How Can You Look at Your Rental History?
Manage your rental history effectively. Review your past records and ensure their accuracy, crucial for future housing opportunities.
A rental history report provides an overview of your past tenancy, detailing previous addresses, lease durations, and payment habits. Landlords frequently use these reports, alongside credit and background checks, to assess a potential tenant’s reliability and suitability. Understanding your rental history can help you prepare for future housing applications and address any concerns.
Methods for Accessing Your Rental History
Accessing your rental history involves reviewing various reports and directly contacting past landlords. One avenue is through your consumer credit reports, as some rent reporting services include rental payment data. You are entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. These are available through AnnualCreditReport.com. Your credit report may also reflect eviction records or collections related to unpaid rent.
Specialized tenant screening companies also compile rental history data used by landlords. Examples include Experian RentBureau, CoreLogic SafeRent, and TransUnion SmartMove. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you have the right to request a copy of your report from these agencies. You can contact these companies directly to request your report, online, by mail, or by phone.
Directly contacting previous landlords can also provide references and records of your tenancy. Checking public records for eviction filings or court judgments in local courts can also reveal relevant information.
Understanding the Details of Your Rental History
Once you obtain your rental history reports, they will reveal specific information. These reports include your payment history, indicating whether rent was paid on time, late, or missed. They also detail any reported lease violations, such as noise complaints, unauthorized pets, or property damage. Property damage claims or charges incurred during previous tenancies may also be present.
Rental history reports list eviction filings, court judgments, or unlawful detainer actions. The dates of your tenancy and previous rental addresses are included, providing a timeline of your housing history. Some reports may also contain notes or comments from previous landlords, reflecting on your overall conduct as a tenant. This information helps landlords assess your past behavior and predict your future reliability.
Correcting Errors in Your Rental History
If you discover inaccuracies in your rental history reports, dispute and correct them promptly. For errors on credit reports, file a dispute directly with the credit reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax). This involves sending a written dispute letter, providing detailed reasons, and including supporting documentation. Under the FCRA, these agencies have 30 days to investigate the claim and respond.
For inaccuracies found in reports from specialized tenant screening companies, contact the company directly. Provide them with a written dispute, stating the errors and supplying evidence, such as payment receipts or court documents. These companies are also obligated under the FCRA to investigate disputes within 30 days. If the error originated from a previous landlord, contacting them directly to clarify or rectify the incorrect records is recommended. Maintain thorough documentation of all communications and evidence throughout the correction process.