Where Can I See My Rental History Report?
Understand your rental history report: how to find, review, and ensure its accuracy for housing applications.
Rental history provides a comprehensive record of an individual’s past tenancy. Landlords examine this documentation to evaluate a candidate’s suitability for a rental property. A favorable history can enhance housing applications, while issues may present challenges in securing new accommodations.
Understanding Rental History Components
A rental history details a tenant’s conduct and financial responsibility during previous leases. This includes the timeliness of rent payments, noting any late payments or defaults. Information regarding lease adherence, such as unauthorized occupants, pet violations, or early lease terminations, is recorded.
Details about property damage beyond normal wear and tear, including repair costs, can also become part of this record. Formal tenant-landlord disputes, including mediation or arbitration outcomes, are noted. Eviction records, which are public court filings, represent a significant negative entry. Additionally, documented complaints from neighbors or property management about disturbances or rule infractions can contribute to a tenant’s history.
Sources for Your Rental History
Rental history information is compiled and maintained by several entities. Major credit bureaus, such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, may include rent payment data if your landlord reports to them or if you use a third-party service. Specialized tenant screening companies, like CoreLogic, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and TransUnion SmartMove, are primary repositories for comprehensive tenant data. These companies often compile reports specifically for landlords.
Previous landlords or property management companies directly hold records of your tenancy, including payment ledgers and notes on property condition. These entities are often contacted for direct references by future landlords. Public court records are another source, particularly for eviction filings, which become part of the public domain once initiated.
Accessing Your Rental History Reports
To obtain your rental history reports, request your free annual credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. This website allows you to access reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion once every 12 months, which may contain reported rent payment information.
For reports from specialized tenant screening companies, you have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). If a landlord uses a report from one of these companies to deny your application, they must provide you with the name and contact information of the reporting agency. You are then entitled to a free copy of that report within 60 days of the adverse action, or generally once every 12 months upon request.
Contacting previous landlords or property managers directly, preferably with a formal written request, can also yield a rental reference or a copy of your tenancy ledger. For eviction information, searching public court records typically involves visiting the relevant county or municipal court’s website or physical courthouse to access public filing databases, often using your name as a search criterion.
Addressing Rental History Discrepancies
If you discover inaccuracies in your rental history reports, prompt action is advisable to correct them. For errors on credit reports, you can dispute the information directly with each credit bureau online, by mail, or by phone. The credit bureau is required to investigate your dispute within 30 days, often contacting the data furnisher to verify the information.
Similarly, if you find incorrect information on reports from tenant screening companies, you should initiate a dispute directly with that company. They have a formal process for investigating claims of inaccurate data, usually requiring you to provide supporting documentation.
Communicating with previous landlords is also important if you believe their records are incorrect or incomplete. Providing documentation, such as canceled checks or lease agreements, can help resolve discrepancies and potentially lead to an updated reference for future inquiries.