RentGrow tenant screening dispute. Help from Attorneys

Tenant screening firm RentGrow works with property managers and landlords. Before you move into a property, the landlord might have asked for your credit report and other details to find out how you stand as a renter. A record of a RentGrow request may therefore show up on your credit report.

What RentGrow does for tenants and landlords

Between landlords and tenants, RentGrow acts as a middleman. Name, address, and social security number of a potential tenant are the details that the landlords submit. Then it continues with conducting:

Credit history check.
Criminal record check.
Rental history check.
Employment and income verification.

After the check is completed, RentGrow provides the landlord with a report with the results, which helps them make an informed decision about renting the property.

Benefits of using RentGrow for landlords

Using RentGrow provides landlords with several benefits, such as:

Risk reduction: Comprehensive tenant screening reduces the likelihood of renting to unreliable tenants.
Time savings: RentGrow’s automated processes allow for quick check results.
Objectivity: Using a third-party company ensures objectivity and fairness in the screening process.

Conclusion

Understanding how RentGrow works and how it interacts with landlords and tenants helps better prepare for the rental process. Knowing what the check includes and how it affects your credit history can significantly increase your chances of successfully passing the screening and getting a rental.

The RentGrow tenant screening process

RentGrow offers landlords a complex tenant screening service. The latter consists of several basic stages:

Information gathering. The landlord gains basic data from the tenant: name, address, social security number, and consent to carry out the check.
Credit check. RentGrow screens the tenant’s credit history. Such analysis comprehends checking the credit reports of different bureaus, including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It determines such factors as financial stability, creditworthiness, and past credit actions on the part of the tenant.
Criminal record check. The criminal record of the tenant is analyzed here. What RentGrow actually analyzes in this process are court decision records, arrest records, and records of participation in criminal cases in order to determine whether the tenant could be a potential threat to the landlord and residents.
Rental history check. This is an analysis of the past rental relationships of the tenant. RentGrow collects the feedback of previous landlords, checks for evictions, and other aspects that could indicate that the tenant is reliable.
Employment and income verification. RentGrow verifies the current income level and employment of the tenant. It should help estimate the ability of the tenant to pay the rent in the future.

How RentGrow checks credit history

RentGrow uses credit reports provided by major credit bureaus such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. During the credit history check, the following aspects are analyzed:

Credit score (FICO Score): This numerical value reflects the tenant’s overall creditworthiness. A higher score indicates a lower risk for the landlord.
Payment history: The regularity and timeliness of payments on loans and other financial obligations are analyzed.
Overall debt: Includes analyzing the tenant’s current debt obligations, such as mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and other loans.
Credit inquiries: Recent credit inquiries are checked, which may indicate the tenant’s increased financial activity.
Length of credit history: A longer credit history may indicate the tenant’s stability and responsibility.

Which credit bureaus does RentGrow use?

RentGrow cooperates with the three main credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These bureaus provide the most complete and up-to-date information about tenants’ credit history. Interaction with multiple bureaus allows for a more accurate and comprehensive view of the tenant’s financial stability.

Why is a credit history check important?

A credit history check is important for several reasons:

Assessing payment ability: A credit history provides insight into the tenant’s financial stability and their ability to pay rent on time.
Risk reduction: Understanding the tenant’s credit behavior helps the landlord reduce risks associated with non-payments and evictions.
Fairness: Objective data from credit reports allows landlords to make informed decisions and avoid discrimination.

RentGrow credit checks

Impact of RentGrow credit checks on credit history

RentGrow often performs credit checks when landlords want to assess the financial reliability of potential tenants. These checks can affect your credit history in various ways:

Hard and soft inquiries

Hard inquiries: These inquiries appear on your credit report and can slightly lower your credit score. RentGrow typically performs hard inquiries when screening tenants.
Soft inquiries: These inquiries do not affect your credit score and are used for preliminary checks or pre-approvals.

Temporary decrease in credit score

Each hard Rentgrow credit inquiry can lower your credit score by a few points. The impact is usually temporary, and the score recovers within a few months if you maintain good credit practices.

Frequent checks

If you apply for rentals in several places simultaneously, multiple hard inquiries over a short period can significantly impact your credit score. This can create the impression that you are experiencing financial difficulties.

RentGrow credit check inquiries: how often and why they are conducted

RentGrow conducts credit checks for the following reasons:

Assessing financial stability: Landlords use credit checks to assess your payment ability and reliability as a tenant. Credit score and payment history provide insight into your ability to pay rent on time.
Reducing landlord risks: A credit history check helps landlords reduce risks associated with non-payments and evictions. A reliable tenant with a good credit history is more attractive to the landlord.
Compliance with internal policies: Many landlords have internal policies and standards that tenants must meet. A credit check ensures that you meet these standards.

How to avoid negative impact on credit score

Minimizing the negative influence of RentGrow credit checks on your credit score

Make applications limited to a few places: To avoid multiple hard inquiries over a short period, try to apply for rentals at a few, chosen places.
Prepare documents in advance: Have all the documents you need and confirmations to help speed the application process up and avoid extra checks.
Use pre-approvals: Certain landlords extend pre-approvals through soft inquiries. You get to find out your chances without messing up your credit score.
Maintain a good credit record: Pay your bills on time, reduce debts, and do not apply for new credit. This will help maintain a high score and increase your chances of passing the screening.

Errors in RentGrow background check reports

How to read and understand a RentGrow tenant screening report

A RentGrow tenant screening report includes several key sections:

Personal information: The tenant’s name, address, social security number, and date of birth.
Credit report: Credit score, debt, payment history, and credit inquiries.
Rental history: Feedback from previous landlords and eviction data.
Criminal record: The tenant’s criminal history records.
Employment and income history: Verification of the tenant’s current employment and income level.

Common errors in RentGrow reports

Errors in RentGrow reports can significantly affect your ability to obtain housing. Some of the most common errors include:

Personal information errors

Incorrect name or address: Can lead to confusion with another person whose credit history and criminal past may be significantly worse.
Errors in social security number: This can result in your report including someone else’s data.

Credit report errors

Incorrect debt records: Incorrect data about current debts can significantly lower your credit score.
Incorrect payment records: May show delays or missed payments that did not occur.
False credit inquiries: May indicate a large number of credit inquiries, negatively affecting your score.

Rental history errors

Incorrect eviction data: False evictions can lead to an immediate rental refusal.
Incorrect feedback from previous landlords: May contain negative information that does not actually apply to you.

Criminal record errors

False criminal records: Such errors can lead to a rental refusal, especially if the landlord strictly adheres to the tenant’s criminal past.
Incomplete or outdated data: May not include information about successful rehabilitation or correction of past mistakes.

Employment and income history errors

Incorrect employer data: Can cast doubt on your ability to pay rent on time.
Errors in income level indication: Underestimation of income can lead to a rental refusal, especially if the landlord has minimum income requirements.

Consequences of errors in RentGrow reports

Errors in RentGrow reports can have serious consequences for tenants:

Rental refusal: Incorrect data can lead to the landlord refusing to rent you housing, considering you an unreliable tenant.
Credit score deterioration: Errors in the credit report can lower your credit score, affecting not only rental but also obtaining loans in the future.
Additional costs and time: Correcting errors takes time and may be associated with additional costs, such as expenses for copies of documents and postage.
Stress and inconvenience: Constant problems with reports can cause significant stress and inconvenience, especially if you urgently need housing.

Managing RentGrow disputes and checks

Dispute filing process in RentGrow: how to do it

If you find an error in your RentGrow report, it is important to immediately file a dispute to correct the information. Here’s a step-by-step guide to filing a dispute:

Collect information and documents

Before filing a dispute, make sure you have all the necessary information and documents confirming your case. This may include bank statements, letters from employers, bills, and other official documents.

Prepare the statement

Write a statement detailing the identified errors. In the statement, indicate:

Your full name.
Contact information (address, phone, email).
Social security number.
Description of the error and why you believe the information is incorrect.
Attach copies of documents confirming your case.

Send the statement to RentGrow

Send the statement to RentGrow through their official website or by mail. Some companies offer online forms for filing disputes, which can speed up the process. Make sure you receive confirmation of receipt of your statement.

Wait for a response

RentGrow typically reviews disputes within 30 days. This process includes verifying the information you provided and, if necessary, requesting additional data from you or third parties.

Receive the results

After reviewing your dispute, RentGrow will provide you with an updated report with corrected information. If your dispute is denied, the company is required to provide an explanation of the reasons for the refusal.

How to check the status of a RentGrow dispute

The process of checking the status of a RentGrow dispute involves several steps:

Personal account on the RentGrow website

Disputes section

Find the section dedicated to disputes and status checks. In this section, you will be able to see the current status of your dispute.

Enter necessary information

Enter the dispute number or other identification information that will help find your request. Some systems

require entering personal data, such as social security number or email address.

Check for status updates

Regularly check for updates on the status of your dispute. If you have questions or issues, contact RentGrow representatives through the contact form or by phone provided on their website.

Typical reasons for denial after a RentGrow check

Knowing common reasons for rejection will help you be better prepared when going through the screening process. Here are some major reasons for denial:

Bad credit score: This may mean financial instability on the tenant’s part. Most landlords prefer tenants who have high credit scores, which, on the other hand, shows the ability to pay bills on time.
High debt: High debt may raise questions regarding the tenant’s ability to pay rent if obtained from loans.
Eviction history: An applicant’s history of eviction is a huge barrier to accessing housing. Landlords might have fears that the tenant can commit violations like before.
Criminal history: A tenant’s criminal record may pose a risk to the landlord and other tenants. Most landlords would want to stay away from a tenant who has ever gone to jail.
Unverified income: If it’s impossible to verify current income or employment, that might lead to a denial. Landlords need to be sure about the tenant’s financial stability.

What to do in case of denial

If you receive a denial after a RentGrow check, it’s important not to despair and take the following steps:

Request an explanation of the denial: Contact the landlord or RentGrow and request a detailed explanation of the reasons for the denial. This will help you understand what needs to be corrected.
Correct errors: If the denial is related to errors in the report, file a dispute and correct the information. Provide all necessary documents and confirmations.
Improve your credit history: Work on improving your credit history: pay bills on time, reduce debt, and avoid new credit inquiries.
Prepare documents: Prepare all necessary documents confirming your financial stability and reliability. This may include bank statements, letters from employers, and feedback from previous landlords.
Seek help from KFZ Law: If you have questions or problems related to RentGrow checks, the specialists at our law firm, KFZ Law, are ready to offer you professional assistance and consultations. We will help you understand complex situations and achieve a fair decision.

Contact us

If you have questions or problems related to RentGrow reports and checks, our law firm KFZ Law is ready to provide you with qualified assistance and support. Contacting KFZ Law guarantees you professional help and support in matters related to RentGrow reports and checks. Our experienced lawyers will help you understand complex situations, correct errors in reports, and improve your chances of successfully passing checks.