Credit Reporting & Data Fairness

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.

Featured

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FTC and CFPB Take Action Against Faulty Tenant Screening Reports

October 12, 2023

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

September 26, 2023

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

September 26, 2023

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

2023 Credit & Consumer Reporting Priorities to Promote Economic Stability

January 18, 2023

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

Comments & Letters

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Group Letter to Congress Regarding the Credit Access and Inclusion Act

July 20, 2018

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

Comments to the CFPB Regarding Financial Institutions’ Use of Artificial Intelligence, Including Machine Learning

July 1, 2021

Request that CFPB Prohibit Credit Reporting of Rent Arrears Incurred During COVID-19 Pandemic

May 6, 2021

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

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

May 7, 2021

Reports

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

August 3, 2022

Report: Broken Records Redux

December 10, 2019

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

September 26, 2023

Issue Briefs

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

August 1, 2020

Fact Sheet Supporting Mass Fair Chance in Housing Act re Credit Scores in Housing

2023 Credit & Consumer Reporting Priorities to Promote Economic Stability

January 18, 2023

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

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

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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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