Your rental history report is something that can show future landlords or property management companies that you are a responsible tenant.
A good rental history report can make finding a new place to rent much easier, and you can secure a wider range of housing options with a stellar rental history report. However, that isn’t to say that a rental history report with a more diverse history can be a serious problem – it all depends on your specific report and the area that you are in.
Our article gives you more details about rental history reports and what you should know when you are reviewing your rental history.
What Is a Rental History Report?
As we mentioned above, a rental history report is a report that details your previous rental history. Both private landlords and commercial property management companies can potentially review your rental history report as part of the screening process for a housing application. Sometimes, rental history reports are called tenant history reports.
In general, you can expect your rental history report to include the following information:
- Your rental payment history and any details on late payments or rental debt
- Your history of evictions, if any are present in your rental history
- Reports of property damage to any property you previously occupied
- Contact information for previous landlords or property rental agencies
- Details about previous lease agreements, including start and end dates
- How long you lived in each previous property
- References or notes from previous landlords or property management companies
Keep in mind that the exact information shown on your report does depend on your state’s disclosure laws. Some states only allow certain information to be shown on these reports. You should check with local laws and speak to your landlord or property management company if you have questions about what is shown on your rental history report.
Should I Review My Rental History Report?
Reviewing your rental history report can be helpful for many different reasons.
Most notably, reviewing your rental history report can help you spot errors, such as incorrect lease terms or landlord references. When you spot these errors, you can request a correction through the agency that is reporting your rental history. Resolving errors and inaccuracies on your report is essential to maintaining an up-to-date and clear tenant history.
Additionally, reviewing your rental history report can help you see what a potential landlord or property management company might see. You can use this information to prepare your rental application properly and to make sure that you are able to answer any questions or concerns someone might have about your rental history.
What Can Impact My Rental History Report?
A few different factors can impact your rental history report. These factors may influence a landlord or property management company’s decision to rent to you based on the circumstances of your report.
Typically, factors that can influence your rental history report negatively include:
- Previous evictions on your report, especially if there are more than one
- Details of property damage to previous rental properties
- Legal issues related to housing or lease violations
- A history of neighbor complaints or poor previous landlord references
A report clear of eviction or other legal issues with a robust history of renting and paying your rent on time may positively influence your image in a landlord’s or property manager’s eyes. This will overall increase your chances of approval.
Where Does My Rental History Report Information Come From?
While knowing about your rental history report is one thing, you may be confused about where the information for your rental history report is sourced. In general, third-party sources and background checking tools will be able to provide you or a landlord with your rental history report. Depending on state laws, you may need to provide your consent before a rental history report is conducted.
Your credit history may also play a part in your rental history report, as your credit details can give a landlord or property manager information about your debt, lease violations, and evictions. Criminal records may be examined separately in addition to your rental history report and credit report.
Obtaining Your Rental History Report
If you decide that you want to review your rental history report, you may be wondering how to obtain this report and review it. Fortunately, the federal Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA) allows you to request a copy of this report once a landlord has reviewed it. Some states may also require that you be provided a copy of this report after it has been conducted.
Usually, you can review your rental history by accessing your public record information online. A lot of this information is the same information a landlord or property manager will check before approving or denying your rental application.
In addition to public record information, you can look at your credit report and any criminal records that might be relevant. You can also speak to previous landlords and property managers in order to gain positive references for your next rental application.
How Do I Improve My Rental History Report?
Improving your rental history report can help you secure housing more easily, and it can be the difference between being approved or denied for a certain unit. Our tips below can help you increase your chances of being accepted at the next place you submit a rental application.
- Always pay your rent and bills on time, as missing payments, late payments, and debt can greatly affect your credit history report and your rental history report
- Report issues with your lease or property immediately to the landlord or property management company to keep an open line of communication and a positive atmosphere
- Try to refrain from collective noise complaints or getting into disputes with neighbors that could affect your renter reputation
- Never violate the terms of your lease agreement, as this can result in a negative influence on your rental history report and even legal issues
- Avoid evictions, and make sure to communicate with your landlord or property manager if you are having legitimate trouble with paying your rent; sometimes, landlords can work with you to avoid the eviction process
Even if you don’t have the most stellar rental history report, you can work to improve it over time.
You should also note that dealing with private landlords can help you build a positive rental history report more effectively than property management companies and large apartment buildings. This is because private landlords have more discretion and leniency over the tenants they rent to.
What If There Is an Eviction on My Rental History Report?
Evictions can seriously negatively impact your rental history report, and it’s important to avoid collecting an eviction in your rental history. However, if you already have an eviction on your rental history report, it will stay there for at least seven years, depending on state laws.
When you apply for rental housing with an eviction on your rental history report, you should be prepared to give context to the situation. You may need to explain any financial difficulties or life events that caused that situation. You will also likely need to show your new potential landlord or property manager that you have made positive changes and can avoid eviction in the future.
Stable employment, positive financial behavior after an eviction, and accountability where necessary are key. From there, you can show a landlord or property management company that you are prepared to be an exemplary tenant.
Your Rental History Report: The Key to Happy Renting
Rental history reports are essential for many tenants, and it’s important to be aware of what is potentially shown on these reports. By understanding what a potential landlord might see, you are able to prepare yourself for any questions accurately and increase your chances of a rental application being approved.
