Can You Use One Background Check for Multiple Apartment Applications?
The short answer
Can you use one background check for multiple apartments? In Colorado and other states with PTSR laws, yes. Learn how 30-day portable reports save you money.
You're apartment hunting in a competitive market. You've found three places you like. Traditionally, that means three separate background checks, three application fees, $120–$150 gone — and most of it nonrefundable, whether you get approved or not.
The short answer to "can you use one background check for multiple apartments" used to be: no. Now, in Colorado (and in an increasing number of cases nationally), the answer is: yes.
The Traditional Answer: No
Under the old model, every landlord ran their own background check through their preferred screening vendor. There was no standardized format, no portability, no way to share results from Landlord A's screening provider with Landlord B. Each application was a fresh start — and a fresh fee.
This wasn't entirely arbitrary. Landlords wanted control over their own screening process, and different providers offered different data packages. But from the tenant's perspective, it meant paying repeatedly for the same information about yourself.
The PTSR Answer: Yes, in Colorado
Colorado's HB25-1236 created the legal framework for portable screening. Under this law:
- A tenant can obtain a single Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) from a compliant provider
- Landlords in Colorado must accept that report for up to 30 days from its issue date
- The landlord cannot charge a separate screening fee if the tenant has provided a valid PTSR
This means one report, one purchase, usable at every apartment you apply to within the 30-day window. If you're an active apartment hunter, you could apply to 10, 15, or 20 listings — all on a single $99 verification.
The Cost Savings Math
Let's run the numbers for someone seriously apartment hunting:
- Traditional model: 8 applications × $40 average fee = $320 spent, mostly nonrefundable
- PTSR model: 1 Settl Passport ($99) + 8 applications at $0 screening fee = $99 spent
- Savings: $221 on a single search cycle
For someone renewing after 30 days or searching again the following year, the renewal cost is $39 — even better savings on repeat searches.
How the 30-Day Window Works
Your PTSR is valid from the date it's issued. If you get your Settl Passport on March 1, you can submit it to landlords through March 31. On April 1, it's expired and landlords in Colorado no longer have to accept it.
Practical advice:
- Don't get your PTSR until you're ready to actively apply — don't let it expire while you're still browsing
- If you're close to the 30-day limit and haven't found a place, renew ($39) before the expiration date
- If you find a unit you love on day 28 and need to submit quickly, your report is still valid — act on it
What About States Outside Colorado?
Colorado is the clearest example because of HB25-1236, but the concept is gaining traction:
- Several states have proposed similar PTSR legislation, and the trend is accelerating
- Many individual landlords outside Colorado voluntarily accept third-party reports, especially high-quality ones like Settl that pull from primary sources
- Corporate property management companies are increasingly open to tenant-provided screening as a time-saver
If you're outside Colorado, it's worth asking your target landlords: "Do you accept a third-party tenant screening report?" The worst they can say is no, and many will say yes.
How to Get Started
Getting your portable screening report through Settl takes 10–15 minutes:
- Go to settlhome.com/apply
- Complete identity verification (government ID + selfie)
- Connect your bank for income verification
- Add employment verification if applicable
- Get your verification link — share it with every landlord you apply to
Start your Settl Passport today and stop paying per application.
Settl Team
Settl Editorial
Settl helps renters stand out in competitive markets through verified identity, income, and rental verifications. Trusted by landlords across the US.
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