Overview
The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to an international student or tenant based on their national origin. You need to consider all the applications you’ve received, and your tenant screening process needs to remain the same for each applicant, regardless of whether an applicant is a U.S. citizen or an international tenant.
DoorLoop requires a Social Security Number (SSN) to run TransUnion background checks. For international applicants without Social Security Numbers, you may need to request alternative documentation for verification instead. Verification in this instance is done outside of DoorLoop.
You'll want to check your local landlord-tenant laws before beginning the screening process.
Send an application with tenant screening turned off
For applicants without SSNs, use either the free Basic Plan or the Customizable Plan with "Add automatic tenant screening upfront" turned off. The Customizable Plan still allows you to charge an application fee, even without running background checks.
Since the SSN is a required field and cannot be disabled, have them temporarily enter any 9-digit number so they can continue filling out their rental application and complete it.
Note: These applicants without an SSN will show up as Identity Unverified.
Alternatives for screening tenants without a social security number
Without an SSN, you'll need to screen your applicants in other ways. Below are a few examples of what you can ask for:
Credit reference: A credit reference on a rental application provides information on a financial relationship the tenant had with a person or business that can speak to their trustworthiness and ability to make on-time payments. Examples of this are asset documentation, character references, or financier support.
Landlord reference: If the international applicant has previously rented an apartment, then you may be able to connect with their prior landlords.
Monthly bill statement: An applicant’s phone bill or utility bill statement can be a good indicator of their ability to make on-time payments.
Bank account statement: A bank statement can provide insights as to how they’re currently paying for their monthly expenses. This can be with stipends, allowances, or grant money.
Pay stubs: Tenants currently employed in the U.S. should be able to provide two of their most recent pay stubs to verify their income.
You can set up your rental applications with these additional sections in the Create Questions section and the Requests Documents section. For a refresher on how to create a rental application, read Company Rental Application Settings.