What Are Discount Codes?
Discount codes are a BoomScreen feature that allows partners to reduce or fully waive the application fee for prospective renters. Discount codes can be used to:
Run promotions to help fill vacant units faster.
Offer time-bound discounts to incentivize applicants to submit.
Waive fees for specific individual renters.
Waive feed for renters that pay their application fees in person, or outside of the Boom platform.
Discount codes can be applied to new applicants, applicants who have been invited to apply, and applicants who have an application already in progress.
Who Can Create and Manage Discount Codes?
Access to discount codes is role-based in BoomScreen:
Admins — can create and manage discount codes, set which screening templates a discount code applies to, and manually apply custom discount codes to individual applications.
Other Roles — can add discount codes to applications and individual applicants, but only if an Admin has granted them permission to do so.
To grant a non-Admin user permission to apply discount codes:
Select the User or User Role you want to grant permission to.
Check one or both of the following permissions:
Apply active discount code — allows the user to apply existing active discount codes to applications.
Apply custom discount code — allows the user to create and apply one-time custom discount codes to individual applicants.
How to Create a Discount Code
To create a new discount code, follow these steps:
Go to Screening settings → Discount codes → Create discount code (Figure 1).
Enter a discount code manually, or click "Generate" to create a random code.
Note: Discount codes are case sensitive and cannot contain spaces.
Select the discount type:
Flat — a fixed dollar amount off the application fee.
Percentage — a percentage off the application fee.
Free — waives the application fee entirely.
Enter the discount amount (if applicable).
Select which screening templates the discount code applies to:
To apply the code to your entire portfolio, click "Select all."
Important: Selecting all only applies the discount code to existing templates at the time of creation — it will not automatically apply to new templates created in the future.
Set the active dates for the discount code:
Enter a start date.
Enter an end date (optional — if no end date is set, the code remains active until it is manually deleted or edited).
Note: On the end date itself, the discount code is no longer active for applicants or your team.
Click Save to create the discount code.
How to Add an Existing Discount Code to a Screening Template
If you need to add an existing discount code to a template it was not originally assigned to, follow these steps:
Go to Screening settings.
Select the template you want to add the discount code to.
Go to Discount codes → Add discount code.
Select the discount code you want to add.
Important: Once a discount code is added to a template, it will only be available for new applicants on that template — not for applicants who have already started their application.
How to Apply a Discount Code to an Individual Applicant
To apply an existing active discount code to a specific applicant's application, follow these steps:
Go to Applications.
Select the applicant you want to apply the discount to.
Click "Apply discount."
Select the active discount code you want to apply from the list of available codes.
The list will show all discount codes that are currently active and available for that property's screening template.
Important: Discounts can only be applied to applications that have a status of "Invited" or "In Progress." Discounts cannot be applied to applications that have already been submitted and paid.
How to Create a One-Time Custom Discount for an Individual Applicant
In addition to applying existing discount codes, you can create a one-time custom discount for a specific applicant. To do so:
Go to Applications.
Select the applicant you want to apply the custom discount to.
Click "Apply discount" → Custom discounts.
Select the discount type (flat, percentage, or free).
Enter the discount amount (if applicable).
Set an expiration date for the custom discount (optional).
If you set an expiration date and the applicant has not submitted their application before that date, the discount code will no longer be applied to their application.
If you do not set an expiration date, the custom discount remains available until the applicant submits or the discount is removed.
Click Save to apply the custom discount.
How Applicants Use Discount Codes
When a discount code is active, applicants can self-apply it during the checkout process when submitting their application. This means your team can market discount codes directly to prospective renters to drive application submissions — applicants do not need your team to apply the code on their behalf.
Frequently asked questions
Can discount codes be applied to submitted applications? No, discount codes can only be applied to invited and in process applications. If you want to discount the application fee of an applicant that has already paid, you can issue a full or partial refund.
Are discount codes case sensitive? Yes, discount codes are case sensitive and cannot contain spaces.
What does the end date for a one-time custom discount code do? If the applicant has not submitted their application before the expiration date, the discount code will no longer be applied.
How long is a discount code valid? It depends on how you configured the discount code. If you don’t select an end date, the code will be valid until it’s deleted or edited. If you select an end date, the discount code stays valid up until that date. On the end date itself, the code is no longer active for your applicants or team.