What Is TransUnion Background Check for Renters?

The TransUnion renter report pulls together the data landlords need to decide if you're a safe bet for their property.

• Identifying details - full name, current and past addresses, date of birth and Social Security number verify who you are.
• Rental history - dates you lived at each address, landlord contact information, and whether you left on good terms; includes any reported lease violations.
• Eviction records - any filed eviction actions, court outcomes and dates, even if the case was dismissed.
• Credit snapshot - current credit score range, payment history on major debts, and any outstanding collections that could affect rent reliability.
• Criminal background - misdemeanors and felonies that appear in public court records, listed with conviction dates.
• Income and employment verification - employer name, job title and length of employment, sometimes combined with recent pay stub data.

The TransUnion renter report centers on tenancy data, while a traditional credit report centers on credit‑account activity.

The TransUnion renter report pulls rent‑payment history, eviction filings, lease violations, court judgments, and, in some states, criminal‑record snippets; it grades you on a 300‑850 scale that landlords use to predict lease reliability. It does not list credit‑card balances, loan amounts, or credit‑utilization ratios.

A credit report, by contrast, records revolving and installment accounts, balances, payment‑history dates, credit‑utilization percentages, and public records such as bankruptcies; it also produces a 300‑850 score, but the algorithm weighs borrowing behavior, not rental performance. The report never shows rent‑payment trends unless you enroll a rent‑reporting service. For more detail, see the TransUnion renter report overview.

Your TransUnion renter score sits at the top of the TransUnion renter report and uses a 300‑850 scale, where higher numbers mean lower perceived risk. Knowing the bands tells you what landlords are likely to do with your application.

• 800‑850  -  Excellent: landlords usually approve without asking for extra documentation.
• 700‑799  -  Good: approval is probable; a modest security deposit may be requested.
• 600‑699  -  Fair: landlords often ask for additional references or a larger deposit.
• 500‑599  -  Poor: many landlords reject or require a co‑signer to mitigate risk.
• Below 500  -  Very poor: approval is rare without significant mitigation such as a guarantor or several months of prepaid rent.

For a detailed breakdown see the TransUnion renter score guide.

Eviction filings and criminal convictions appear as separate entries on your TransUnion renter report, each with distinct headings and limited detail.

The report lists evictions under Residential History and criminal matters under Criminal History. Both sections pull data from court records, not from your personal credit file, so they show only what the court has officially recorded.

• Eviction entry
  • Property address and landlord name
  • Filing date and case number
  • Outcome (e.g., judgment, dismiss‑al, or 'pending')
  • Duration of tenancy (move‑in to move‑out dates)
• Criminal entry
  • Offense type (misdemeanor, felony, etc.)
  • Arrest or conviction date
  • Court jurisdiction and case number
  • Disposition (convicted, acquitted, dismissed)
  • Sentencing dates, if applicable

Only convictions that are still within the reporting window - typically seven years for misdemeanors and ten years for felonies - appear, and records that have been expunged or sealed are omitted. Pending cases may be flagged as 'under investigation' until a final disposition is recorded.

Landlords later use these sections to gauge risk, which we'll explore in the next H2 on how they interpret your TransUnion renter report.

Landlords read the TransUnion renter report to gauge financial reliability. They focus on the credit score, payment history, total debt, and any eviction filings that can stay on the report for up to seven years (TransUnion renter report details). Some screening tools also assign a rental‑specific score, typically ranging from 600 to 750, and landlords use that number as a quick benchmark.

Next, they examine the separate criminal‑background module that TransUnion bundles with the renter report. Felony convictions appear only in this background check, not on the credit portion, allowing landlords to assess safety risk without mixing it with credit data.

Finally, landlords apply internal thresholds. Usually a rental score above 650 combined with no evictions in the past seven years signals a qualified applicant; lower scores or recent evictions trigger a deeper review, a request for a co‑signer, or a denial. This leads directly into the discussion of typical landlord red flags and pass thresholds.

• Low rental score: a score below 600 on the TransUnion renter report usually triggers a rejection; scores 600‑720 are borderline, above 720 generally pass.
• Recent eviction: any eviction within the past 3 years flags you; landlords often require zero evictions or may accept one if the tenant shows proof of resolution.
• Criminal history: violent felonies or recent convictions (within 5 years) are red flags; a clean record or only minor misdemeanors older than 7 years typically passes.
• Credit concerns: a credit utilization above 40 % or a FICO under 620 on the TransUnion renter report signals risk; most landlords look for utilization under 30 % and a credit score above 620.
• Inconsistent rental history: gaps longer than 6 months or frequent moves (more than 3 addresses in 2 years) raise doubts; steady tenancy of at least 12 months per address usually meets the threshold.
• Insufficient income: rent‑to‑income ratio below 2.5 times the monthly rent is a red flag; landlords generally require income at least 2.5‑3 times the rent.

TransUnion renter report costs typically range from $10‑$15 for a personal copy and $25‑$35 for a landlord‑ordered screening; some platforms bundle the fee into the application process. Prices can vary by state or service tier, but the fee is disclosed before any pull is made.

Results appear within minutes for landlords using the online portal, while a consumer‑requested copy arrives within 24‑48 hours after verification.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the landlord must obtain written consent - electronic signatures satisfy this requirement - and must disclose that a report will be obtained. Tenants may revoke consent at any time, and many states also require a separate privacy notice before the pull. For the latest pricing details, see TransUnion renter report pricing information.

You can request your TransUnion renter report online in just a few minutes.

1. Visit the official TransUnion renter report portal.
2. Click 'Get My Report' and create a free account using your email and a strong password.
3. Enter your full name, Social Security number, and current address to verify identity; the system may ask for a photo of a government ID.
4. Review the fee (typically $9‑$15) and consent to the background‑screening disclosure; you may qualify for a free copy once per year under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
5. Submit payment securely; the report is generated within 24  -  48 hours and appears in your dashboard.
6. Download the PDF, print a copy, or share the secure link with a prospective landlord.

After you have the report, the next section explains how to dispute any errors quickly.

A TransUnion renter report dispute removes inaccurate entries in days, not weeks.

A dispute starts by logging into the TransUnion consumer portal, selecting the offending item, and uploading a clear copy of supporting documentation such as a lease agreement, court docket, or ID. TransUnion then investigates, usually within 15 business days, and emails you the outcome. If the item is corrected, the update appears instantly in the online view and propagates to any landlord‑screening service within 48 hours.

For example, a typo that lists 'John Doe' instead of 'Jon Doe' can be fixed by attaching a driver's license and submitting the correction online; the process takes roughly one hour and the revised name shows up on the next screening. A wrongful eviction entry cleared by providing a paid‑in‑full settlement letter follows the same workflow, and landlords see the change before the next application deadline.

These steps also prepare you for the upcoming '6 quick steps to boost your rental screening results' section.

Boosting your TransUnion renter report starts with a clean, accurate file and solid supporting facts.

1. Request the free report and scan it line‑by‑line. Look for misspelled names, wrong addresses, or outdated court entries.
2. Dispute every inaccuracy promptly. Use the TransUnion online portal (file a renter‑report dispute) and attach proof; errors usually clear within 30 days.
3. Settle any outstanding collections or judgments. Paying them stops further collection activity and lowers the negative weight, even though the record remains.
4. Trim your credit utilization and avoid new hard pulls. Lower balances and a stable credit profile raise the credit‑score component of the renter report.
5. Encourage previous landlords to report payment history. Ask them to submit rent‑payment data to the screening service or to major credit bureaus; the report then reflects on‑time payments automatically.
6. Attach supplemental income and banking documents to your application. Pay stubs, bank statements, or a letter of employment give landlords context that can offset weaker sections of the report.

These actions directly improve the factors that landlords see when they review your TransUnion renter report.

Co‑signers, roommates, people with expunged records, and international renters all generate a TransUnion renter report, but landlords interpret each situation differently.

When a co‑signer is added, TransUnion creates a separate renter report for the co‑signer; landlords can request it and often weigh the co‑signer's score alongside the primary applicant's. For roommates, each adult on the lease receives an individual report; landlords may look at the highest score or require all reports to meet a minimum threshold. If a criminal or eviction record has been expunged, it should not appear on the report - any lingering entry can be disputed through the same fast‑track process described in the 'dispute errors on your TransUnion renter report' section.

International renters typically have limited U.S. credit data, so the TransUnion renter report may rely on alternative sources such as foreign credit bureaus, visa status, or proof of income, and landlords often supplement the report with a passport copy or a letter of employment.

In practice, landlords treat these special cases by requesting the relevant reports, applying the same score thresholds outlined earlier, and using the dispute‑resolution steps if unexpected items surface.