A plain-language guide to what reusable screening reports are—and why report source and freshness matter.
What does portable screening mean?
Portable or reusable screening allows prospective renters to obtain a qualifying report and make it available to more than one housing provider. The exact report requirements—and whether a landlord must accept it—depend on state law.
It is more than a PDF
A screening report’s source, contents, currency date and permitted method of sharing all matter. A PDF generated from unverified information is not necessarily a qualifying consumer report. Some states require a consumer reporting agency to prepare the report.
How to prepare
Ask each property about its report policy. Verify the reporting source, review the report date and contents, and keep delivery evidence. If a landlord makes a denial decision based on a consumer report, federal and state laws may give you a right to more information.
Where to read more
Start with Colorado, California, Illinois, Washington or Maryland in our state-law library, then check the linked statutory source for the current rules.
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