Depends.

Landlords can charge potential tenants for credit and background checks.

If you are the current tenant looking for a roommate to share your place, you can ask the potential roommate to pay the fee to get a background check. If this is a criteria to rent your room, make sure you are up front about the costs and the plans for the background check so there are no disputes on who has to pay.

If you want to screen the person who you will be moving in with, you can ask them to pay the fee. Make sure this is agreed upon. Depending on the situation the role of who pays may be reversed.

Protect your belongings by ordering a background check through RoommateShop here!