A completed screening brings together the results of the six verification checks for every person on the application. This article explains how the report is organized and how to interpret the overall status.
How status rolls up
Burnt summarizes results from the bottom up. Each person has a result for each check. Those combine into a status for that person. The statuses of all people combine into a status for the screening, and the screening status informs the application. When you are scanning many applications, the top-level status tells you where to focus. When you need detail, you open the screening to see each check.
The six checks
Identity. Confirms the applicant is who they claim to be, using a government identification document and related verification. See Reviewing identity and document results.
Income. Confirms the applicant income and compares it against the rent using your affordability standard. See Understanding the affordability result.
Employment. Confirms the applicant employment status.
Credit. Reports the applicant credit profile from a consumer credit source. See Reviewing credit results.
Background. Reports relevant records from background sources.
Eviction. Reports prior eviction records where available.
The affordability result
Affordability compares income against rent. In the current version, the income total is the sum of the primary applicant and any co-applicant.
Making a decision
After you review the checks, record your decision. If you decline an applicant based on information in a report, you may have responsibilities under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. See Adverse action and how to handle a decline.