What Credit Bureau Does Zillow Use?

The below content will be converted to HTML following it's exact instructions:

Zillow automatically pulls your TransUnion credit report the moment you begin a rental application. The platform starts with a soft inquiry, which lets you see whether you meet basic criteria without affecting your score.

Zillow pulls TransUnion because the bureau supplies the most complete rental‑payment history, delivers data quickly through a stable API, and matches Zillow's proprietary risk algorithms.

• TransUnion aggregates utility and lease‑payment records that other bureaus often miss, giving Zillow a fuller picture of a tenant's reliability.
• The platform's real‑time response time keeps Zillow's application flow fast, reducing wait periods for renters.
• Zillow's internal scoring model was built and calibrated using TransUnion's data fields, so switching would require costly re‑engineering.
• Pricing agreements with TransUnion make large‑scale pulls economically viable for Zillow's high volume of listings.
• Consistent use of a single bureau simplifies error‑tracking, which the later 'spot transunion errors Zillow sees' section will explore.

Zillow relies on TransUnion for rental credit checks, so a free TransUnion score lets you see what Zillow will see before the hard pull.

• Register at TransUnion's free credit‑score portal and verify identity to receive the score instantly.
• Order a free annual report at AnnualCreditReport.com, then add TransUnion's complimentary score feature when the report loads.
• Open a no‑cost trial with a credit‑monitoring service that includes a TransUnion dashboard, cancel before the trial ends to avoid charges.
• Log into your banking app; many institutions display a TransUnion score at no extra fee, visible under the 'credit health' tab.
• Accept the optional TransUnion preview offered during Zillow's rental application process, which shows the same numbers without a hard inquiry.

Zillow's rental‑application hard pull registers directly on your TransUnion credit file as a 'Zillow' inquiry.

1. Inquiry entry - When you submit a rental request, Zillow sends a hard inquiry request to TransUnion; the file shows 'Zillow' with the date of the pull.
2. Score effect - TransUnion treats the inquiry like any other hard pull; it may lower your score by a few points for up to 12 months, but the impact is usually modest.
3. Visibility to landlords - Landlords reviewing your TransUnion report will see the Zillow inquiry, confirming you applied through the platform.
4. Duration on report - The hard pull remains on your TransUnion report for two years, though its scoring influence fades after a year.
5. Accessing the result - After the pull, Zillow provides a summary of your credit‑check outcome; you can also view the same entry in your free TransUnion score portal.
6. Potential red flags - Multiple recent hard pulls (including Zillow's) can signal risk to lenders, so space out rental applications when possible.

Next, learn how to spot any TransUnion errors Zillow might surface.

Zillow's TransUnion check often trips over a few predictable data glitches, so knowing what to watch for saves time and frustration.

• Misspelled name, wrong Social Security number, or outdated address still linked to the file.
• Closed accounts listed as open, or paid‑off balances still showing as outstanding.
• Duplicate entries for the same credit card or loan, inflating utilization ratios.
• Payment history recorded as late when payments were actually on time.
• Debt amounts entered incorrectly, either higher or lower than the true balance.
• Collections or charge‑offs attached to accounts you never opened.
• Incorrect account type (e.g., mortgage listed as credit card) that skews risk calculations.
• Wrong 'hard pull' flag attached to a Zillow inquiry, even though the check is soft.

These errors tend to appear because TransUnion aggregates data from many lenders, and occasional reporting slips slip through. Spotting them early lets you correct the file before Zillow proceeds to the next stage.

Once you've identified any of the issues above, head to the 'fix TransUnion fast for Zillow' section to learn how to dispute and remediate quickly.

Zillow's hard pull appears on your TransUnion report within a day; the fastest fix is to confirm the inquiry's legitimacy, then launch a dispute if it's wrong. Pull the latest report, note the date and account number, and compare it to your Zillow activity; any mismatch - wrong applicant name, duplicate entry, or unauthorized pull - warrants an immediate online dispute through TransUnion's portal.

After filing, watch the 30‑day resolution window; a successful dispute replaces the entry with 'removed' or 'corrected.' If Zillow issued the pull but the details are inaccurate, contact their support with the dispute reference and request a corrected report submission. Remember, a valid hard pull remains for up to two years and cannot be erased by request alone; only errors or fraudulent entries qualify for removal (see the FTC guide to credit‑report disputes for step‑by‑step instructions).

Monitor your TransUnion file before Zillow runs its hard pull and again right after you receive the decision.

Key steps include:

• Log into TransUnion credit monitoring service and set real‑time alerts for any new inquiry or score change.
• Download the free report from Free annual credit report to compare pre‑ and post‑Zillow data.
• Check the email from Zillow help center for the exact date of the hard pull, then verify that date on your TransUnion account.
• Review the 'hard inquiries' section daily for at least two weeks; any unexpected entries could signal an error.

If you spot a discrepancy, act immediately - most disputes resolve within 30 days, and correcting the record improves your chances in the next Zillow application.

If Zillow rejects your rental app because of a TransUnion hard pull, you can dispute the report directly with TransUnion to correct errors that may have caused the denial.

Start by pulling your free TransUnion credit report, locate the specific entry Zillow flagged (often a missed payment or high utilization), and submit a dispute through the TransUnion online portal or by mailing a dispute letter. Include your name, address, the account in question, and a clear statement of why the information is inaccurate; attach supporting documents such as bank statements or lender correspondence. TransUnion must investigate within 30 days and provide results, which you can then forward to Zillow to restore eligibility.

*Example 1:* A renter sees a '30‑day late payment' on a credit‑card account that was actually paid on time. They upload the payment receipt to TransUnion's e‑dispute form, receive a corrected 'Paid on time' entry, and Zillow updates the applicant status.

*Example 2:* A prospective tenant is denied because TransUnion reports a higher credit‑utilization ratio than reality. They submit recent credit‑card statements showing a lower balance, receive a revised utilization figure, and Zillow's system reflects the improved score, lifting the denial.

These focused disputes address the exact data Zillow uses, giving you a fast path to overturn a denial without waiting for a full credit rebuild.

Even if your Experian score outperforms your TransUnion score, Zillow still pulls only the TransUnion report. The platform never consults Experian, so a higher Experian number never influences a Zillow rental decision.

Since Zillow skips Experian, a strong Experian rating won't rescue a low TransUnion score. For example, a renter with a 740 Experian and a 620 TransUnion may still be declined because Zillow's hard pull reads the 620. To improve your odds, focus on correcting TransUnion errors and raising that specific score; your Experian health remains useful for other lenders but not for Zillow. Zillow's credit‑check policy confirms this bureau‑only approach.

Freeze TransUnion before you start the Zillow rental application to keep the hard pull under your control. A freeze blocks all credit checks until you lift it, so Zillow cannot run its TransUnion inquiry unintentionally.

Place the freeze by visiting TransUnion freeze your credit online, creating an account, and setting a PIN. You can also call the freeze line; both methods lock your file instantly.

When you're ready to submit the Zillow request, use the PIN to lift the freeze for a 24‑hour window, then re‑freeze as soon as Zillow finishes its hard pull. This timing lets you approve the check without leaving your file open longer than necessary.