How to Check Your Rental History Report Online

A rental history report provides an overview of an individual’s past rental behavior and living situations. It serves as a valuable tool for landlords, offering insights into a prospective tenant’s reliability and adherence to lease agreements. For tenants, reviewing this report is important, as it reflects their track record and can influence future housing opportunities.

Understanding Rental History Reports

A rental history report details a tenant’s previous tenancies. It includes prior addresses and lease durations. Payment history is a significant component, indicating whether rent was consistently paid on time or if there were instances of late or missed payments.

The report often contains eviction records, outlining past proceedings and their outcomes. Details about reported lease violations, such as property damage, unauthorized occupants, or noise complaints, may also appear. Some reports incorporate feedback from previous landlords, offering context on a tenant’s conduct.

This information provides landlords with a holistic view of an applicant’s potential as a responsible renter. It helps them assess risks and determine if an applicant will uphold their obligations. Tenants can use this understanding to address discrepancies or explain past issues when applying for new housing.

Preparing to Access Your Report

To obtain your rental history report online, gather specific personal identification information. Most online services require your full legal name, current and previous residential addresses, and date of birth to verify identity. An accurate Social Security Number or government-issued identification number is also commonly required.

Precise and up-to-date information is important for successful retrieval; inconsistencies can cause delays. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), landlords must obtain explicit written consent from applicants when checking a report. This ensures the tenant is aware of the background check and their rights.

Identifying Online Platforms

Various online services and consumer reporting agencies provide rental history reports. Prominent tenant screening services include TransUnion SmartMove, Experian RentBureau, CoreLogic SafeRent, MyRental, and RentPrep. Many allow individuals to request their own reports.

Some major credit bureaus, like Experian and TransUnion, may include rental payment history in their credit reports if reported. While landlords typically bear the cost of tenant screening reports, some platforms offer options for tenants to purchase their own reports, for $20 to $50. These self-purchased reports can be shared with multiple prospective landlords, potentially streamlining the application process.

Steps to Obtain Your Report Online

To access your rental history report online, select a reputable tenant screening service or consumer reporting agency. Create an account on their platform, providing the personal identification details previously gathered to establish your identity.

After account creation, the platform will guide you through identity verification. This often includes security questions to confirm you are the legitimate requestor. Once verified, you can view or download your rental history report directly from the website. Save a copy for your records.

Upon receiving your report, carefully review all information for accuracy. Common errors include incorrect payment statuses, misattributed eviction records, or outdated contact details. If you find inaccuracies, you have the right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to dispute them. To dispute, contact the reporting agency directly, providing supporting documentation. The agency must investigate your dispute within 30 days. If the error is with the original source, contact them to request a correction.