Tenant Screening Report Errors: Know Your Rights and How Jaffer Law Can Help
Finding a home should be exciting — not stressful because of an inaccurate tenant screening report. Unfortunately, thousands of renters across the country face wrongful denials due to errors in background checks conducted by tenant screening companies.
At Jaffer Law, we represent tenants who’ve been harmed by these reporting mistakes. Whether your report included someone else’s criminal record, falsely labeled you as an eviction risk, or contained outdated debts, you may have legal rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
If a landlord denied you housing based on a flawed report, you’re not alone — and you’re not powerless. Let’s walk through what tenant screening reports are, what types of errors commonly occur, how they affect your life, and how Jaffer Law can fight back on your behalf.
What Is a Tenant Screening Report?
A tenant screening report is a consumer report, much like a credit report, but used specifically by landlords and property management companies to evaluate rental applicants. These reports are prepared by Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) — third-party companies that gather and compile information about you from various public and private sources.
Tenant background checks often include:
- Credit history
- Criminal history
- Eviction records
- Employment verification
- Rental payment history
- Address history
- Civil judgments and bankruptcies
Landlords use this information to decide whether you’re a “high-risk” tenant. But when the data is inaccurate, outdated, or not about you at all, it can wrongly damage your chances of securing a lease.
Who Compiles Tenant Screening Reports?
Some of the major tenant screening companies include:
- CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions
- RealPage
- TransUnion SmartMove
- Experian RentBureau
- AppFolio
- LeasingDesk
- CIC (Contemporary Information Corp)
- RentGrow (Yardi)
These companies often pull data from public records, third-party databases, and even credit bureaus. The sheer volume of information, along with automated matching algorithms, frequently results in mixed files (when another person’s information is included in your report) or incomplete investigations.
Common Tenant Screening Report Errors
Tenant screening report mistakes are more common than most people realize. Even one mistake can cause a landlord to reject your rental application or impose higher rent and deposit requirements.
Here are some of the most frequent errors we see at Jaffer Law:
- Mixed Files (Wrong Identity)
Someone else’s criminal or eviction record appears on your report due to a similar name, date of birth, or Social Security number. - Outdated or Expunged Criminal Records
Criminal charges that were dismissed, expunged, or sealed still appear as active. - Incorrect Eviction History
You’re listed as having an eviction that never happened, or the case was dismissed but still appears as a judgment. - Duplicate Entries
The same record appears multiple times, exaggerating the severity of your history. - Debt or Rental Balance Errors
Landlords or collection agencies report balances inaccurately, including amounts you never owed. - Misleading “Soft” Denials
Reports indicate you’re a “moderate” or “high risk” based on questionable scoring algorithms, not real data. - Failure to Provide Notice
Landlords deny your application but never provide a copy of the report or tell you how to dispute it — a violation of your FCRA rights.
How Do Tenant Screening Errors Affect You?
An inaccurate tenant screening report can cost you more than just a place to live. It can affect your family, your finances, and your emotional well-being.
Here’s how these errors can damage your life:
- Housing Instability: You may be forced into more expensive or unsafe housing due to a wrongful denial.
- Higher Deposits and Rent: Landlords may demand extra payments because of an inaccurate “risk score.”
- Lost Job Opportunities: Some employers pull tenant-style background checks when hiring for housing-related roles.
- Emotional Distress: Being labeled as a criminal or irresponsible tenant can cause embarrassment, stress, and humiliation.
- Repeat Denials: If you don’t correct the error, it may continue to impact future rental applications.
At Jaffer Law, we understand the stakes. Our attorneys are committed to clearing your name and holding tenant screening companies accountable when they violate your rights.
Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The FCRA is a federal law that governs how consumer reporting agencies collect, use, and share your personal information. It applies to tenant screening reports, giving you several powerful rights:
- Accuracy and Completeness: Reports must be 100% accurate and reflect only verifiable, relevant information.
- Dispute Process: You have the right to dispute incorrect or outdated information, and CRAs must investigate within 30 days.
- Notice of Adverse Action: If you’re denied housing due to a tenant screening report, the landlord must give you a written notice.
- Free Copy of the Report: You’re entitled to a free copy of the report that caused your denial.
- Right to Sue: If a CRA fails to correct mistakes or violates your rights, you may be entitled to compensation, including actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000 per violation, and attorney fees.
At Jaffer Law, we use the FCRA to fight back against sloppy reporting practices and get justice for wronged tenants across the country.
What To Do If You’re Denied Housing Because of a Tenant Screening Error
If a landlord denied your rental application and you suspect the report was inaccurate, take these steps immediately:
- Request a Copy of the Report
You are legally entitled to a free copy. Ask the landlord which company provided it. - Review the Report Carefully
Look for any false, misleading, or outdated entries — including criminal records, evictions, or debt. - File a Dispute in Writing
Send a formal dispute letter to the tenant screening company. Include any documents that prove the information is wrong. - Keep a Record of All Communications
Save copies of letters, emails, and confirmation receipts to document your effort to resolve the issue. - Contact Jaffer Law
If the screening company fails to correct the error or you suffered harm because of the report, our legal team can evaluate your claim and pursue damages on your behalf.
How Jaffer Law Can Help
At Jaffer Law, we are consumer protection attorneys with experience handling tenant screening report error lawsuits under the FCRA. We represent renters nationwide who have been denied housing due to background check mistakes.
Here’s how we help:
- Free Case Evaluation: We review your situation and let you know if you have a case.
- We Deal with the Screening Company: You don’t have to fight them alone — we’ll demand they correct the report.
- We Sue When Necessary: If the company refuses to fix the errors or caused you serious harm, we can take them to federal court.
- You Pay Nothing Out of Pocket: The FCRA allows us to seek attorney fees from the tenant screening company, not from you.
We’ve helped people like you recover compensation, clean up their records, and restore their peace of mind.
Real-World Scenarios We Handle
Here are examples of cases we frequently pursue:
- Mixed Identity Claims: A woman in Dallas was denied an apartment because her tenant screening report included criminal charges belonging to a man with a similar name. We sued and secured compensation for the denial and emotional harm.
- Old Eviction Reporting: A tenant in Houston had an eviction case dismissed four years ago, but the report listed it as a judgment. We held the screening company liable for failure to update the record.
- False Criminal Record: A man applying to a luxury rental in Austin was denied because of a felony record from another state — except he had never even visited that state. We filed a lawsuit and resolved the issue in his favor.
Every case is unique, but the legal protections are powerful. If you believe your tenant screening report contains false or damaging information, we’re here to help.
You Deserve a Fair Chance at Housing
Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to live. Don’t let tenant screening errors ruin your opportunity. If you’ve been affected by an inaccurate or misleading rental background check, contact Jaffer Law today.
Let us investigate the tenant screening agency, file a dispute on your behalf, and if needed, sue them under the FCRA for compensation.
Your reputation matters. Your future matters. And at Jaffer Law, we’re ready to fight for both.
WE CAN GET YOU COMPENSATION FOR YOUR TENANT SCREENING BACKGROUND CHECK ERRORS