If you’ve ever applied for a rental and wondered what’s actually being reviewed behind the scenes, you’re not alone. Many renters assume property managers are looking for one perfect number or a single red flag that decides everything. That’s not how it usually works. In Colorado, tenant screening is made up of a few core checks that help property managers understand risk and fit. None of them tell the full story on their own. And none of them make decisions by themselves.

If you’re applying for a home in Colorado, there’s a good chance you’re wondering how eviction history checks work and how much they matter. Evictions feel heavy, even when they happened years ago or during a tough moment that’s long passed.

This guide walks through what typically shows up on a tenant background check, what might not, and how Colorado rules affect what you’re required to accept. It’s written for property managers who want accurate, fair screening without surprises for themselves or for renters.

Here’s a clear look at how these fees work, when they’re allowed, and how Colorado’s portable screening law changes what renters can be charged.

If you’ve rented in Colorado, you’ve probably paid an application fee more than once. Sometimes it’s forty dollars. Sometimes fifty. Sometimes more. And you rarely know what that fee actually covers.

Colorado’s portable tenant screening report law is meant to save renters time and money by letting you reuse a recent screening report instead of paying new fees every time you apply for a home. But the details can get confusing. What exactly counts as a “portable tenant screening report”? Who creates it? And how do you know if yours meets the legal standard?

Portable tenant screening is a new idea for a lot of renters in Colorado. If you’ve ever paid multiple application fees in a single search, you already understand why this law matters. Colorado now lets you use a portable tenant screening report (often called a PTSR) instead of paying for a brand-new screening every time.