Landlords use Tenant Screening Reports to get information about possible renters. Tenant Screening Reports are different from Credit Reports.
Credit reports cover your payment history for credit cards, loans, utilities, and other accounts. There are three credit reporting companies: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.
Tenant Screening Reports cover your credit history AND:
Many companies create Tenant Screening Reports. These include RentGrow, LeasingDesk, AppFolio, and Screening Reports, Inc.
A landlord might have used information from a Tenant Screening Report to reject you because of your eviction record, owing money to another landlord, or criminal record.
A law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act says you have the right to know the name of the company that created the Tenant Screening Report.
Ask the landlord or property manager which company created the report. Ask that person to show you a copy of the report so you can see what the information looks like.
You can also get a copy of the report from the company that created it.
Most companies that sell Tenant Screening Reports have a form on their website that you can use to point out something wrong in a report. The company's website will also say how you can contact the company about errors in your report.
Try to contact the company in writing if you can!
Remember that each tenant screening company has its dispute process.
If you need help disputing information in a Tenant Screening Report, contact Southeast Louisiana Legal Services at 504-529-1000x.223
Landlords sometimes use tenant screening reports to check if applicants have:
If you’re denied housing because of a tenant screening report, ask the landlord why you were denied and the name of the company that made the report.
If you need help fixing wrong or missing information in your tenant screening report, we may be able to help you. Call us at 504-529-1000 ext. 223.