Request your rental history report from the screening company used, review it for mistakes, and dispute errors with proof.
Want to see what a landlord will see? If you search for how to check your rental history report, you’re in the right place. This guide shows how to find the right tenant screening company, request your files, read the data, and fix mistakes fast. You’ll also get sample scripts and timelines so you can act with confidence before you apply.
What A Rental History Report Includes
“Rental history report” is a catch-all term used by screening companies. A typical file can show prior addresses, lease dates, payment status, eviction records, collection accounts tied to rent or utilities, and a screening recommendation. Some providers attach a credit file and public court data. The exact mix depends on which service a landlord uses.
Steps To Check Your Rental History Report
The steps below work whether you’re getting ready to apply or you were turned down and want answers. Follow them in order to avoid delays. To make sure nothing is missed, repeat the steps anytime you change homes.
Step 1: Identify The Screening Company
Ask the landlord or property manager which tenant screening service they use. If you were denied, look for the “adverse action” notice you received; it lists the company that supplied the report and how to contact them. You’re entitled to a free copy within sixty days after a denial.
Step 2: Request Your File
Most screening firms let you request a copy online or by mail. The CFPB explains how to review your rental background check and what to do if you spot errors. You’ll confirm your identity and provide current and past addresses. Some will ask for a photo ID and a utility bill to match your address. Keep confirmation emails and any ticket number.
Step 3: Review For Accuracy
Scan for name mix-ups, old addresses showing as current, duplicate entries, missing payments that you made, wrong move-out dates, expunged cases, or someone else’s court records. Flag each item with a highlighter or note app. Small errors can change a “recommend” to a “decline.”
Step 4: Dispute Any Mistakes
Send a short dispute with the item, why it’s wrong, and proof. Attach lease ledgers, payment receipts, dismissal orders, or letters from prior landlords. Ask for a reinvestigation and a written result. Screening firms must correct or delete inaccurate data, and they must respond within set timelines.
Step 5: Share Updates With Your Landlord
While a dispute is pending, give the property manager your proof pack and a letter that explains what’s under review. Many will hold your spot or reconsider when the corrected file arrives.
Where To Request Your Files (Major Sources)
The table below lists common places where rental history data appears and how to ask for it. Start with the company named by the landlord, then expand to others if you want a clean sweep.
| Source | What It Holds | How To Request |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant Screening Company | Prior addresses, eviction and court records, payment history, recommendation | Use the provider’s portal or mail-in form |
| Credit Bureau Affiliate | Credit file plus rent tradelines if reported | Request your credit file and any rent data shown |
| Experian RentBureau | Reported rent payments from participating landlords | Submit the RentBureau consumer request form |
| TransUnion Screening | Screening package linked to SmartMove/other services | Create a renter account to view what’s shared |
| Court Records | Eviction filings, judgments, dismissals | Check state or county online portals |
| Collections Agency | Unpaid rent or utility accounts | Ask for account details and payoff letter |
| Prior Landlord | Ledgers, move-in/out dates, notices | Request a ledger and reference letter |
Costs, Timing, And Free Options
Many screening companies provide one free copy per year. If you were denied housing based on a report, you usually get one free copy within sixty days. Paid instant copies exist, yet the free route works fine when you plan ahead. Identity checks can add a day or two when documents are required. Keep one buffer week before your move date.
Reading Your File Like A Pro
Reports can be wordy. Use this method to slice through the clutter and spot anything that could trip you up.
Match Personal Details First
Check your name, date of birth, current address, and Social Security number mask. A wrong middle initial or a shared name can pull in another person’s records. Fix mismatches before you argue about any deeper item.
Walk The Timeline
List each address in order with move-in and move-out dates. Compare to your leases and utility setups. Old addresses still showing as current can confuse scoring models and managers.
Scan For Court Data
Look for eviction filings, judgments, or cases that were dismissed or sealed. If a case was expunged, send the order with your dispute and ask for immediate deletion.
Check Payment Lines
Rent ledgers and tradelines can misreport a late payment as “unpaid” or “in collection.” Match each month to your receipts. If you paid on time and the ledger shows late, include bank proof in your dispute file.
How To Dispute Errors Effectively
Clean disputes get faster results. Use direct language, include proofs, and send through the company’s official channel. Keep copies of everything.
What To Include In A Dispute
- Your full name, date of birth, and current address
- Report number and date
- The item you’re disputing, with page or section
- Why it’s wrong, in one sentence
- Proof: ledger pages, receipts, court orders, IDs
- Your ask: correct, delete, or update
Sample Dispute Script
“I’m disputing the eviction record shown on page two under County Court. The case number 22-EV-1234 was dismissed on 5/12/2023. I’ve attached the dismissal. Please delete this item and send me the corrected report.”
Timeline And Follow-Up
After you file, the screening company starts a reinvestigation. They contact the data source, review your proofs, and update the file as needed. You’ll get results in writing. Keep digital and paper copies handy. If an item can’t be verified, it should be removed. If you still disagree, add a short statement to your file and share your proofs with the landlord.
Privacy, Freezes, And Locks
Some renters add a security freeze or lock to their credit file. That can block new pulls until you lift the freeze. Screening reports can still include public records and prior landlord data. If a landlord uses a product that relies on a frozen credit file, ask what you need to lift and for how long.
Can You See The Exact Report A Landlord Sees?
Yes. Ask for the name of the screening company and request your copy directly. If you start an application through a platform that invites you to “share your data,” you’ll usually create a renter account and view the same package that the manager receives.
Common Mistakes That Derail Applications
Most issues fall into a few buckets. Use the table below to audit your file and fix problems before you apply again.
| Issue | What To Do | Expected Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed files with someone else’s records | Dispute with proof of identity and addresses | Two to four weeks |
| Old eviction still showing after dismissal | Send the signed order; ask for deletion | One to two weeks |
| Paid collection still shows open | Provide payoff letter and receipt | One to three weeks |
| Wrong move-out date | Attach lease and move-out inspection | One to two weeks |
| Rent payments missing | Submit ledger and bank statements | Two to four weeks |
| Frozen credit blocks screening | Lift freeze for a set window | Same day |
| Outdated address listed as current | Request an address update | One week |
How To Use Your Updated Report
Bring the corrected report to showings. Add a short cover note that explains the fix and, if helpful, include letters from prior landlords. Offer extra verifications like recent pay stubs or a co-signer while the update propagates through the system.
Checking Your Rental History Report Before You Apply
If your move is coming up, run this playbook one month in advance. Ask each landlord which service they use, request your file, and clear any errors. That way your application lands clean on the first pass.
Your Rights And Where To Get Help
You have the right to see your rental history report, dispute inaccurate items, and receive results in writing. If a screening company fails to respond or keeps reporting wrong data, you can escalate with a complaint and, if needed, seek legal help.
Quick Answers To Tricky Scenarios
No Record Of An Old Address
That can happen when a small landlord never reported to a screening database. Keep lease copies and utility bills. Share them with a manager who asks for more history.
Sealed Or Expunged Records Still Appear
Send the sealing or expungement order and ask for removal. If the record lingers after a reinvestigation, escalate a complaint.
Errors Keep Coming Back
Ask the company to identify the source that keeps resupplying the item. Send your proof to that source and ask the screening firm to block it.
What To Tell Your Next Landlord
Be proactive. State that you reviewed your files, corrected a past item, and include the updated pages. Clear documentation beats long explanations.
Main Keyword Again: How To Check Your Rental History Report With Confidence
Do these steps: identify the company, request your file, read it line by line, dispute errors with proof, and share updates during your application. A clean, current file makes the process smoother for you and for any manager who reviews your package. If friends ask how to check your rental history report, you can share this checklist with them.