How to Dispute a Tenant-Screening Report Error
A mistake on a tenant-screening report can do more than create an inconvenience. It could contribute to a rental application being denied, a landlord requiring a co-signer, or you being asked for a larger security deposit.
If the report contains information that is inaccurate, outdated, incomplete or belongs to someone else, you do not have to simply accept it. You can dispute the information with the tenant-screening company and, when appropriate, with the company, landlord, creditor or other source that supplied the information.
What Is a Tenant-Screening Report?
A tenant-screening report is a consumer report that landlords and property managers may use when evaluating rental applicants.
Depending on the screening company and landlord, the report may include information such as:
- Credit information
- Rental history
- Eviction filings or housing-court records
- Criminal records
- Employment verification
- Previous addresses
- Public-record information
- A tenant risk score or recommendation
This is why checking only your Equifax, Experian or TransUnion credit report may not reveal the information that caused a rental problem.
First, Get the Report the Landlord Actually Used
If a landlord took an adverse action because of information in a tenant-screening report, federal law generally requires the landlord to tell you which consumer reporting company supplied the report.
An adverse action can include more than simply rejecting your application. It can also include requiring a co-signer, charging a higher rent, or requiring a larger security deposit because of information in the report.
The notice should provide contact information for the reporting company and explain your right to dispute inaccurate information.
If you do not know how to obtain the report, see How to Get the Tenant-Screening Report a Landlord Used.
Common Tenant-Screening Report Errors
Do not look only for an incorrect credit score. Tenant-screening errors can be much less obvious.
Someone Else's Information
A record may belong to another person with a similar name, date of birth or previous address.
Check your:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Current and previous addresses
- Other identifying information
Incorrect Eviction Information
An eviction-related court filing might appear even though the case was dismissed, settled or otherwise resolved differently from what the screening report indicates.
Check the court name, filing date, parties involved and final disposition carefully.
Duplicate Records
The same court case or other negative record might appear more than once, making one event look like multiple incidents.
Outdated Information
Some negative information is subject to federal reporting time limits, while different rules can apply to particular types of records. State laws may provide additional protections.
Do not assume that information is reportable merely because it appears in the screening report.
Incorrect Criminal Records
A criminal record might belong to somebody else, show an incorrect disposition, or fail to reflect that a record was sealed or expunged.
Incorrect Credit Information
A screening report may incorporate credit information showing an account, balance, late payment or collection that is inaccurate.
If the underlying error comes from a credit report, you may also need to dispute it with the appropriate credit reporting company and the company that furnished the information.
How to Dispute a Tenant-Screening Report Error
- Identify the exact error. Mark the specific account, eviction, address, criminal record, rental-history entry or other item you believe is incorrect.
- Gather supporting evidence. Find documents that show why the information is wrong.
- Contact the tenant-screening company. Follow its dispute procedure and clearly identify every item you are challenging.
- Contact the source of the information when appropriate. This could be a creditor, previous landlord, court or another company that furnished the information.
- Tell the prospective landlord. Let the landlord or property manager know that you have identified an error and have formally disputed it.
- Save everything. Keep copies of the original report, dispute, supporting documents, correspondence and investigation results.
- Review the corrected report. Make sure the disputed information was actually corrected rather than simply receiving a notice saying the investigation is complete.
What Documents Should You Include?
The evidence depends on the type of error.
| Error | Possible Supporting Evidence |
|---|---|
| Eviction incorrectly reported | Court disposition, dismissal order or settlement records |
| Debt already paid | Payment confirmation, statements or creditor correspondence |
| Wrong person | Documents demonstrating identifying information does not match |
| Incorrect rental balance | Receipts, ledger, bank records or correspondence with former landlord |
| Incorrect late payment | Bank statement, payment receipt or account history |
| Sealed or expunged record | Relevant court order or official court documentation |
What Should I Say in the Dispute?
Keep the dispute factual and specific. You are not trying to write a long argument about why you deserve the apartment. Your immediate goal is to identify inaccurate information and provide enough information for the screening company to investigate it.
A useful dispute should identify:
- Your name and identifying information
- The report or file you are disputing
- The exact item you believe is inaccurate
- Why the item is incorrect
- What correction you are requesting
- The documents supporting your position
How Long Does a Tenant-Screening Dispute Take?
Tenant-screening companies generally must investigate a dispute within 30 days, although certain circumstances can extend the period to 45 days. State law may sometimes provide shorter deadlines.
If the investigation determines that disputed information is inaccurate, incomplete or cannot be verified, the information should be corrected or deleted as required.
Should You Tell the Landlord About the Dispute?
Yes. If you are still interested in the apartment, tell the landlord or property manager promptly that you found inaccurate information and have filed a dispute.
You can ask whether the landlord will reconsider your application after receiving the corrected report.
There is no guarantee that the unit will remain available while the investigation takes place, but documenting the problem immediately gives the landlord a clearer picture of what happened.
What If the Error Came From a Court Record?
This situation can require an additional step.
For example, the screening company might accurately reproduce information contained in a court database, but the underlying court record itself could be incomplete or incorrect.
You may need to contact the court to determine whether its records can be corrected or updated. Once the underlying record is corrected, notify the tenant-screening company and provide documentation showing the change.
What If the Error Came From a Credit Report?
If the tenant-screening report contains incorrect information originating from a credit report, consider disputing the underlying credit information as well.
Correcting only one report may not solve the underlying problem if the same inaccurate information continues to be supplied to other consumer reporting companies.
See Free Credit Report Dispute Letter Template for help documenting a credit-report dispute.
What If the Screening Company Says the Information Is Verified?
Do not assume that “verified” automatically means the information is correct.
Review the investigation results and compare them with your supporting evidence. Determine where the information originated and whether the underlying source itself needs to be corrected.
If the dispute remains unresolved, federal law generally allows consumers to request that a statement describing the dispute be included in their file and provided or summarized in future reports.
You may also consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if you believe a consumer reporting problem has not been handled properly.
What If the Error Already Caused a Rental Denial?
Correcting the report is still worthwhile even if the apartment you originally wanted is no longer available.
The same incorrect information could appear when you apply for another rental.
Start by determining exactly what information caused the adverse decision, get the report, dispute the error, and keep documentation showing the outcome.
For the broader process, see Apartment Application Denied: What to Do Next.
If the denial specifically involved your credit history, see Rental Application Denied Because of Credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dispute a tenant-screening report?
Yes. You can dispute information that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete or outdated with the consumer reporting company that prepared the tenant-screening report. Depending on the problem, you may also need to dispute the information with the organization that supplied it.
Can I dispute an eviction on a tenant-screening report?
You can dispute inaccurate information about an eviction or housing-court case. For example, the report might belong to someone else or incorrectly describe how a case ended. Accurate information generally cannot be removed simply because it makes obtaining housing more difficult.
How long does a tenant-screening dispute take?
A consumer reporting company generally has 30 days to investigate, although some circumstances can allow up to 45 days. State laws may provide additional protections or shorter deadlines.
Can I get my tenant-screening report for free after being denied?
If a landlord takes an adverse action because of information in a tenant-screening report, you generally have the right to request a free copy from the company that supplied the report if you request it within 60 days.
What if the tenant-screening report has someone else's information?
Dispute it promptly. Clearly identify the information that does not belong to you and provide documentation that helps distinguish you from the other person.
Can a landlord reconsider after a tenant-screening error is corrected?
You can provide the corrected report and ask the landlord to reconsider. Whether the original unit is still available or the landlord can reconsider the application will depend on the circumstances.
Bottom Line
A tenant-screening error can follow you from one rental application to another if the underlying information is never corrected. Get the exact report the landlord used, identify the specific mistake, dispute it with the screening company, correct the underlying source when necessary, and keep documentation of the result.
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