Credit Reporting & Data Fairness

Consumer Protections for Renters

Low- and moderate-income renters have faced tremendous challenges in recent years, including shortages of affordable, decent housing; spiking rent increases; and abuses by corporate and private equity landlords. Contributing to these woes are practices that are regulated by consumer laws, including tenant screening reports, collection of rental debt, and imposition of junk fees. NCLC advocates for strong protections in these and other areas where consumer laws and renter protection intersect.

Too Damn High: How Junk Fees Add to Skyrocketing Rents

March 13, 2023

Junk fees jeopardize access to future housing and financial stability by contributing to rental debt that leads to negative marks on credit reports.

Read More about: Too Damn High: How Junk Fees Add to Skyrocketing Rents
January 23, 2023
October 24, 2022

Featured

View All for Featured
Op-Ed in The Hill: “Why rent reporting can harm rather than help vulnerable tenants”

February 26, 2023

Unfair Debts With No Way Out: Consumers Share Their Experiences With Rental Debt Collectors

October 7, 2022

Zombie Records: How Sealed or Expunged Court Records in Tenant & Employment Screening Reports May Illegally Cost People Jobs & Housing

June 29, 2022

Consumer Advocates Applaud CFPB Rule Affirming States’ Ability to Police Credit

June 28, 2022

SafeRent Solutions Accused of Illegally Discriminating Against Black and Hispanic Rental Applicants

May 25, 2022

NCLC & NHLP Comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Regarding Fees Imposed by Providers of Consumer Financial Products or Services

April 11, 2022

CFPB Issues Three FCRA Interpretations with Widespread Implications

August 2, 2022

Implications of New CFPB Bulletin on Consumer Reporting of Renters

July 16, 2021

WBUR: For many renters, apartment application fees add up. Some are illegal

November 27, 2023

Comments & Letters

View All for Comments & Letters
Comments to FHFA on Tenant Protections for Enterprise-Backed Multifamily Properties Request for Information

July 27, 2023

Comments on Tenant Screening Request for Information by FTC and CFPB

May 30, 2023

Group Comments to the FTC Regarding Rental Housing Junk Fees

February 8, 2023

NCLC & NHLP Comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Regarding Fees Imposed by Providers of Consumer Financial Products or Services

April 11, 2022

Letter to CFPB Regarding Rental Debt Survey of Legal Aid and Non-Profit Attorneys

December 14, 2021

Group Letter to HUD Regarding Removing Credit Reports and Credit Scores as a Barrier to Public and Subsidized Housing

November 3, 2021

Letter Regarding Application of CFPB’s Interim Final Rule to the New CDC Eviction Moratorium

August 10, 2021

Group Letter Supporting H.R. 4791, the Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021

July 30, 2021

Comments to the CFPB Regarding Debt Collection Practices in Connection With the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

May 7, 2021

Reports

View All for Reports
Digital Denials: How Abuse, Bias, and Lack of Transparency in Tenant Screening Harm Renters

September 26, 2023

Too Damn High: How Junk Fees Add to Skyrocketing Rents

March 13, 2023

Unfair Debts With No Way Out: Consumers Share Their Experiences With Rental Debt Collectors

October 7, 2022

Mission Creep: a Primer on Use of Credit Reports & Scores for Non-Credit Purposes

August 3, 2022

Report: Broken Records Redux

December 10, 2019

Issue Briefs

View All for Issue Briefs
2023 Consumer Reform Priorities to Protect Tenants

January 23, 2023

2023 Credit & Consumer Reporting Priorities to Promote Economic Stability

January 18, 2023

Even the Catch-22s Come With Catch-22s: Potential Harms & Drawbacks of Rent Reporting

October 24, 2022

WAAT: Protections and Support for Renters

September 21, 2022

Zombie Records: How Sealed or Expunged Court Records in Tenant & Employment Screening Reports May Illegally Cost People Jobs & Housing

June 29, 2022

Assisting Consumers with Rental Debt During COVID-19: Legal Aid and Non-Profit Attorneys Share Their Experiences

December 14, 2021

Salt in the Wound: How Eviction Records and Back Rent Haunt Tenant Screening Reports and Credit Scores

August 1, 2020

Testimony

View All for Testimony
Testimony of Ariel Nelson Before the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee in Support of H.B. 251

January 24, 2022

Testimony of Chi Chi Wu before the Massachusetts Legislature in Support of H.1429/S.894: An Act Regulating the Use of Credit Reporting in Housing

January 11, 2022

Testimony of NCLC Staff Attorney Ariel Nelson Supporting CT HB 6528

March 4, 2021

Press Releases & News

View All for Press Releases & News
WBUR: For many renters, apartment application fees add up. Some are illegal

November 27, 2023

File Comments about Rental Junk Fees with the FTC

November 17, 2023

FTC and CFPB Take Action Against Faulty Tenant Screening Reports

October 12, 2023

White House Takes Aim at Junk Fees in Rental Housing, Banking, and More

October 11, 2023

New Report Examines How Abuse and Bias in Tenant Screening Harm Renters

September 26, 2023

Digital Library: FCRA Remedies When Criminal Records Lead to Rental Denials

September 21, 2023

Biden Administration Takes Aim at Rental Housing Junk Fees

July 19, 2023

NPR: Shocked by those extra monthly apartment fees? 3 big rental sites plan to reveal them

July 19, 2023

Too Damn High: New Report Examines Role of Junk Fees in Skyrocketing Rents

March 14, 2023

From the NCLC Digital Library

Defenses to Collection of Rental Debt

Tenant tactics to deal with rental debt, including: responding to negative tenant screening reports that prevent access to new housing; challenging the rental amount claimed as due; other defenses to rental debt collection lawsuits & eight ways for the tenant to recover attorney fees in litigation.

Read Article