How to Look Up Your Rental History Report
Discover how to access and comprehend your complete rental history. Understand what landlords evaluate and ensure your housing applications succeed.
A rental history report details an individual’s past behavior as a tenant, providing insights into their reliability and adherence to lease agreements. This summary is a significant component in the application process for new housing, helping landlords assess prospective tenants. Understanding how to access and review your own rental history is important for ensuring accuracy and preparing for future housing applications.
Understanding Your Rental History
A rental history report compiles specific information about your past tenancies. This includes payment timeliness, noting any late or missed rent payments and outstanding balances. It also records eviction filings, instances of property damage, and any lease violations, such as unauthorized occupants or noise complaints.
The report lists previous addresses, residency dates, and rent amounts paid. Landlords rely on this information to evaluate an applicant’s financial responsibility and likelihood of maintaining a property. A positive rental history demonstrates consistency and responsibility.
Key Sources for Your Rental History
Your rental history information is compiled by various entities. You will generally need to provide your full legal name, current and previous addresses, dates of residency, Social Security Number, and date of birth to request your reports.
Some rental payment data may appear on reports from the major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. These reports primarily focus on financial responsibility, but can include rental-related information if landlords report payments or if unpaid rent results in collections. You can obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of these nationwide credit bureaus weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Many landlords utilize specialized tenant screening companies that compile specific rental data. Prominent services include Experian RentBureau, CoreLogic SafeRent, and TransUnion SmartMove, which gather details such as rental addresses, payment performance, and eviction history. These companies are regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, providing individuals with rights to request and dispute information in their reports. Directly contacting previous landlords is also a valuable source for obtaining references and verifying tenancy details.
Accessing and Reviewing Your Rental History
Once you have identified the relevant sources, formally request your rental history reports. For credit reports, visit AnnualCreditReport.com to access your free weekly reports. For specialized tenant screening companies like Experian RentBureau, you can request your report online or by phone. If requesting from a previous landlord, a formal written request detailing your tenancy period and requesting a reference is effective.
Upon receiving your reports, review each document for any inaccuracies or discrepancies. Check for incorrect addresses, wrong payment dates, or false eviction records. Ensure that all lease durations and landlord information are accurately listed, as even minor errors can affect future rental applications.
If you discover errors, you have the right to dispute them with the respective reporting agency or landlord. For credit bureaus, disputes require a clear explanation of the error and supporting documentation. Tenant screening companies also have formal dispute processes, requiring a written explanation and evidence, and are required to investigate disputes within 30 to 45 days under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If the error originated with a landlord, you may need to work directly with them to correct the information and ensure it is updated with any reporting agencies.