Use of a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) to Make Housing Decisions
Effective Jun 11, 2021Mass. Register #1445MGL c. 6, § 167A MGL c. 6, § 172Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
(1) A landlord, property management company, real estate agent, or public housing authority may utilize the services of a CRA to request CORI regarding a housing applicant.
(a) Before a CRA can request CORI from DCJIS on behalf of a landlord, property management company, real estate agent, or public housing authority, the housing entity shall:
- 1. Register for an iCORI account and designate the CRA as an entity authorized to perform CORI checks on its behalf;
- 2. Notify the housing applicant, in writing and in a separate document consisting solely of this notice, that a consumer report may be used in the housing decision making process;
- 3. Obtain the housing applicant's separate written authorization to conduct background screening before asking a CRA for the report about the subject. A landlord, property management company, real estate agent, or public housing authority shall not substitute the CORI Acknowledgment Form for this written authorization; and
- 4. Obtain a signed CORI Acknowledgment Form and follow all requirements pertaining to verification of identity as set forth in 803 CMR 2.11: Requirements for Requestors to Request CORI.
(b) A landlord, property management company, real estate agent, or public housing authority shall also provide required information to the CRA before requesting CORI through the CRA.
- 1. The housing entity shall certify to the CRA that it is in compliance with the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681;
- 2. The housing entity shall certify to the CRA that it will not misuse any information in the report in violation of federal or state laws or regulations; and
- 3. The housing entity shall provide accurate identifying information for the housing applicant to the CRA and the purpose for which the subject's CORI is being requested.