What Is TransUnion Resident Score 4.0?

TransUnion Resident Score 4.0 measures a tenant's rental payment history and related tenancy behavior.

The score draws on data such as on‑time rent payments, late or partial payments, lease violations, eviction filings, court judgments, utility payment records, and other public filings that landlords report.

For example, a tenant who has paid rent on the first of each month for three years will see a higher score than someone with multiple 30‑day delinquencies and a recent eviction lawsuit. Learn more about the data sources used for Resident Score 4.0

TransUnion calculates your Resident Score 4.0 by pulling rental‑payment history, public‑record events, and verifiable household‑utility data into a proprietary algorithm that assigns each element a weighted value.

• On‑time rent payments - roughly 40 % of the score; each month paid on schedule adds points, late or missed payments subtract them.
• Eviction filings and court judgments - about 20 %; any eviction, judgment, or bankruptcy record reduces the score proportionally to its severity and age.
• Utility and telecom payments - near 15 %; consistent, on‑time payments for electricity, water, internet, or phone boost the score, while delinquency drags it down.
• Public‑record items - around 15 %; tax liens, civil judgments, and misdemeanor convictions are factored in, with newer entries carrying more weight.
• Employment and income verification - roughly 10 %; stable employment and verified income can offset minor negatives, especially for newer renters.

The algorithm updates each time new data are reported, typically within 30 days of the source filing. Older negative events gradually lose influence, allowing a clean recent record to improve the score over time.

Next, the Resident Score 4.0 ranges section explains what specific numbers mean for landlords and renters alike.

TransUnion Resident Score 4.0 ranges from 0 to 1,000; a higher number signals lower rental risk and better leasing terms. Landlords typically bucket the score into four bands that guide their decisions.

• 0  -  400: considered high risk; landlords may require a larger security deposit, a co‑signer, or reject the application.
• 401  -  650: moderate risk; applicants often receive standard terms but may face stricter income‑to‑rent ratios.
• 651  -  850: good risk; most landlords approve with normal deposit and flexible lease options.
• 851  -  1,000: excellent risk; renters enjoy the best odds for approval, lower deposits, and may qualify for premium properties.

Resident Score 4.0 differs from traditional credit scores in three key ways: it evaluates rental‑specific behavior instead of revolving credit activity, it draws from tenancy‑related data (lease payments, rental applications, eviction filings) rather than credit‑card or loan histories, and it reports on a 0‑1,000 scale where higher numbers signal stronger tenancy risk profiles, whereas credit scores use a 300‑850 range focused on creditworthiness.

Understanding this difference matters because landlords and property managers rely on Resident Score 4.0 to predict on‑time rent, lease compliance, and potential legal costs; a high resident score can secure a lease without a co‑signer or lower security deposit, while a low score may lead to application denial even if a borrower's credit score is solid. Consequently, renters must monitor both scores to optimize housing opportunities and avoid surprises during the screening process.

Landlords use TransUnion Resident Score 4.0 to screen you by pulling the score when you submit a rental application and matching it against their internal acceptance criteria. They typically set a minimum Resident Score 4.0 threshold; applicants below that range may be denied or asked for a co‑signer.

During screening, landlords examine the score's underlying factors - on‑time rent payments, eviction filings, court judgments, and public‑record balances - because those data points directly reflect tenancy risk. A higher score can fast‑track approval, while a lower score often triggers additional documentation requests or a higher security deposit. This process builds on the calculation methods described earlier and leads into the next section on how you can check your Resident Score 4.0 yourself.

The TransUnion Resident Score 4.0 is viewable online through TransUnion's dedicated portal.

1. Open a browser and go to ResidentScore.com.
2. Click 'Create Account', then enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and a valid email address.
3. Complete the short rental‑history questionnaire that verifies your tenancy records.
4. After verification, the dashboard displays your Resident Score 4.0 instantly; you can download a PDF or view a 'Score History' tab for past changes.

If you already have a My TransUnion account, log in at MyTransUnion.com and select the 'Resident Score' widget to see the same information without creating a second profile.

Your Resident Score 4.0 can drop for several predictable reasons:

• Late or missed rent payments get reported and lower the score.
• An eviction filing or court judgment appears on your record.
• New credit inquiries or loans raise your debt‑to‑income ratio.
• Incorrect public records, such as mistaken tax liens, are added.
• Frequent address changes signal instability to landlords.
• Negative landlord references are entered into tenant‑screening databases.

These actions raise your Resident Score 4.0 quickly.

1. Pay rent on or before the due date - each on‑time payment adds a positive mark; late payments are the biggest drag on the score.
2. Settle utility and phone balances - unpaid service bills appear in the rental file and lower the score; clearing them removes the negative impact.
3. Maintain a current lease - keep your lease signed, renewed, and in good standing; landlords report active leases as a strength.
4. Request positive references - ask previous landlords to submit a 'no‑issue' rental verification; a favorable report can boost the score within weeks.
5. Correct errors promptly - if you spot an inaccurate eviction, court record, or missed payment, dispute it through the TransUnion portal; a successful correction can raise the score by several points.
6. Avoid evictions and court actions - any filing instantly drops the score; resolve disputes out of court whenever possible.
7. Update personal information - ensure your address, name spelling, and contact details match across all records; mismatches can cause the model to treat you as a higher‑risk tenant.
8. Stay at one address for at least six months - stability signals reliability and may improve the score faster than frequent moves.

These steps align with the factors described earlier in 'how landlords use Resident Score 4.0 to screen you' and set the stage for the next section on how evictions affect your score.

Evictions and any related court judgments can drop your Resident Score 4.0, because TransUnion Resident Score 4.0 pulls eviction filings and civil judgments from public‑record databases and treats them as negative rental‑history events. A filed eviction typically reduces the score by several dozen points, and a judgment for unpaid rent or damages can shave off even more, especially if the record is recent.

The impact lessens over time; older, resolved cases lose weight after 2 - 3 years, but they remain on the file until they age out. If a record is inaccurate, the next section 'dispute report errors lowering your Resident Score 4.0' shows how to challenge it. For precise guidance, see how TransUnion calculates your Resident Score 4.0.

You can freeze a TransUnion file for a minor, a deceased consumer, or a cosigner by filing a formal request with the required proof.

For a minor (under 18) TransUnion treats the freeze as a 'minor freeze':

• submit a notarized request signed by a parent or legal guardian,
• attach the child's birth certificate or state‑issued ID,
• include the guardian's own ID and proof of address.

For a deceased person you must file a 'death freeze':

• send a notarized death‑freeze form,
• attach a certified death certificate,
• provide the executor's or next‑of‑kin's ID.

For a cosigner the process mirrors a regular freeze but requires the cosigner's consent:

• the primary borrower submits the freeze request,
• the cosigner signs the same form and supplies a government ID,
• both parties receive confirmation that the freeze is active (effective within about an hour online).

The freeze does not affect credit scores and can be lifted temporarily using the PIN or password you receive, just as you would for your own account. No additional steps are needed beyond the documentation listed above.

Score changes usually appear on Resident Score 4.0 within 24‑48 hours after the reporting source (landlord, court, utility) uploads new data, but the system's weekly refresh means the updated score may not be visible until the next 7‑day cycle; larger items such as eviction filings or court judgments can take up to 30 days to propagate fully because they require verification and cross‑checking before the score is recalculated.