CDIA’s Eric Ellman had an op-ed published in The Hill last week where he made several key points. Ensuring accurate renter history data is transparently available is of paramount importance for the good of housing stability and resident safety. Policy efforts to hide public record information about a prospective tenant’s ability to pay rent, or participate in keeping a community safe, create avoidable material risks to rental property viability and resident safety. Congress should not act to end this transparency. Further, to advance the long-term goal of financial inclusion and equity for all, rental payments must be included in credit reports. Working together, we can extend rental and mortgage opportunities for all renters.
Eric J. Ellman is Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs at the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) in Washington, DC. He also served for eight months as Interim President and CEO of the Association. More