What Tenants Need to Know about Tenant Screening Reports and Tenant History Reports

Tenant Screening Reports and Rental History Reports

A tenant screening report is a tool that landlords increasingly rely on to choose renters. It provides specific numbers and facts and attempts to provide eviction predictions using these stats.

A rental history report tries to assist the landlord with coming to know how the applicant actually behaves as a renter. For instance, a potential tenant may appear good on paper after the initial screening report because they have a high credit score with no criminal background and no evictions, but the rental history report attempts to provide more insight about their tenancy style.

Rental History Reports Information

The landlord wants to know certain information about you before they decide to take you on as a tenant. The rental history reports will shed some light on these factors:

• Whether you paid the rent on time every month
• Any problems with your neighbors or the community in general
• Positive communication with your landlord
• Any damage to your rental property
• Broken any lease agreements

What Happens If the Information is Wrong?

Since landlords often use a tenant screening as a starting point, they may not even get to the rental history report because of information found in the screening. Unfortunately, the automated data may be incorrect, leading to reports that are outright wrong, or are examples of mistaken identity. Qualified renters who would have otherwise obtained housing are left out in the cold. You can be rejected based on this false information. By the time you find out, it's much too late and the unit is already taken.

What is a Tenant's Defense Against an Incorrect Background Check?

The first course of action is to request the source of the report. Next, you can start the dispute process. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a screening company is required to make corrections within 30 days after a request.

Landlords rely greatly on tenant screenings and rental history reports to make rental decisions. If you've been affected by this and have been denied access to a rental because of an inaccurate report, you may be able to dispute the rejection and get the report corrected.