team can confirm the cost for your setup.
No. Tenant screening is built for residential applicants. For manufactured housing, business screening is available through the screening team.
