How hard is it to set up an online form?

[Blackjack200]

Hello all,

I'm thinking of renting out a room in my house, and I'd like to set it up so people that are interested in renting the room can go to a web address and put their Name, SSN, and phone number into an online form and submit it so I can run a credit/background check before I bother setting up an appointment.

Is there a good/simple way to go about this?

 

[Crusty]

If i was looking to rent a place out and came across an owner-operated website asking for my SS# I would probably alert the authorities against possible identity theft.

If you want to screen possible tenants, require a credit report when they make their application.

 

[Blackjack200]

That's a PITA, I don't want to show the room to people that have a low credit score anyway.

If I was just trying to steal SSNs why would I go to all that trouble, and leave so much evidence? (Address, name, phone number, etc.)

 

[Crusty]

That's a PITA, I don't want to show the room to people that have a low credit score anyway.

If I was just trying to steal SSNs why would I go to all that trouble, and leave so much evidence? (Address, name, phone number, etc.)

Ask yourself this question. If you went to a seemingly random website(as in not an established corporations website) and were asked for your SSN would you put it in there in good faith? I'm just trying to save you a LOT of hassle.

I'm quite familiar with doing short term rentals and while asking for a credit report is NOT out of the norm I have not and never will ask someone for their SSN. If they are unwilling to provide you with a copy of their own credit report then it's obviously not worth renting to them.

 

[Cogman]

Ask yourself this question. If you went to a seemingly random website(as in not an established corporations website) and were asked for your SSN would you put it in there in good faith? I'm just trying to save you a LOT of hassle.

I'm quite familiar with doing short term rentals and while asking for a credit report is NOT out of the norm I have not and never will ask someone for their SSN. If they are unwilling to provide you with a copy of their own credit report then it's obviously not worth renting to them.

Bingo. The next problem you will have is just generating traffic to your site. When I go to look for some place to rent, I generally don't look into personal websites. I would probably rely on craigslist and word of mouth.

 

[Crusty]

I guess I should really answer your question though. If you are recording peoples SSN alongside personally identifiable information you will need to be PCI compliant. Which means finding a proper host, getting an SSL certificate, and making sure ALL of your software is PCI compliant.

It's simply not worth it for a few rentals here and there.

 

[Net]

yes, state that you require a background checks. Then put a link to the the address where they can fill in their information from a company that does background checks.

 

[Markbnj]

Hello all,

I'm thinking of renting out a room in my house, and I'd like to set it up so people that are interested in renting the room can go to a web address and put their Name, SSN, and phone number into an online form and submit it so I can run a credit/background check before I bother setting up an appointment.

Is there a good/simple way to go about this?

No, man. Just no.

If you want to rent a room that's what Craig's List and classified sites are for, not to mention the local sites many newspapers run, and the nationwide online markets specific to rentals.