Are property managers allowed to pull credit?

Yes, property management firms are allowed to obtain a credit report on a prospective tenant. If they turn down an applicant because of negative information on a credit report, you must send the applicant an "adverse action" letter, which informs the applicant of three things:

• the reason you rejected the applicant
• the name and address of the agency that reported the negative information, and
• the applicant's right to obtain a free copy of the report by requesting it from that agency within 60 days.

To run a credit check, you must legally obtain a prospective tenant's name, address, and Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).