RentGrow settlement: $2.25M FTC—what renters and landlords should do

On July 9, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced that tenant-screening consumer reporting company RentGrow will pay $2.25 million to settle FTC allegations that it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the FTC Act.

What the FTC alleges went wrong in tenant screening

According to the FTC, RentGrow failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the “maximum possible accuracy” of background screening information—then allegedly handled dispute requests in ways that made corrections harder and outcomes unclear to consumers.

• Duplicate records that skewed outcomes: The FTC alleges reports sometimes included duplicate case records and multiple entries for the same criminal or eviction action, creating a false impression that applicants had been convicted or sued more times than they actually had.
• Disclosures that didn’t fully explain the data: The FTC alleges that when consumers requested details, RentGrow didn’t disclose all information sources it used—for example, historical address information and middle names that were used to match records.
• Disputes allegedly handled improperly: The FTC alleges RentGrow sometimes labeled disputes as “invalid” and did not take further action, even though the FCRA requires certain dispute-processing steps when consumers dispute completeness or accuracy.
• Alleged dispute-outcome mix-ups: The FTC also alleges RentGrow misled some consumers about whether it notified property managers of successful dispute results, while simultaneously telling property owners there was no change.

As part of the proposed stipulated order filed with DOJ, the FTC says RentGrow is also prohibited from misrepresenting that it provides updated screening reports to landlords and property managers after a successful consumer dispute.

Why this matters when screening affects housing access

The FTC says inaccurate background reports can affect people’s ability to obtain housing (as well as a job). If the information used in a screening decision is wrong—or appears duplicated—housing applicants may face delays while they try to get records corrected.

What renters should do next (practical checklist)

• Request the information you need to challenge it: If a tenant-screening report is used against you, use the process for requesting what was included and the sources used to compile it.
• Dispute accuracy and completeness issues—and don’t let the dispute be ignored: The FTC alleges the company treated some disputes as “invalid” and did not take further action; under the FCRA, disputes should be handled through required steps.
• Follow up for updated results: The FTC order focuses on whether landlords and property managers receive updated screening reports after successful disputes—so ask what changed and keep proof of your dispute communications.

What landlords and property managers should watch

This case is against a tenant-screening data provider, not an individual landlord. But the FTC’s allegations and the order’s prohibitions point to a real operational risk: when consumer disputes change the underlying screening information, property teams should make sure they’re acting on the correct, updated screening outputs—not an earlier version.

What to watch next

If you’re a renter or property manager dealing with tenant screening, the immediate “next step” is simple: track dispute timelines and verify that corrections actually flow through the screening process when a dispute is resolved.

Sources

• FTC press release (RentGrow $2.25M settlement; July 9, 2026)
• FTC consumer guidance: Free credit reports (useful for 'what to do next' framing)