Built-In Value: How VERO’s New Partner Program Expands the Future of Multifamily Leasing

In multifamily, the leasing process has always been about balancing speed, security, and resident experience. You need approvals to move faster, fraud prevention to stay strong, and operations that run smoothly without introducing unnecessary friction.

For years, VERO’s Applicant Experience has set the standard for achieving that balance. But now, VERO is taking that framework even further, connecting screening, protection, and coverage into one seamless flow.

The launch of VERO’s Built-In program enables properties to activate value-added services directly within the applicant workflow. It’s a modular approach that gives operators control over what services appear to renters, creating curated experiences that match each property’s risk profile, brand, and revenue goals.

The first Built-In Partners, Rhino and Cosign, are already helping thousands of properties approve faster, reduce financial risk, and strengthen NOI.

To explore what this means for operators and why it’s a significant evolution for VERO, we sat down with Michael Wagnon, VERO’s Vice President of Customer Experience.

Michael, VERO already helps properties verify and protect through screening. What does the Built-In program add to that ecosystem?

Michael:
You could think of the Built-In program as the natural evolution of the VERO platform.

Historically, VERO has focused on the verification side — identity, income, credit, background, and fraud detection. That foundation gives properties confidence in who they’re approving.

But leasing doesn’t stop at verification. Once a renter is approved, operators still have to manage deposits, insurance, and guarantors. Those are critical to mitigating risk and ensuring move-ins happen smoothly.

The Built-In program brings those pieces into the same environment. Properties can now activate protection and financial tools — such as Rhino’s deposit and loss-of-employment insurance or Cosign’s lease guarantor coverage — right within the applicant workflow.

It’s the next step in making VERO not just a screening solution, but a connected risk management system.

So, in practice, what does “Built-In” mean for a property team?

Michael:
It means flexibility and control.

With the Built-In program, every property can configure its own applicant journey based on its operational priorities. If a property wants to reduce deposits to accelerate leasing velocity, Rhino can be activated to provide deposit alternatives and renters' insurance options directly to qualified applicants.

If a property serves a market with higher default risk, Cosign can be built in as a no-cost guarantor option that protects owners while maintaining high approval rates.

Everything happens inside VERO — no redirects, no separate workflows, no friction. Leasing teams stay in one system, and renters complete everything in one place.

What makes Rhino and Cosign ideal first partners for this program?

Michael:
We chose them because they align perfectly with VERO’s mission — reducing risk while improving access and experience.

Rhino is a proven leader in rental insurance and deposit alternatives. Their suite includes security deposit insurance, renters insurance, and loss-of-employment protection, all designed to protect owners and reduce move-in barriers for renters.

Cosign complements that by offering a free lease guarantor service for properties. It protects against defaults, damages, and early terminations, giving owners confidence to approve more applicants who may not have a traditional co-signer or a perfect credit profile.

Together, they make the leasing process faster, safer, and more equitable.

How does this change the experience for leasing teams?

Michael:
For leasing teams, it’s transformative.

They no longer have to manage separate processes for deposits, guarantors, or insurance. Everything is consolidated into the same workflow they already use for screening.

So, for example, when an applicant completes their verification steps, VERO can automatically determine eligibility for Rhino or Cosign products. The options appear natively in the workflow, and once selected, the coverage is confirmed without leaving the platform.

That means fewer conditional approvals, faster move-ins, and less manual coordination.

The teams I talk to say it feels like the technology is finally catching up to how they want to operate — integrated, intuitive, and intelligent.

How does this benefit the applicant?

Michael:
For renters, it’s about accessibility and transparency.

Most renters don’t love being bounced between multiple systems: one for screening, one for deposits, and another for insurance. With Built-In partners, everything they need to complete their application and move in is available in a single, guided experience.

It also helps reduce upfront costs. If a renter qualifies for Rhino, for example, they can replace a multi-thousand-dollar deposit with a low-cost insurance premium.

And because Cosign is free for properties, renters who might otherwise struggle to get approved can move forward with confidence knowing their lease is backed.

It’s a win for both sides. Renters feel empowered, and operators see fewer abandoned applications.

You mentioned risk alignment earlier. How does the Built-In program help properties manage risk strategically?

Michael:
Every property has a different risk profile.

Some portfolios are laser-focused on speed and occupancy, while others prioritize risk mitigation or revenue optimization. The Built-In framework allows operators to align those goals at the property level.

You can activate different partners or products based on local market conditions, occupancy targets, or underwriting requirements.

That’s where the AI and modular framework behind VERO really come into play. The system learns from applicant data, property performance, and outcomes. Over time, it can recommend which partners or products drive the best results for a given property type or region.

That’s not just reactive, it’s intelligent portfolio management.

How do Built-In Partners tie into the rest of the VERO ecosystem — Fraud Shield, Risk OS, Copilot?

Michael:
They’re all part of the move away from fragmented tools to an integrated Risk OS for multifamily.

• Our Fraud Shield layer prevents risk before the lease is signed — verifying identity, income, and documents with AI-powered precision.

• VERO Copilot, our AI Property Analyst, helps onsite teams interpret data, simulate outcomes, and make faster, more informed decisions.

• Built-In Partners extend that experience beyond approval, connecting the protection and coverage that sustain long-term portfolio health.

Each layer strengthens the next. The result is a fully connected risk management ecosystem — one where verification, decisioning, protection, and intelligence work together seamlessly.

For operators already using VERO, how will they activate these Built-In options?

Michael:
It’s simple by design.

When the first integrations go live, operators can activate partners directly through the VERO platform — no custom integrations, no separate vendor agreements. The VERO team handles setup, configuration, and support.

Once activated, the partner options appear automatically in the applicant workflow and can be fine-tuned when and how they’re displayed. For example, only show deposit insurance options to applicants who meet certain credit or income criteria.

It’s plug-and-play risk management.

What comes next for the Built-In program?

Michael:
Rhino and Cosign are just the beginning.

Over the next year, we’ll expand the Built-In ecosystem to include additional categories. I can't say which at this point, as those partner agreements are work in progress, but our vision is to give operators a curated marketplace of vetted partners — not a chaotic app store — where every integration aligns with operational, compliance, and revenue goals.

Eventually, this will extend to predictive insights through VERO Copilot, where AI recommends which Built-In services should be activated for a given property based on occupancy patterns, applicant demographics, and fraud trends.

We’re not just connecting partners — we’re connecting outcomes.

What does this shift mean for the industry as a whole?

Michael:
It’s a fundamental shift in how multifamily thinks about leasing technology.

For years, the industry has been stuck in a cycle of point solutions — each solving one problem but creating another set of disconnected workflows.

With the Built-In program, we’re showing that risk management and resident experience don’t have to live in separate silos. They can exist in harmony, within one intelligent system.

It’s the next step toward a faster, safer, and more connected rental experience — for everyone involved.

One Platform. Infinite Possibilities.

VERO’s Built-In program represents more than a new set of integrations: it’s the next chapter in connected risk management for multifamily.

By embedding trusted partners directly into the Applicant Experience, VERO enables operators to align risk strategy, streamline operations, and enhance the resident journey through a single platform.

It’s leasing without limits.
Protection without friction.
And a future where every property, renter, and partner moves forward together.

Experience the future of Built-In risk management at OPTECH 2025, Booth #570, and see how VERO is redefining portfolio protection.