Tenant Screening


MEMORANDUM


TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT: TENANT SCREENING

DATE: 06/09/10


The Department of Consumer Affairs has issued the final rule and language regarding signs required to be posted about tenant screening reports. The sign is required to be posted at any location at which the principal purpose is to conduct business transactions pertaining to the rental of residential real estate properties. The language is below. The rule becomes effective September 18, 2010.

  1. (1) The words “NOTICE ABOUT TENANT SCREENING REPORTS” shall be printed at the top of the sign in one and one half–inch (1 ½”) high capital letters.

  2. (2) If Application information is or may be used to screen tenants through a report from a consumer reporting agency, the sign shall state in 24–point type as follows:

“Tenant screening reports from consumer reporting agencies are sometimes used to assist landlords in making rental decisions. In regard to such reports (check the applicable box):

We do not use such reports.

We may use such reports by contacting the following:



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August 25, 2010
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(Insert name and address of each consumer reporting agency that may be contacted, and identify any that are a nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency).
(Use additional lines for each listed agency).

“The law requires us to notify you if we do not lease or rent to you based upon information in that report. You also have the right to dispute the accuracy of the information in the report directly with the reporting agency and to obtain a free report from such agency if we do not lease or rent to you based on such report.

You also are entitled to receive one free report every twelve (12) months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can request this free credit report through the website – www.annualcreditreport.com. You may dispute the accuracy of any information about you that is contained in such report directly with the credit reporting agency.”

  1. (3) The color of the text of the notice required in Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (a) shall contrast sharply with the color of the remaining text, and the colors of the printed text shall contrast> sharply with the background colors of the sign.

  2. (4) All the required information shall be included on one (1) sign that shall be posted at the location at a place where it is conspicuously viable to a consumer who is seated while the transaction is conducted at such location.