Overview
In certain jurisdictions, local laws require a two-phase approach to tenant screening when criminal and eviction data are involved. TransUnion applies this automatically for affected jurisdictions, releasing this information in two stages during the application review.
Important Disclaimer: This process does not apply universally. Two-phase screening is only enforced in specific jurisdictions—such as certain cities, counties, or states—where local laws require this approach. If your property or applicant is not associated with one of these regulated areas, you may continue to receive full screening reports as usual.
What This Is About
Two-phase screening means that instead of receiving a complete background report upfront, the screening process is split into two steps. In the first phase, you’ll receive a report with some sensitive information—such as criminal history or eviction records—temporarily withheld. This allows you to evaluate the applicant based on other criteria and make an initial or conditional decision.
If you decide to move forward with the applicant, the second phase is triggered, and the previously restricted information becomes available for final review. This process is automatically enforced in certain cities and states where local laws require a fairer and more controlled use of background data.
If you move forward with an applicant after the initial report, the previously withheld criminal and eviction information becomes available for your final review.