How to Check Your Rental History Report
Gain confidence in your housing profile. Learn to navigate and verify the essential personal record landlords use for tenancy decisions.
A rental history report provides a detailed overview of an individual’s past tenancy. This document compiles information about where a person has lived, their payment habits, and their adherence to lease agreements. Understanding this report is important as landlords use it to assess a prospective tenant’s reliability and financial responsibility.
Sources for Your Rental History Report
Your rental history report can originate from several sources, primarily credit bureaus and specialized tenant screening services. The three major credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, compile some rental payment data, particularly if your landlord reports to them or uses a rent-reporting service. Experian, for instance, operates RentBureau, which maintains a large database of rental payment histories.
Beyond the major credit bureaus, numerous specialized tenant screening services also generate these reports. Companies like TransUnion SmartMove, CoreLogic SafeRent, and RentGrow collect comprehensive data specifically for tenant evaluation. These services often integrate information from various public records and proprietary databases, providing a more focused view of rental behavior than a standard credit report might offer. Landlords may also rely on their own direct inquiries with previous property managers.
Information Required to Obtain Your Report
When requesting your rental history report, you will need to provide specific personal details to verify your identity and accurately match your records. This includes your full legal name, any previous names used, and your current and past residential addresses with dates of occupancy. Providing your Social Security Number and date of birth is also standard practice for identity verification and to ensure the report pertains to the correct individual.
Additionally, you may be asked for contact information for previous landlords or property management companies. This information helps the reporting agencies or landlords confirm tenancy details. Having a government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license or state identification card, is generally required to complete the verification process.
How to Request and Access Your Report
For reports that include rental payment data from credit bureaus, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies—Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax—through AnnualCreditReport.com. This can be done online, by phone, or via mail. While these reports focus on credit, they may contain certain rental payment information if reported by your landlord.
For reports generated by specialized tenant screening services, the process may vary. If a landlord denies your rental application based on information in one of these reports, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires them to provide you with an “adverse action” notice. This notice includes the name and contact information of the tenant screening company used, allowing you to request a free copy of the report directly from that agency within a specified timeframe, typically 60 days. Some tenant screening services also allow individuals to request their own reports directly, often requiring an online form submission and upload of government-issued identification.
What Your Rental History Report Contains
A rental history report includes information about your past tenancy. It details previous addresses where you have resided and the duration of your leases at each location. The report also features your rental payment history, indicating whether payments were consistently on time or if there were instances of late payments or outstanding balances.
The report may list any eviction records filed against you, including the details of legal proceedings and outcomes. Information regarding lease terms, any reported property damage, or violations of lease agreements, such as unauthorized occupants or excessive noise complaints, can also be included. Some reports might even incorporate feedback or recommendations from previous landlords, offering qualitative insights into your conduct and property maintenance during your tenancy.
Correcting Errors in Your Report
Should you identify any information that is incorrect, incomplete, or outdated, you have the right to dispute these errors. The process involves contacting the reporting agency directly, whether it is a credit bureau or a specialized tenant screening service. When initiating a dispute, you should clearly identify the inaccurate item and provide supporting documentation, such as rent receipts, lease agreements, or court documents, to substantiate your claim.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the reporting agency is required to investigate your dispute within 30 days, though this period can extend to 45 days in certain circumstances. If the investigation confirms an error, the agency must correct or delete the inaccurate information. It is also advisable to notify the original data furnisher, such as a former landlord, to request that they update or correct the information they submitted.