How to Require a Portable Screening Report in Your Rental Listing

The short answer

Colorado landlords: learn how to require a Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) in your rental listing. Includes exact listing language and HB25-1236 compliance guidance.

As a landlord in Colorado, you now have options that didn't exist before HB25-1236. Instead of paying $35–$50 per applicant to run background checks yourself, you can require applicants to provide their own Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) — and accept it at no charge to you or them.

This guide walks you through the legal basis, the listing language to use, and how to make the process seamless for applicants.

The Legal Basis Under HB25-1236

Colorado's HB25-1236 created a framework for tenant-paid, portable screening. Under the law:

• Tenants have the right to submit a compliant PTSR that landlords must accept
• Landlords who accept a PTSR cannot charge the applicant an additional screening fee
• The PTSR must meet minimum content requirements (identity, criminal, eviction, income)
• The report must be dated within 30 days of the application

You can structure your listing to require a PTSR as the condition of application. This is fully legal in Colorado and saves you the cost and friction of managing a separate screening vendor.

What to Say in Your Listing

Here's a template you can copy and paste into Zillow, Craigslist, Apartments.com, or any other listing platform:

Application Process: We participate in Colorado's Portable Tenant Screening Report (PTSR) program under HB25-1236. To apply, please obtain a current PTSR (dated within 30 days) from a compliant provider and include it with your application. We recommend Settl (settlhome.com) — a $99 one-time cost that covers identity, income, employment, and background verification. No additional screening fee will be charged to accepted applicants.

You can also use a shorter version for platforms with character limits:

PTSR required (HB25-1236 compliant). Please obtain a current portable screening report from settlhome.com before applying. No landlord screening fee charged.

Where to Put the Requirement

On Zillow: Add the PTSR requirement in the "Description" or "Rental Requirements" section. Some Zillow rental listings also have an "Application Instructions" field — use that if available.

On Apartments.com: Include the requirement in your unit description. If you're using CoStar-managed tools, add it to the application instructions field.

On Craigslist: Include the PTSR requirement clearly in the body of your listing, near the application instructions. Applicants read all the way to the bottom when they're serious about a unit.

On Facebook Marketplace: Put it in the listing description and in your first message to inquirers.

How to Handle the Application Process

When an applicant submits their PTSR (via a Settl verification link), here's the flow:

• The applicant shares their Settl verification link with you directly via email or your application portal
• You click the link to view their verified report: identity confirmed, income verified, employment history, background check results
• You review the report without logging into any separate screening service
• You make your decision based on the report and any additional criteria you've set

You can use Settl's free landlord dashboard to manage multiple applicants, view all submitted reports in one place, and track who has provided their PTSR.

What You Can Still Require Beyond the PTSR

A PTSR covers the screening portion of your application process. You can still require:

• A completed rental application form with addresses, references, and household members
• Proof of renter's insurance (or a commitment to obtain it before move-in)
• An in-person or video showing before signing
• Your own minimum income, credit, or rental history thresholds

What you cannot do, once you've accepted a PTSR: charge the applicant a separate screening fee for running your own background check.

The Time Savings Add Up

Landlords who switch to a PTSR model report a significant reduction in time spent on screening. No more managing a screening vendor account, no more waiting 24–48 hours for results, no more handling applicant disputes about background check accuracy. The tenant arrives pre-screened. You review the report and make a decision.

Sign up for the free Settl landlord dashboard to get started — no subscription, no per-applicant fee, and full HB25-1236 compliance built in.

Ready to get your Settl Verified Passport?

Verified identity, income, and stability, all in one report landlords trust. Apply anywhere, pay once.

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