Run a tenant background check with real people who answer the phone.
A tenant background check is one of the most important decisions you make before handing over the keys. NCS Workforce gives landlords, property owners, investors, and management companies a fast, FCRA-compliant way to screen applicants, with credit, criminal, and eviction history in one clear report. Our tenant screening is built on more than 20 years of National Crime Search expertise, and it comes with something most providers bury in the fine print: when you call, you reach a live person in our office. You're the priority. We make it easy.
What's in a tenant check
A good rental background check tells you what you need to know without drowning you in noise. Every NCS Workforce tenant screening report is built from the searches that actually matter for a housing decision, so you can move forward with confidence.
Tenant credit report with FICO score
See the applicant's credit history and FICO score so you can gauge how they handle financial obligations, including their track record on rent and recurring payments. Credit reporting is available as part of the more complete tenant packages; talk to us about adding it to your account.
7-year multi-state criminal search
A 7-year multi-state criminal database search helps you spot relevant records across jurisdictions, so you're not relying on a single county to tell the whole story.
National Sex Offender Registry
A search of the National Sex Offender Registry helps you protect your property, your other residents, and your community.
7-year eviction history check
Our 7-year eviction database search surfaces prior landlord-tenant judgments and eviction filings, a strong signal of how a future tenancy may go. This is the eviction history check landlords ask for by name.
SSN trace
A Social Security Number trace confirms identity and uncovers names and addresses tied to the applicant, so the rest of your searches are pointed in the right direction.
OFAC / watchlist
We check the applicant against the OFAC and U.S. Treasury watchlists, a standard part of responsible, compliant screening.
The searches included vary by package. Tell us about your applicants and we'll help you choose the right depth of screening.
Screening packages
We offer a range of screening packages so you can pick the depth that fits each application. Three core packages cover most landlords and property managers, and there's a premium option when you need to go deeper.
Basic — $29.95
A solid, affordable starting point for screening rental applicants when you need the essentials.
Essential — $45.95
A step up from Basic, with broader coverage for a more complete picture of your applicant.
Enhanced — $64.95
Our most comprehensive of the three core packages, for the deepest standard look at an applicant before you hand over the keys.
Need more? Our Expanded package ($74.95) adds an even broader, premium level of screening when a particular application calls for it. Ask us and we'll point you to the right fit.
Not sure which package fits, or want to screen at volume? Get a quote or call and talk to a real person, and we'll help you choose.
Plans for how you screen
Beyond the per-report packages above, NCS Workforce offers plans that match how often you screen and how much workforce capability you want behind it.
- NCS Lite — criminal background checks only. Simple and fast, made for smaller landlords or occasional hirers who just need a clean, quick check.
- NCS Workforce Pro — build the plan you need. Pro is à la carte: add the capabilities that matter to you, from continuous criminal monitoring and the Hailey AI assistant to electronic authorization, smart forms, dashboards and analytics, and review/approval workflows. You choose what's in it.
- NCS Workforce Platinum — everything Pro offers, fully included, plus enterprise capabilities like organization hierarchy and waterfall permissions and advanced Hailey. Built for larger property management companies and multi-location organizations.
Pricing depends on what you need, so the next step is a quick conversation. Contact us for pricing and we'll talk through the right plan for your portfolio.
Turnaround: results in about 4 business hours
You don't have time to lose a good applicant to a slow report. Most NCS Workforce tenant screening reports come back in about 4 business hours, so you can make a decision while the applicant is still excited about the unit.
Some county-level court records can take longer when a particular jurisdiction is experiencing delays. When that happens, we tell you, no guessing and no silence. And if you ever want a status update, you'll quickly reach a live person in our office who can check for you.
Meet Hailey, your AI HR assistant
Hailey is a full, conversational AI assistant that lives right inside your NCS Workforce command center. She's not a behind-the-scenes algorithm, she's an assistant you actually talk to. Hailey can help you with screening questions, make sense of results and charges, choose the right package for an application, and guide applicants through the process. On our advanced plans, she can even help walk you through adverse-action guidance.
Here's the difference: most providers bolt AI onto the back end where you never see it. NCS gives you a hands-on AI assistant right in your command center, with real people always a call away. You get the depth of a true HR assistant and the reassurance of a human on the phone whenever you want one.
Related reading: Meet Hailey
FCRA adverse action for housing
When you run a tenant background check, you're a "user" of a consumer report under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and that comes with real responsibilities. We don't leave you to figure them out alone.
Before you screen:
- Get the applicant's written authorization and provide the required disclosures, including "A Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA." We can help you collect FCRA-compliant consent electronically.
If the report leads you to deny an applicant, raise the deposit, or add a co-signer or other condition, you must follow the two-step adverse action process:
- Pre-Adverse Action Notice — Before you decide, send the applicant a notice that includes a copy of the report and the summary of their FCRA rights, then allow a reasonable amount of time for them to review and dispute the information.
- Adverse Action Notice — After a reasonable amount of time has passed, send the final notice letting the applicant know of your decision and how to dispute the record with the screening agency.
Applicants are entitled to a copy of their report and have the right to dispute records they believe are inaccurate. We provide applicant-specific templates so you can handle adverse action correctly, and our team is here if you have questions along the way. Fair, compliant treatment protects your applicants and protects you.
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Housing laws, including fair housing rules, vary by state and city. When in doubt, check with your attorney.
Related reading: FCRA Compliance, Adverse Action Process
Who pays & sample report
Who pays for the screening? That's up to you. Many landlords and property managers pass the cost to the applicant as part of an application fee, while others absorb it as a cost of doing business. However you choose to handle it, we'll help you set things up to fit the way you run your properties.
Want to see what you get before you commit? Ask us for a sample tenant screening report and we'll walk you through exactly how the results are laid out, what each section means, and how to read a record. No pressure, just a real person showing you the product. Get a quote and we'll include a sample.
Why property managers choose NCS Workforce
- Real human support, one tap away. When you call, you reach a live person in our office, not a phone tree, a bot, or a ticket queue. We answer the phone because you're the priority, and behind every great tenant decision there should be people who care.
- 20+ years of screening expertise. NCS Workforce is built on National Crime Search, with over two decades of full-service background screening and more than 20,000 customers nationwide.
- Accredited and compliant. We're FCRA compliant, SOC 2 compliant, and one of the first CRAs to earn PBSA accreditation, renewed in 2026, with a BBB A+ Rating. These are the credentials that signal you're working with a serious, legitimate partner.
- A real AI assistant, not a black box. Hailey lives inside your command center to answer screening questions and guide you and your applicants, while real people stay just a call away.
- Powerful technology, guided by people. Our tools make screening quick and easy while our experts stay close, so you're always in the driver's seat.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a tenant background check?
An NCS Workforce tenant background check can include a 7-year multi-state criminal search, the National Sex Offender Registry, an SSN trace, OFAC/watchlist screening, a 7-year eviction history check, and a tenant credit report with FICO score. The exact searches depend on the package you choose. Our Basic, Essential, and Enhanced packages cover most applications, with a premium Expanded package when you need to go deeper.
How long does tenant screening take?
Most reports are ready in about 4 business hours. Some county court records can take longer when a specific jurisdiction is running behind, and if that happens, we'll let you know.
How much does a rental background check cost?
Our core screening packages are Basic ($29.95), Essential ($45.95), and Enhanced ($64.95), with a premium Expanded package ($74.95) when an application calls for more. Plans like NCS Lite, Workforce Pro, and Platinum are priced based on what you need, so get a quote or call us and we'll walk you through it.
Does the report include an eviction history check?
Yes. A 7-year eviction database search is available in the more complete tenant packages and surfaces prior eviction filings and landlord-tenant judgments, a strong signal of how a future tenancy may go.
What do I have to do if I reject an applicant based on the report?
You must follow the FCRA's two-step adverse action process: first send a Pre-Adverse Action Notice with a copy of the report and the applicant's FCRA rights summary, allow a reasonable amount of time for the applicant to review or dispute, then send a final Adverse Action Notice. We provide templates and our team can walk you through it.
Can I see a sample report before I sign up?
Absolutely. Ask us and we'll share a sample report and walk you through how to read it. Get a quote to get started.
Get a quote
Ready to screen your next applicant with confidence? Tell us a little about your properties and we'll get you set up, with real people behind every report. That's peace of mind, powered by people.
Get a quote. Or talk to a real person and we'll help you choose the right plan and pricing.
Or reach us directly: (479) 695-2111 | support@nationalcrimesearch.com Support hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CST, Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM CST
You can also log in to your command center anytime at mycommandcenter.com.
Striving to exceed your expectations. Give us a try.
Related pages: Employment Screening, Services & Pricing, Meet Hailey
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You're the priority. Call and you'll quickly reach a live person in our office — not a bot, not a phone tree, not a ticket queue.