Consumer Protections for Tenants

Tenant Screening

NCLC works to ensure that tenant screening reports are not a barrier for renters to get safe and affordable housing. These reports often tag the wrong person with an eviction or criminal record, include expunged records, misclassify offenses, or omit disposition information. They also often contain questionable tenant screening scores or recommendations. Because of the information in these reports and scores, they result in disproportionate denial of renters of color from housing.

HUD Takes Aim at Discriminatory Practices by Tenant Screening Companies and Housing Providers

May 3, 2024

New guidance addresses how the Fair Housing Act protects renters from common tenant screening practices, including use of AI

Read More about: HUD Takes Aim at Discriminatory Practices by Tenant Screening Companies and Housing Providers
October 12, 2023
September 26, 2023

Recent

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What States Can Do to Regulate Tenant Screening

November 14, 2025

“What the Heck, Dude!”: How States Can Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

November 13, 2025

Coalition Letter to House Financial Services – Modernize Gramm Leach Bliley But Do Not Nullify State Consumer Protections

August 27, 2025

Letter from 70 Groups Opposing S.1465, Credit Access and Inclusion Act

June 18, 2025

2025 Consumer Reform Priorities to Protect Tenants

April 18, 2025

What the Heck, Dude! New Report Focuses on How States Can Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

September 5, 2024

NCLC Petition for Rulemaking under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to Protect Renters

August 12, 2024

Sign-on Letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee re the American Privacy Rights Act (ARPA)

June 25, 2024

HUD Takes Aim at Discriminatory Practices by Tenant Screening Companies and Housing Providers

May 3, 2024

Comments & Letters

View All for Comments & Letters
Coalition Letter to House Financial Services – Modernize Gramm Leach Bliley But Do Not Nullify State Consumer Protections

August 27, 2025

Letter from 70 Groups Opposing S.1465, Credit Access and Inclusion Act

June 18, 2025

NCLC Petition for Rulemaking under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to Protect Renters

August 12, 2024

Sign-on Letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee re the American Privacy Rights Act (ARPA)

June 25, 2024

Comments on Tenant Screening Request for Information by FTC and CFPB

May 30, 2023

Comments to the FTC-CFPB Tenant Screening Request for Information Submitted with the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice

May 30, 2023

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

April 11, 2022

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

May 7, 2021

Reports

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“What the Heck, Dude!”: How States Can Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

November 13, 2025

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

September 26, 2023

Broken Records Redux: How Errors by Criminal Background Check Companies Continue to Harm Consumers Seeking Jobs and Housing

December 10, 2019

Issue Briefs

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What States Can Do to Regulate Tenant Screening

November 14, 2025

2025 Consumer Reform Priorities to Protect Tenants

April 18, 2025

2024 Credit & Consumer Reporting Priorities to Promote Economic Stability

March 6, 2024

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

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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

Maryland Testimony: Promoting Accuracy in Background Checks and Tenant Screening

February 3, 2021

Press Releases & News

View All for Press Releases & News
What the Heck, Dude! New Report Focuses on How States Can Fight Rental Housing Junk Fees

September 5, 2024

HUD Takes Aim at Discriminatory Practices by Tenant Screening Companies and Housing Providers

May 3, 2024

FTC and CFPB Take Action Against Faulty Tenant Screening Reports

October 12, 2023

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

September 26, 2023

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 Advocates Applaud CFPB’s Action to Protect Consumers from False Identification by Background Screening Companies

November 4, 2021

Report: Rampant Errors on Criminal Background Check Reports Are Still Preventing Consumers from Securing Jobs and Housing

December 9, 2019

From the NCLC Digital Library

Fair Credit Reporting

NCLC’s bestselling treatise on credit reporting litigation, including the latest on U.S. Supreme Court rulings, CFPB interpretations, federal and state legislative changes, government enforcement actions, caselaw developments, and changes to industry practices.

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