Apartmentalize 2025 Recap: Fraud is evolving. Are you ready?

This year’s Apartmentalize made one thing impossible to ignore: fraud is advancing faster than legacy screening can keep up, and leasing teams are feeling the strain. From packed sessions to happy hour chats, operators told us they need screening technology that’s holistic, lightning-fast, and designed for people, not paperwork.

“Fraud has become too sophisticated for even the most experienced leasing teams to catch. It’s time we stop asking our site teams to be financial detectives.”

We couldn’t agree more, and every conversation at the VERO booth reinforced why VERO’s full-stack approach is resonating.

1. Fraud Outpaces Manual Review

Operators are confronting new threats daily: fraudulent pay stubs, synthetic identities, and AI-generated documents. Proactive tools are scarce. One owner summed it up perfectly:

“Since applicants are getting so good at faking documents, we can’t rely on just looking at documents anymore.”

That’s why we built Lumen to spot inconsistencies automatically, before a fraudster gets their hands on the keys.

2. Speed Matters When Tours Are Down

With virtual touring on the rise and in-person visits declining, every minute counts. As one leasing director told us:

“We need to act fast in a world where site tours are down. We want the ability to get someone through the process quickly.”

VERO’s mobile-first application workflow completes identity, income, and background checks in minutes, enabling qualified renters to move from lead to lease without bottlenecks.

3. Automation That Feels Human

Leasing teams echoed a common pain point:

“We’re drowning in manual verifications. Automation is great, but it can’t feel rigid.”

VERO automates 90%+ of the process, yet keeps applicants fully informed with real-time status updates and clear requests if anything is missing. Teams move faster, renters feel respected, and everyone wins.

4. Built for People, Embedded in Process

Our applicant workflow and manager portal resonated with visitors because VERO integrates with the PMS operators they already use. As one attendee said:

“We need tools built for people. VERO makes life easier for applicants and site teams—and fits right into our PMS.”

Renters glide through a mobile checklist, while leasing teams see live results in VERO, which is synced directly in Yardi, Entrata, or RealPage—no data re-entry required.

5. Centralization Isn’t Coming—It’s Here

More owners aim to centralize screening, but few have a framework that works across assets. One portfolio leader (20,000 units, multi-state) put it plainly:

“Our current tool solves only part of the problem. We’re looking for a holistic solution we can use in multiple markets while keeping uniformity.”

VERO standardizes criteria portfolio-wide,  yet still caters to each property's unique set of rules, so regional teams gain both consistency and flexibility to drive occupancy.

6. Employer & Bank Connections Beat PDFs

Traditional uploads are a fraudster’s playground. Multiple operators highlighted the power of direct data links:

“We love your Employer and Bank Connections. Our teams can finally stop relying on PDFs, where so much fraud hides.”

By pulling payroll and deposit data straight from the source, VERO eliminates guesswork and slashes review time.

7. Preventing Evictions Is Priceless

One regional manager shared a post-VERO milestone:

“We’re not spending time in eviction court anymore. VERO has caught so much fraud we never saw before.”

Pre-screening accuracy isn’t just a nice-to-have; it protects NOI, preserves staff bandwidth, and builds healthier communities.

8. Meeting Renters Where They Are

A final theme: applicants expect convenience. As one VP of Operations told us:

“We want to meet people where they are.”

VERO’s mobile experience allows renters to apply from anywhere, whether from the couch, the bus, or the break room. There's no need for scanners or office visits, just a frictionless path to approval.

VERO in Action: Why Full-Stack Screening Wins

Unlike narrow, fraud-only tools, VERO delivers comprehensive screening coverage, encompassing identity and income verification, as well as background and fraud validation, all within a single flow.

Final Word

Apartmentalize 2025 underscored a new reality: leasing success depends on fast, full-stack screening and real-time fraud defense. We’re proud to lead that charge, helping property teams act quickly, uniformly, and confidently, no matter the market.

If we missed you in Vegas, let’s connect. We’d love to show how VERO meets renters where they are, keeps teams out of detective mode, and drives real results across your portfolio.

Ready to see for yourself? Request a demo here.

We’re on-hand to help you screen smarter, faster, and safer.