The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are requesting comment on background screening issues affecting individuals who seek rental housing in the United States, including how the use of criminal and eviction records and algorithms affect tenant screening decisions and may be driving discriminatory outcomes. 

As part of the Request for Information, the FTC and CFPB are asking current tenants, prospective tenants, advocacy groups, commercial and individual landlords, property managers, background screening companies, other consumer reporting agencies, and others to weigh in on a wide array of issues that affect tenant screening.

The Request for Information is part of a whole-of-government effort to reform criminal background screening, including a revision of rules related to tenant screening currently underway at HUD. LeadingAge will be weighing in with HUD as the process continues.

More information about the FTC and CFPB request is available here. Comments can be submitted here.