How legal is it?
We spent a lot of time and money to make sure that our Renter Database is completely legal so landlords using it are sure that everything they share or view on our website is legally sharable. There are many laws that govern what information can be shared about consumers (renters in our case). Renter Database is completely FCRA compliant and only allows landlords to share Fair Housing Compliant questions to protect renters from discrimination. We go even further then the law requires to protect both the privacy of consumers and demand accuracy of the information that is provided to us. We make sure that:
- Information that landlords share on our database is legally sharable.
- Information is provided and accessible by verified landlords only.
- Information is fact-based and prevents discrimination.
- Tenants have ability to view their Renter report and dispute it.
Renter Inc assembles information on individuals’ rental histories and provide this information to landlords so that they can screen tenants, Renter Inc is a consumer reporting agency (“CRA”) that is required to comply with the FCRA. The reports we provide are known as “consumer reports.” (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq)
Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) a federal law enforced by the Federal Trade Commission requires us to take several steps to ensure the fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality of the consumer reports that we provide. For example, we must take reasonable steps to ensure that each landlord to whom we provide a consumer report is in fact using the report for tenant screening purposes, and not as a pretext for an impermissible purpose (e.g.,for spying on a neighbor or marketing to potential tenants).(15 U.S.C. § 1681b; 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(a).)
We must also take reasonable steps to ensure the maximum possible accuracy of the information that we provide. (15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b).)
Further, we must provide consumers with copies of their reports upon request and allow them to dispute information that they believe is inaccurate.(15 U.S.C. § 1681g; 15 U.S.C. § 1681i).
We provide consumer reports on a nationwide basis, we must also provide consumers with a free copy of their report annually, upon request. (15 U.S.C. § 1681j(a)(1)(A))
We must establish a streamlined process for consumers to request these free annual reports, including a toll-free telephone number for consumers to make such requests. (15 U.S.C. § 1681j(a)(1)(C); 12 C.F.R. § 1022.137).
We also have obligations related to the landlords that use our consumer reports, as well as the sources of information for these reports. For example, we must tell landlords that if they deny housing on the basis of the consumer reports we provide, they must provide the applicant with notice of that fact, along with information about the applicant’s right to receive a free copy of his or her report, and the applicant’s right to dispute information they believe to be inaccurate. In addition, we must notify the sources of our information of their obligation to furnish accurate information to us, to investigate consumer disputes, and to correct and update information found to be inaccurate. (15 U.S.C. § 1681e(d))
We're doing all of this to comply with FCRA law and other state and federal laws. Rest assured that using our database is completely legal.