The short answer
A tenant-screening package may include credit information, rental or eviction records and criminal-record information. What appears depends on the package, source coverage, identifiers and legal reporting limits.
On this page
Read the package description
Confirm exactly which reports are included, their coverage and how updates or disputes are handled. A product called a background check may not contain every category. Do not assume that a national search includes every court or all recent events.
Read records in context
Check names and other identifiers, dates and case outcomes. A court filing, an arrest and a conviction are different facts. Incomplete records and mistaken matches require clarification before use. For a section-by-section sequence, see how to read a rental screening report in context.
Check permissible use
The presence of information in a report does not establish that you may use it for a housing decision in your jurisdiction. Apply lawful criteria and address errors. When consumer-report information contributes to an unfavorable decision, follow the adverse-action requirements.
Your next-step checklist
- Confirm package contents
- Understand coverage limits
- Verify identifiers and outcomes
- Check lawful use and required notices
Sources and further reading
The Rentari team writes and updates this guide. Examples illustrate decisions and do not describe customer results. Found an error or an unclear step? Send a correction with a link to this page and the wording you’d change.
