When a landlord takes adverse action based on a consumer report, federal law can require a notice identifying the reporting company and explaining rights to a free copy and dispute. The landlord may not own the underlying data.
What is happening underneath
The denial feels personal, but the decision may be driven by a third-party file. Find the file before arguing with the conclusion.
Find thisAdverse-action notice
Then thisName and contact information of screening company
Do not missCopy of the screening report
Your three moves
- Request the report promptly.
- Mark inaccurate identity, eviction, criminal, or payment data.
- Dispute with the screening company and document the result.
Use this sentence
“Please provide the adverse-action notice and the name of every consumer-reporting company used in this decision.”
What to watch for
Screening rules and landlord-tenant rights also vary by state and city. Check local protections.
Official starting points
Rules, programs, and deadlines can change. Start with the current official pages below and the documents in front of you.