Yes, but it counts as adverse action. If a screening report leads a landlord to require a co-signer, a deposit or larger deposit than other applicants pay, or higher rent, the FTC says the landlord must give you an adverse action notice, just as it would for a denial.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act’s notice rules do not apply only when an application is denied. They are broader than that.
What counts as adverse action for renters
The FTC’s guidance for landlords lists these as adverse actions when they are based in whole or in part on a consumer report:
- denying the application,
- requiring a co-signer on the lease,
- requiring a deposit that would not be required for another applicant,
- requiring a larger deposit than might be required for another applicant, and
- charging higher rent than for another applicant.
What the landlord must give you
Under § 1681m and the FTC’s guidance, the landlord must give you a notice that includes:
- the name, address, and phone number of the screening company,
- a statement that the screening company did not make the decision and cannot give the specific reasons,
- your right to a free copy of the report if you ask within 60 days, and
- your right to dispute inaccurate information.
If a credit score was used, the landlord must also disclose the score and the key factors that adversely affected it. The FTC says the notice is required even if the report played only a small part in the decision.
State and local laws may separately limit the size of security deposits or other move-in charges.
Why this matters
Conditional approvals are easy to accept without question, especially when you need housing quickly. But a higher deposit or a co-signer requirement can be the result of an error in your report. Without the notice, you may never learn which company reported what.
What to do
- Ask the landlord whether a screening report affected the terms you were offered and which company provided it.
- Request your free copy within 60 days (§ 1681j(b)).
- Dispute any errors with the screening company (§ 1681i), and ask the landlord to reconsider the terms once the report is corrected.
If an inaccurate screening report led to worse lease terms, a free case review can help you understand your options, with no fee unless we win.
Related
- Tenant screening lawsuits
- How to Dispute a Tenant Screening Report: Evictions, Sealed Records and Wrong-Person Errors
Sources
- FTC: Using Consumer Reports: What Landlords Need to Know
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681m (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681j (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681i (Cornell LII)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.