Frequently Asked Questions

Rookd offers up to nine layers of verification: email verification, phone verification via SMS, government ID verification, photo verification with liveness detection, property ownership verification (coming soon), background checks powered by Checkr, license verification for landlords, address history verification, and payment verification through Stripe. Email verification is required for all users. Everything else is optional but recommended, and each additional verification boosts your Rookd Score.

Identity verification on Rookd happens in stages. First, you verify your email address and phone number. Next, you can upload a government-issued ID such as a driver's license or passport. Our system checks the document for authenticity and matches the information to your profile. Finally, photo verification uses a live selfie with liveness detection to confirm you match your ID. This prevents fake accounts and catfishing. Your actual ID details are encrypted and never shared with other users.

Property ownership verification is an upcoming feature that will cross-reference landlord claims against county assessor records. When a landlord lists a property, Rookd will verify that they actually own or are authorized to rent the property by checking public ownership records. This prevents rental scams where someone lists a property they do not own. Once available, verified property owners will receive a special badge on their listings, giving renters additional confidence.

Yes. Background checks on Rookd are optional for tenants. You can create a profile, verify your identity, browse listings, and connect with landlords without completing one. However, some landlords may require a background check as part of their application process. Background checks are powered by Checkr, an FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agency. You have full control over when and with whom your background check results are shared. Completing a background check also contributes to a higher Rookd Score.

Rookd uses multiple layers of defense against fake profiles. Photo verification with liveness detection ensures a real person is behind the account. Government ID verification confirms that person's identity matches official records. Our Trust and Safety team reviews flagged accounts within 24 hours. We also monitor for suspicious activity patterns like unusual messaging behavior, duplicate accounts, and profile inconsistencies. Users can report suspicious profiles directly, and confirmed fake accounts are permanently banned from the platform.

If a verification step fails, you will receive clear guidance on what went wrong and how to resolve it. Common issues include blurry ID photos, expired documents, or mismatched information. You can retry any verification step. If your government ID cannot be verified, you can try with a different form of accepted ID. If a background check reveals disqualifying information, the details are handled in accordance with FCRA guidelines, and you have the right to dispute inaccurate findings. Failed verification does not ban you from Rookd but it will limit which features and listings you can access.

Rookd's roommate matching system helps you find compatible people to live with. After creating your profile, you fill out a lifestyle questionnaire covering 35 or more factors including sleep schedule, cleanliness standards, noise tolerance, pet preferences, work-from-home habits, social tendencies, and more. Rookd then suggests matches based on compatibility. You can browse potential roommates, view their verification status and Rookd Scores, and message them securely through the platform before deciding to live together.

Rookd's matching algorithm analyzes over 35 lifestyle factors to calculate a compatibility percentage between you and potential roommates. Factors include daily routines, cleanliness expectations, pet ownership, smoking and drinking preferences, guest policies, shared space usage, budget range, move-in timeline, and preferred locations. The algorithm weighs factors differently based on which ones matter most to you. You see your top matches ranked by compatibility, and you can filter by verification level, budget, and location. Both parties must express mutual interest before messaging is enabled.

Absolutely. Rookd supports both individual renters looking for their own place and people looking for roommate situations. You can browse all available listings, filter by entire units or rooms for rent, set your budget range, choose your preferred neighborhoods, and save searches with alerts for new listings. Whether you want a studio apartment for yourself or a room in a shared house, Rookd has listings for both. You can also join property waitlists to be notified when units become available in buildings you are interested in.

When you find a listing you like, click Apply and your Rookd profile is automatically attached to your application. This includes your Rookd Score, verification badges, rental history, and any references. You can add a personal message to the landlord explaining why you are a great fit. If the landlord requires a background check, you will be prompted to authorize one through Checkr. Landlords see your complete profile at a glance and can respond directly through Rookd's messaging system. Your contact information stays private until you choose to share it.

Rookd has built-in pet-friendly features. When setting up your profile, you can add your pets with details like breed, size, and any relevant certifications such as emotional support animal documentation. You can filter listings specifically for pet-friendly properties. Landlords can specify what types of pets they allow, size limits, and required pet deposits. Rookd's pet verification feature lets you document your pet's vaccination records, training certifications, and references from previous landlords regarding your pet. This helps pet owners access more housing options by building trust with landlords who might otherwise not allow pets.

Rookd has a free tier for both renters and landlords. For renters, three paid tiers are available: Plus at $14.99 per month gives you 5 applications per month, 2 markets, 30 fistbumps per day, and Scout alerts. Pro at $29.99 per month unlocks 15 applications, 5 markets, unlimited waitlists, 3-day early access to new listings, and 100 fistbumps per day. Unlimited at $49.99 per month gives you unlimited applications across all markets, 7-day early access, incognito mode, and unlimited fistbumps. Annual billing is available on all plans and saves you up to 17 percent. For landlords, Castle Free includes one property listing. CastlePro at $19.99 per month supports 2 properties with priority search placement. CastleMax at $49.99 per month supports 4 properties with top placement, auto-matching, and featured listings. All paid plans are month-to-month with no long-term commitment required.

The free plan for renters includes creating and verifying your profile, browsing listings in one market, 10 fistbumps per day for roommate matching, one rental application per month, one saved search, secure in-app messaging, and building your Rookd Score through verifications and reviews. For landlords, the Castle Free plan includes one active property listing, 5 messages per day to tenants, access to verified applicant profiles with Rookd Scores, and standard search placement. No credit card is required to use the free plan.

Rookd Plus at $14.99 per month (or $149 per year) gives renters 5 rental applications per month, access to 2 markets, 3 included waitlists, 30 fistbumps per day for roommate matching, 3 super fistbumps per week to stand out, 3 rewinds per day, Scout alerts with 30-day future availability lookahead, 5 saved searches, one application boost per month, one profile boost per month, 3 daily curated picks, and the ability to see the names of people who viewed your profile. You also receive a blue profile badge. For more features, Pro at $29.99 per month adds 15 applications, 5 markets, unlimited waitlists, 3-day early access to listings, and an ad-free experience. Unlimited at $49.99 per month removes all limits and adds incognito browsing and first impressions messaging.

When you set up rent payments through Rookd, you connect your bank account or card through Stripe's secure payment system. You can choose to pay manually each month or set up automatic payments on a specific day. On the payment date, funds are transferred from your account to your landlord's account. Standard bank transfers typically process within two to three business days. Every on-time payment is recorded on your Rookd profile and contributes to your Payment Track Record, which makes up 30 percent of your Rookd Score.

No. Rookd believes in transparent pricing, which is why all costs are clearly stated upfront. The free plan is genuinely free with no surprise charges. Paid plans can be billed monthly or annually, with annual billing saving you up to 17 percent. For rent payments, standard bank transfers (ACH) have no additional fees. Credit card payments may include standard processing fees charged by the payment processor. Background checks through Checkr have a clearly disclosed fee that is shown before you authorize the check. We do not charge application fees, signup fees, or cancellation penalties. You can cancel any paid plan at any time.

Rookd was born in Breckenridge, Colorado, where the housing crisis is deeply personal. Our founder John Cronin, a White House Champion of Change, witnessed firsthand how Colorado's mountain communities struggle with housing availability despite having rooms and spaces that could be rented. The 2024 Summit County Tally Count identified 137 people experiencing housing instability, and 52 percent of them were employed. The problem is not unemployment. It is a lack of trust infrastructure that connects people who need housing with people who have space. Colorado is where we prove the model before expanding.

Rookd currently serves Summit County including Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, and Keystone. We also cover Eagle County with Vail, Avon, Edwards, and Minturn. Pitkin County coverage includes Aspen and Snowmass Village. Grand County communities like Winter Park, Granby, and Grand Lake are served as well. On the Front Range, we cover the Denver metro area and Boulder. We are actively expanding to Routt County (Steamboat Springs), Lake County (Leadville), and Gunnison County (Crested Butte), with additional communities planned throughout 2026.

Rookd approaches the housing shortage differently than most solutions. Rather than focusing solely on new construction, Rookd unlocks existing housing by creating trust between people. Many homeowners have spare rooms they would rent if they trusted the tenant. Many landlords hold units vacant or convert to short-term rentals because they cannot find reliable long-term tenants. Rookd's verification and scoring system builds the trust needed to bring these hidden units onto the market. Our 1,900-plus member Summit County Roommate Madness community has already proven that when you create a trusted space, people connect and housing gets filled.

Yes. Rookd supports seasonal housing, which is essential in Colorado's mountain towns where workers need housing during ski season or summer tourism. Landlords can list properties with seasonal availability windows, and renters can search specifically for seasonal terms. Your Rookd Score carries between seasons, so returning workers can demonstrate their reliability from previous stays. Landlords can set different terms for seasonal versus year-round leases. Future availability tracking lets seasonal workers plan ahead and secure housing before their season starts.

Yes. Colorado is our proving ground, but our vision extends well beyond state borders. The trust infrastructure Rookd is building is needed anywhere housing is scarce and people need to trust strangers to share space. Our expansion roadmap targets other western mountain communities and resort towns where seasonal workforce housing is a critical challenge. After establishing strong Colorado coverage, we plan to bring Rookd to communities across the mountain west and eventually nationwide. The core insight that trust unlocks housing applies everywhere.