An Act relative to the use of credit reporting in housing

This bill amends Massachusetts law to restrict how landlords and property managers can use credit reports when screening tenants. It directly affects landlords, property management companies, and individuals seeking rental housing by prohibiting the use of credit reports for tenant screening without specific conditions. Key provisions require landlords to obtain written consent from applicants, disclose the reason for accessing the report, cover the cost of the report themselves, and provide applicants with the report and a chance to dispute its contents before taking adverse actions like denying a lease. The legislation also bans retaliation against applicants who file complaints or dispute credit information and ensures that using these reports does not result in illegal housing discrimination.