What Is a Tenant Screening Report? (Everything That Shows Up)
The short answer
Landlords use tenant screening reports to evaluate you before approving an application. Here is exactly what these reports contain and how to prepare.
What Is a Tenant Screening Report?
When you apply for an apartment, landlords typically run a tenant screening report — a background check specific to rental applicants. Here is exactly what it contains.
The Four Main Components
1. Credit Report
The credit section shows:
- Credit score (FICO or VantageScore, typically)
- Payment history: On-time payments, late payments, defaults
- Outstanding balances: Total debt load and credit utilization
- Collections: Unpaid debts sent to collectors
- Derogatory marks: Bankruptcies, charge-offs, civil judgments
- Credit inquiries: Recent applications for credit
- Credit account age and mix
Most landlords look for a score of 620-700+, though requirements vary by market and landlord.
2. Criminal Background Check
Criminal history reports vary by scope:
- Federal criminal records
- State criminal records (varies by state covered)
- County criminal records (most comprehensive)
- Sex offender registry
- Terror watchlist
Important: Fair housing laws limit how landlords can use criminal history. Blanket "no criminal record" policies may violate fair housing law in some jurisdictions. Landlords should conduct an individualized assessment.
3. Eviction History
Eviction reports compile:
- Eviction filings: Cases filed in court — even if dismissed, settled, or you won
- Eviction judgments: Cases where the landlord won
- Unlawful detainer records: Alternative terminology used in some states
This is often the most sensitive section for applicants. Eviction records are separate from credit reports and can show items that have been resolved on credit.
4. Income and Employment Verification
Some screening companies include:
- Employment verification: Current employer, title, dates of employment
- Income verification: Salary or wage data (sometimes from payroll data aggregators)
Not all screening reports include this — many landlords verify income separately through pay stubs and bank statements.
Who Provides Tenant Screening Reports?
Major tenant screening companies include:
- TransUnion SmartMove (widely used by individual landlords)
- CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions
- National Tenant Network (NTN)
- RentSpree
- Experian RentBureau
Each uses different data sources. A report from one company may differ from another.
Your Right to See Your Report
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA):
- If you are denied housing based on a screening report, the landlord must tell you which company provided the report
- You have the right to request a free copy of that report
- You can dispute errors directly with the screening company
Pro-tip: Run a self-check on TransUnion SmartMove or CoreLogic before applying to see what landlords see.
How Long Do Negative Items Stay?
| Item | Report Duration |
|---|---|
| Late payments | 7 years |
| Collections | 7 years |
| Bankruptcy (Chapter 7) | 10 years |
| Bankruptcy (Chapter 13) | 7 years |
| Eviction filings | 7 years |
| Criminal records | Varies by state; some indefinitely |
How the Settl Verified Passport Differs
Traditional screening reports are pulled by landlords, behind the scenes, using data you never see or control. The Settl Verified Passport ($99 one-time) flips that model: you run your own verification and share the results on your terms.
What makes it different is where the data comes from. Settl pulls directly from primary sources — not documents you upload, not forms you fill out:
- Biometric identity (Didit): Live facial recognition matched against your government ID — confirmed in real time, not just scanned
- Bank income ceiling (Plaid): Reads your actual bank deposits to calculate a verified rent ceiling ("Verified for rent up to $X/mo") — your exact salary is never shown to landlords
- Rent payment history (Plaid): Prior rent payments pulled straight from your bank transactions
- Payroll + employer + tenure (Argyle): Connected directly to your payroll system — employer name, hire date, tenure in months, and income from the source
- Credit check (TransUnion via CRS): Soft pull, no score impact
- Criminal background (CRS): Court records pulled directly
- Eviction history (CRS): Eviction database pulled directly
- Landlord references: You control which references to include and share
Because everything comes straight from the source, there is nothing to fake. Landlords see it for free — no account, no setup, just open the link. And under Colorado's HB25-1236 law, landlords are required to accept a PTSR-compliant report like the Settl Verified Passport.
Straight from the source. Apply anywhere. Pay once.
Get verified at settlhome.com/apply before your next rental application.
Settl Team
Settl Editorial
Settl helps renters stand out in competitive markets through verified identity, income, and rental verifications. Trusted by landlords across the US.
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