Rentspree Tenant Screening Revamp

Research & Insights

User Research

We conducted qualitative interviews with 12 recent applicants and analyzed quantitative funnel data from the past year.

Key Findings:

  1. Perceived Length & Complexity:
    Users described the application as “never-ending” and “too detailed for an initial rental inquiry.”

  2. Mobile Friction:
    65% of users reported struggling with input fields, scrolling, and navigation on mobile devices.

  3. Redundant Questions:
    Several questions asked for information already provided in previous steps (e.g., employer details, contact info).

  4. Unclear Progress Indicators:
    Applicants weren’t sure how much was left, increasing drop-offs mid-way.

  5. Trust & Privacy Concerns:
    Users were hesitant to share sensitive info (like SSNs or bank details) before understanding how data would be used.

Competitive Analysis

We benchmarked 5+ competitor apps (Zillow, Avail, Turbotenant and Apartments.com).

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Analyzing the existing application and rethinking the questionnaire logic

Part 1: Applicant Information

Part 2: Rental Application

Part 3: Tenant Screening

Part 4: Pay and Submit

Design Approach

1. Simplification of Content

  • Audited all 98 questions with PMs and Legal to identify unnecessary or repetitive fields.

  • Reduced total questions by 32% (to 67).

  • Grouped related questions (e.g., income + employment + references) into concise modules.

2. Progressive Disclosure

  • Introduced contextual step logic so users only see questions relevant to their answers (e.g., co-signer info appears only if “Yes” is selected).

  • Reduced visible form length on mobile by 40%.

3. Mobile-First Design Update

  • Rebuilt form components for mobile usability:

    • Larger tap targets and autofill support

    • Persistent progress bar

    • Sticky “Save & Continue” CTA

    • Real-time validation with in-line feedback

  • Updated typography and spacing using the new design system (DS v2) for consistency and accessibility.

4. Visual Feedback & Trust Signals

  • Added micro-interactions for form completion (“Step complete!”).

  • Included clear privacy explanations at data-sensitive steps to build trust.

5. Smart Save & Resume

  • Implemented auto-save and re-entry checkpoints to reduce frustration for users interrupted mid-process.

Restructuring and Dividing the questions

Updated Web Flow

Mobile Flow

katya dorofeeva