Yes, TransUnion does background checks, though not as one universal product. Its main offering is SmartMove, a tenant screening service built for independent landlords and small property managers that combines credit history, criminal records, and eviction data into a single report. The company’s small-employer product, ShareAble for Hires, has been discontinued and now redirects to a third-party provider called First Advantage. Small employers who want TransUnion-powered screening have to go through its enterprise background screening division or use a different consumer reporting agency.
Everything TransUnion produces on this side of the business is regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the same federal statute that governs standard credit reports.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S.C. 1681 – Congressional Findings and Statement of Purpose
What a TransUnion Background Check Includes
A SmartMove report bundles several layers of information depending on which package the landlord selects. Applicants complete identity verification online, and most reports come back the same day without exposing the applicant’s full Social Security number to the landlord.2TransUnion SmartMove. Top Frequently Asked Questions
Credit History
The credit portion looks like a standard credit file: open and closed accounts, payment history, balances, and any accounts sent to collections. It’s meant to signal whether an applicant has a track record of meeting financial obligations on time.
Criminal Records
SmartMove searches millions of criminal records drawn from national and state databases.3TransUnion SmartMove. Tenant Criminal Background Check Results can include felony and misdemeanor convictions, sex offender registry matches, and most-wanted list entries. What actually shows up depends on where the applicant has lived, because some states and cities restrict which records a screening company can return.
Eviction History
The eviction section pulls court filings and judgments tied to prior tenancies, including case dates and any monetary judgments for unpaid rent or property damage. An eviction case that was later dismissed can still appear in court records, though some jurisdictions have moved to seal them.
ResidentScore
TransUnion generates a proprietary score called the ResidentScore, which ranges up to 850 and is designed specifically for rental decisions. It weighs credit behaviors that predict lease default or eviction rather than lending risk, which is why landlords often find it more useful than a standard FICO score.
OFAC and Watchlist Screening
An optional screen checks the applicant against the U.S. Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals list, maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. A match triggers an alert, and the landlord is expected to perform further verification before making a decision.4TransUnion. Office of Foreign Assets Control FAQs
Identity Verification
TransUnion also traces Social Security numbers and addresses to confirm identity and surface any alias names tied to the same SSN. That step helps flag potential fraud and ensures the criminal and eviction searches cover every jurisdiction where the applicant has actually lived.5TransUnion. Employment Background Screening
How Long Negative Information Stays on the Report
Federal law caps how far back most negative information can be reported. The limits come from Section 1681c of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and apply to every consumer reporting agency, TransUnion included.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S. Code 1681c – Requirements Relating to Information Contained in Consumer Reports
- Arrests and civil judgments: seven years from the date of entry. An arrest that didn’t lead to a conviction still falls under this limit.
- Collection accounts: seven years from the date the account first went delinquent.
- Bankruptcies: ten years from the date the bankruptcy order was entered.
- Criminal convictions: no federal time limit. Convictions can be reported indefinitely under the FCRA, though some states impose their own caps, particularly for positions below a certain salary threshold.
- Eviction-related court records: generally seven years, or until the statute of limitations expires, whichever is longer.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Long Can Information, Like Eviction Actions and Lawsuits, Stay on My Tenant Screening Record?
The distinction between arrests and convictions matters more than people realize. A dismissed charge drops off after seven years, but a conviction arising from the same incident can remain forever at the federal level. If you’re reviewing your own report and see old dismissed cases still listed, that could be a valid basis for a dispute.
What SmartMove Costs
SmartMove offers tiered pricing. Either the landlord or the applicant can pay, depending on how the landlord sets up the invitation.8TransUnion SmartMove. Pricing
- SmartCheck Basic ($25): ResidentScore and criminal background report only.
- SmartCheck Plus ($40): Adds a credit report and eviction history.
- SmartCheck Premium ($48): The full package, including an income insights report and identity check on top of everything in Plus.
Many states regulate how much a landlord can charge an applicant for screening fees, and a handful cap the fee or limit it to the landlord’s actual cost. If you’re a renter being asked to pay for your own screening, check whether your state sets a maximum before handing over money.
Your Rights When a TransUnion Report Is Used Against You
The FCRA governs every TransUnion background report, whether it’s pulled for housing or employment. It regulates TransUnion’s own conduct and imposes obligations on whoever orders the report.
Consent Before the Check
For employment screening, the FCRA requires a written disclosure on a standalone document, not buried in an application, telling you that a background check may be run. You also have to provide written authorization before the employer can order the report.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S. Code 1681b – Permissible Purposes of Consumer Reports For tenant screening the standard is slightly different: the report can be furnished based on your written instructions or when the landlord has a legitimate business need connected to a transaction you initiated.
Adverse Action Notices
If a landlord or employer denies you based in whole or in part on your background report, they must send you an adverse action notice. It has to include the name, address, and phone number of the reporting agency; a statement that the agency didn’t make the decision; your right to a free copy of the report within 60 days; and your right to dispute inaccurate information.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S. Code 1681m – Requirements on Users of Consumer Reports A surprising number of landlords skip this step entirely, which is itself a violation.
Disputing Errors
If you find inaccurate information on your TransUnion report, you can file a dispute directly with the agency. TransUnion then has 30 days to investigate and respond, with a possible 15-day extension if you submit additional information during the investigation.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S.C. 1681i – Procedure in Case of Disputed Accuracy Common errors worth challenging include criminal records that belong to someone with a similar name, eviction filings that were later dismissed, and debts that have already been resolved.
Damages for Violations
The FCRA creates two tiers of liability. For willful violations, you can recover statutory damages of $100 to $1,000 per violation even without proving specific financial harm, plus punitive damages at the court’s discretion. For negligent violations, you’re limited to your actual damages, meaning the money you can prove you lost because of the error or improper disclosure.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S. Code 1681m – Requirements on Users of Consumer Reports Attorney’s fees are recoverable either way, which is what makes these cases viable for individual consumers who might not have large out-of-pocket losses.
How to See Your Own Report
You’re entitled to see what TransUnion has on file about you. The centralized AnnualCreditReport.com service provides free access to your standard credit file, but a tenant screening or background report is a separate product. To request your screening data, contact TransUnion’s consumer solutions division directly and provide identifying information to verify your identity.
If you’ve received an adverse action notice, you have the right to a free copy of that report within 60 days of the notice. The notice itself will tell you which agency furnished the report and how to reach them. Reviewing your file before your next application gives you a chance to spot errors and dispute them before they cost you another opportunity.