TransUnion research released at Apartmentalize 2026 identifies rental applicants with unusually high numbers of recent credit inquiries as the greatest fraud risk for property managers. Applicants with 15 or more credit inquiries in the seven days prior to applying for a lease showed a 32% charge-off rate within one year, compared with nearly 9% for the overall sample of more than 1.1 million renters who moved during 2024. Another leading indicator was having eight or more credit inquiries within four days, which carried a 23% charge-off rate. The top five fraud indicators also include a current address that is a truck stop, an extended fraud alert on file, and a listed phone number that is governmental. Among major metropolitan statistical areas, Detroit ranked first with 6.7% of renters showing fraud indicators above the national average, followed by Atlanta at 6.1% and Houston at 5.6%.
TransUnionTransUnion's research highlights its credit data as a key fraud detection tool, likely increasing demand for its rental screening services.