Every landlord should run a background check on an applicant, but there's one important thing you needa signed consent form. Once you run the tenant credit check, look at the credit score, payment history, debt-to-income ratio, and amount of outstanding debt.Employment Verification. One key requirement is obtaining written consent from the tenant before conducting a background check. I was told I needed to fill out a rental application (where ssn is required) before viewing it because he gets several requests a day. Under federal law, a landlord who denies your tenant application because of information in a tenant screening report is required to inform you of that fact. Under North Carolina law, you can do the following things without fear of eviction: • Complain to the landlord;. You must have the tenant's permission to carry out a credit check, and you must do so within the bounds of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Landlords and other housing providers may require individuals to undergo a criminal background check as part of the application process.