What Credit Bureau Do Landlords Use?

Most landlords pull your TransUnion credit report when you apply for a rental. Industry surveys indicate roughly 70 % of property managers rely on TransUnion, often through the same screening services they use for all applicants (landlord credit report statistics).

Because most screening services default to TransUnion, the score the landlord sees is the one on your TransUnion file; obtaining that report in advance lets you spot errors, dispute inaccuracies, and be prepared to discuss any negative items before the landlord makes a decision. This common practice sets the stage for the Experian and Equifax nuances covered in later sections.

Get your TransUnion credit report before you submit a rental application.

1. Go to Annual Credit Report website and select the TransUnion option.
2. Complete the identity verification by answering the security questions.
3. Download the PDF and scan every line for inaccuracies, outdated addresses, or unfamiliar accounts.
4. If you spot an error, dispute it directly through the TransUnion portal; resolve disputes before the landlord sees the report.
5. For an immediate pull, sign up for a paid 'instant credit report' on the TransUnion site; the report arrives within minutes.
6. Save the final, clean report in a folder you can attach to your rental application or upload to the leasing portal.

Now you're ready to meet the expectations of most landlords who pull your TransUnion, and you can move on to spotting landlord Experian credit pulls.

Landlords who choose Experian usually request a soft pull, leaving your score untouched.

• Soft pull only - Experian reports show 'inquiry: soft' and no impact on your credit, unlike most landlords who trigger a hard pull with TransUnion.
• Typical landlord types - Small‑scale property owners, boutique rentals, and some student‑housing managers favor Experian because its tenant‑risk models focus on rent‑payment history rather than overall credit utilization.
• How it appears on your report - Experian pulls are processed within 24‑48 hours, so a new inquiry that shows up quickly after you applied is likely from a landlord using this bureau.
• Verify the source - Contact the landlord or the screening service and ask, 'Did you use Experian for my credit check?'; most will confirm because Experian's tenant‑screening product is marketed under the name Experian Tenant Screening.

Equifax is rarely pulled for rental screenings; most landlords use TransUnion or Experian because those bureaus supply the most comprehensive tenancy data. Industry surveys show roughly 85% of landlords rely on TransUnion or Experian , while fewer than 5% include Equifax in their standard check.

When Equifax does appear, it's usually because a specific screening service offers it as an optional add‑on or a landlord operates in a niche market that values its limited credit snapshots. In those cases the pull is a deliberate choice, not a default practice, reinforcing why Equifax remains rare among rental checks.

• TransUnion ResidentScreen - most landlords use this service for a fast, detailed credit report.
• Experian Connect - many property managers rely on it for instant, verified credit scores.
• Buildium Screening - pulls Experian data to complement rental history checks.
• Cozy (now Apartments.com) Screening - defaults to TransUnion, matching the majority of landlord preferences.
• RentPrep Equifax Rental Insight - a niche option that offers Equifax reports for managers who rarely pull that bureau.

Landlords who pull a TransUnion report see the VantageScore that TransUnion generates, typically VantageScore 3.0, because most landlords use TransUnion for rental checks. That score reflects the same 300‑850 range used in consumer lending and lets landlords gauge overall credit risk at a glance.

• Score range: 300  -  850, higher is better
• Payment history: ~40% of the model, shows on‑time rent and bill payments
• Credit utilization: ~20%, total balances compared to limits
• Age of credit: ~10%, longer histories boost the score
• Credit mix: ~10%, mix of revolving, installment, and other accounts
• Recent inquiries: ~10%, fewer hard pulls keep the score up

As we discussed in the 'most landlords pull your TransUnion' section, this is the VantageScore most landlords actually see before they move on to the next screening step.

Freeze the credit bureau that most landlords rarely pull, keep the freeze active, and lift it only for the rental application.

• Identify which bureau the landlord will check. Most landlords use TransUnion, while Experian and Equifax are checked far less often.
• Contact the chosen bureau (usually Experian or Equifax) online or by phone and request a credit freeze. Provide your Social Security number, birth date, and address for verification.
• Record the freeze‑confirmation number and personal PIN; you'll need them to lift the freeze temporarily.
• When you submit a rental application, share the PIN with the landlord or the screening service and ask them to lift the freeze for a single inquiry.
• After the landlord finishes the pull, re‑freeze the bureau immediately using the same PIN.

Keeping one bureau frozen protects your credit while still allowing the landlord to verify your rental history, and you can repeat the process for future leases without compromising your overall credit safety.

Landlords without a credit file usually ask for a larger security deposit, insist on a co‑signer, or turn to alternative data sources.

Because most landlords use TransUnion for the initial pull, an empty TransUnion report signals no credit history and triggers those extra safeguards; they rarely rely on Equifax, so the absence looks the same across bureaus.

Provide recent utility payments, a signed lease‑guarantor, or enroll in a tenant‑screening service that adds rent‑payment data (alternative tenant screening options); the next section shows how a co‑signer can resolve bureau mismatches.

Most landlords rely on TransUnion (about 60 % of the time), some use Experian (≈30 %), and Equifax appears rarely (<10 %). When a co‑signer's credit file lives with a different bureau, the landlord may reject the application because the pulled report shows no data.

1. Request the matching report. Ask the co‑signer to order a free credit report from the bureau the landlord uses (usually TransUnion or Experian) and forward it before the screening deadline.
2. Submit a supplemental copy. Attach the new report to the rental application and clearly label it 'Co‑Signer Credit - Same Bureau as Landlord Pull.'
3. Add a verification letter. Have the co‑signer sign a brief statement confirming the accuracy of the attached report and authorizing the landlord to consider it.
4. Use a multi‑bureau screening service. Platforms like Rentalysis tenant screening pull all three bureaus and provide a consolidated file that satisfies any landlord's preference.
5. Offer alternative proof. If the landlord still hesitates, provide recent bank statements, payment histories, or a letter from the co‑signer's bank confirming good standing. This often convinces landlords to waive the bureau mismatch.

Most landlords in the Pacific Northwest and California pull Experian, because local screening services such as RentPrep default to that bureau, so an Experian score often decides the lease.

In the Midwest and Northeast, most landlords use TransUnion and rarely pull Equifax; a freeze on Equifax alone usually won't stop a rental check. National Association of Realtors regional credit data