Living Abroad

Renting in the US as a New Immigrant: What Landlords Check and Your Rights

5 min read

In this guide
  1. What is a tenant screening report?
  2. What does this mean if you have no US credit history?
  3. What are your rights?
  4. What should you do if your application is denied?
  5. Protect yourself from rental scams
  6. FAQ
    1. Can a landlord run a credit check on me?
    2. What if I have no credit history at all?
    3. Is the security deposit the same everywhere?
    4. How do I get my tenant screening report?
  7. Key takeaways
  8. Related guides
  9. Sources

Quick answer: US landlords commonly use a tenant screening report to decide whether to rent to you and how much to charge for a security deposit. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), these reports can include credit reports, rental history, employment verification and criminal history. If a landlord denies you housing because of a screening or credit report, they must tell you, and you have the right to a free copy of that report if you ask within 60 days.

For a newcomer, renting is tricky because the usual evidence, a US credit file and a rental history, may not exist yet. Rules vary by state and city, and no single federal rule says what documents a landlord must accept, so this guide focuses on what is consistent across the country: how screening works and the consumer rights that come with it. Details such as deposit limits are set by state or local law, so check yours before you pay. Housing is one of the big steps in our first 90 days in a new country plan.

What is a tenant screening report?

The CFPB describes tenant screening reports as reports that may contain information from many sources, including your rental history and credit reports. A specialty consumer reporting agency produces them. Depending on the landlord, a report can include any or all of the following:

  • Credit reports
  • Rental history, including eviction actions and lawsuits
  • Employment verification
  • Criminal history
  • Sex offender registries
  • The national terrorist watchlist
  • A risk score or recommendation based on criteria the landlord selects

This is broader than a credit report, which covers your credit activity such as loan payment history and the status of your accounts.

What does this mean if you have no US credit history?

A new arrival will often have little or nothing on file. That does not break any rule, but it means the landlord has less to go on. Practical steps that help are to ask the landlord or property manager in advance what they check and what documents they need, to keep proof of income and your employment offer ready, and to start building a US record. Our guide to building credit as a new immigrant in the USA explains how reports and scores work. Landlords’ requirements vary, and the CFPB does not set a list, so confirm before you apply and pay any application fee.

What are your rights?

Your right What the CFPB says
Notice of denial A landlord must tell you if a screening or credit report was used to deny your housing, and give you the reporting company’s contact information.
Free copy You can get a free copy of the report if you request it within 60 days of the denial.
Right to dispute You have the right to dispute the information in the report.

The CFPB warns that inaccurate or outdated information in your tenant screening or credit reports can significantly interfere with your ability to find housing. It maintains a list of consumer reporting companies, including tenant screening companies.

What should you do if your application is denied?

  1. Ask which report was used and get the reporting company’s contact details.
  2. Request your free copy within 60 days.
  3. Check for errors such as someone else’s records, outdated items or wrong names.
  4. Dispute mistakes in writing with the reporting company and the company that supplied the information.
  5. Keep copies of everything you send.

The steps for disputing a credit report error are covered in our US credit guide.

Protect yourself from rental scams

Fake listings exist, so never pay a deposit or rent for a home you have not seen, never pay by wire transfer or gift card to someone you have not verified, and be suspicious of rent far below similar homes. Our guide to money transfer scams lists the warning signs. Keep a record of every payment and get written receipts. Also keep your identity documents organised; see our document checklist.

FAQ

Can a landlord run a credit check on me?

Yes. Tenant screening reports commonly include a credit report. If you are denied because of one, you have the rights listed above.

What if I have no credit history at all?

Ask the landlord what alternatives they accept. The CFPB does not set a national list of accepted substitutes, so this varies by landlord.

Is the security deposit the same everywhere?

No. The CFPB notes landlords use the report to decide how much to charge for a deposit, and limits depend on state and local law, which this guide does not cover. Check the rule for your location.

How do I get my tenant screening report?

Ask the screening company that produced it. You get a free copy if you request it within 60 days of a denial.

Key takeaways

  • Landlords use tenant screening reports that can include credit, rental, employment and criminal history.
  • If you are denied, you must be told and you can get a free copy within 60 days.
  • Dispute errors with the reporting company.
  • Check state and local rules before you pay a deposit.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rental law varies by state and city; confirm with local authorities or a tenants’ rights organisation. Last updated: October 2026.

Sources

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What should I know about tenant screening reports?
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Credit reports and scores

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