How Long Does it Take to Process a Rental Application? The tenant screening or credit reporting company generally has 30 days to investigate your dispute, though in some cases they have 45 days.Every landlord should run a background check on an applicant, but there's one important thing you needa signed consent form. Start a free North Carolina rental application form to screen potential tenants for your property and to obtain consent for credit and background checks. Run a credit report: Make sure the applicant has enough income to afford rent. State law requires landlords to return security deposits to tenants within 30 days of the lease's end date.