Showing Posts In "Tenant Screening" Category
Rental Application Bill Would Impose New Screening Rules on Housing Providers
A proposed California bill would require landlords to accept portable tenant screening reports — reusable credit reports provided by applicants — and prohibit charging additional screening fees when these are used. The goal is to reduce costs and barriers for renters by allowing one report to be used across multiple applications. However, housing providers argue […]
New York Pushes New Tenant-Screening Rules Requiring Landlords to Reveal AI Use
New York is moving to increase transparency and accountability in tenant screening by requiring landlords to clearly disclose how applicants are evaluated — including any use of AI tools. Proposed rules would mandate that landlords provide written screening criteria upfront and inform tenants if automated decision-making systems are involved. The measures aim to reduce hidden […]
Second Circuit Finds No Fair Housing Act Liability, Reverses FCRA Ruling In Tenant Screening Dispute
The Second Circuit partially affirmed and reversed a lower court ruling involving Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) claims tied to a tenant screening dispute. It found no FHA liability, holding the defendant did not cause the housing denial and that independent landlord decisions broke causation. The court also ruled on […]
Kansas Bill Would Bar Cities from Restricting Landlord Tenant Screening Based on Income Source
Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that would prevent cities and counties from adopting rules that stop landlords from screening tenants based on their source of income, such as housing assistance vouchers. The proposal targets a Lawrence ordinance that bans discrimination against renters using programs like Section 8. Supporters say the measure protects landlords from […]
Watauga, TX Property Management with Tenant Screening & Marketing Announced
Westrom Group Property Management has announced expanded residential property management services for single‑family rental owners in Watauga, TX, aiming to support landlords with full‑service leasing, rent collection, maintenance, and oversight. The firm emphasizes professional marketing across 100+ online platforms and structured tenant screening — including credit, background, and income checks—to reduce vacancy and improve long‑term […]
Olympia Advances New Tenant Protections. What Do They Mean for Renters?
The Olympia, OR City Council advanced a package of new tenant protections aimed at reducing housing barriers and supporting renters. The proposed ordinance would introduce reforms to tenant screening practices. It would also prohibit landlords from rejecting applicants if they do not provide a social security number or from inquiring about an applicant’s lawful presence […]
Launch of Portable Tenant Screening Reports in Colorado
Colorado now offers Portable Tenant Screening Reports (PTSRs) through a new platform by DSE Solutions LLC, helping renters save time and money under state law. The service lets tenants pay once and securely share a single, state-compliant screening report with up to 150 landlords over 30 days, reducing repeated application fees. Powered by TransUnion™ data, […]
TurboTenant and Rent Butter Partner to Set a New Standard in Tenant Screening
TurboTenant has partnered with Rent Butter to enhance tenant screening for over 775,000 landlords. This integration offers near-instant credit, criminal, and eviction checks, streamlining the application process and reducing approval times. Rent Butter’s advanced fraud detection and predictive credit behavior tools aim to provide more accurate assessments, addressing limitations of traditional screening methods. The collaboration […]
Tenant Screening Inaccuracies and the People They Hurt
Tenant screening inaccuracies can significantly impact both landlords and tenants. A study by Rent Butter found that 1 in 7 traditional tenant background checks contains inaccuracies or missing data. In one instance, six registered sex offenders, 85 felony convictions, and 34 misdemeanors were not identified in 1,000 screenings. Such errors can lead to wrongful housing […]
Renter Protection Policies May Reduce Rental Housing Discrimination, Research Suggests
A study published in Contemporary Economic Policy examined the impact of Minneapolis’ renter protection policies, which limit landlords’ use of background checks, eviction history, and credit scores. The research found that while these policies reduced certain barriers to housing, they inadvertently increased discrimination against African American and Somali American men. Landlords, lacking detailed applicant information, […]
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