Are there any laws governing the use of tenant screening services?
Yes, there are laws governing the use of tenant screening services in Delaware. The Delaware Landlord Tenant Code states that a landlord may use a tenant screening service to determine an applicant’s creditworthiness, ability to pay, rental history, criminal background, and other relevant factors. However, the landlord must also adhere to all of the regulations outlined in the Code. For example, a landlord cannot refuse to rent to an applicant simply because they have a low credit score. Additionally, the landlord must provide the tenant with a disclosure form and written notice within five days of obtaining the tenant screening report. This disclosure must include details about the tenant screening service, such as the name of the company, the type of information requested, and the tenant’s right to dispute any information provided in the report. Further, a landlord cannot charge the tenant for the cost of obtaining the tenant screening report, and the report must not contain any information that is more than seven years old. If a landlord violates any of these regulations, they may face fines or other legal action. Therefore, it is important for landlords to be aware of these regulations when using tenant screening services.
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