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An eviction typically remains on your public record for seven years, creating significant hurdles for tenants seeking new housing. However, with strategic steps like disputing errors, offering rent incentives, and targeting private landlords, you can successfully secure a rental even with an eviction history. This guide provides a clear, actionable path forward.
An eviction is a legal process where a landlord forcibly removes a tenant from a rental property for lease violations, such as non-payment of rent or overstaying a lease term. As a legal proceeding, it becomes part of your public record and appears on background checks and rental history reports.
An eviction judgment remains on your public record for seven years. This timeline aligns with how long negative items, like accounts sent to collections for unpaid rent, can stay on your credit report. Landlords conducting tenant screenings will see this record, which is why recent evictions pose the biggest challenge.
| Record Type | Typical Duration | Where Landlords See It |
|---|---|---|
| Eviction Judgment | 7 Years | Court Records, Tenant Screening Reports |
| Unpaid Rent Sent to Collections | 7 Years | Credit Report |
| Rental History Report | 7 Years | Specialty Tenant Screening Services |
Before you start your apartment search, your first priority should be to clean your record.
1. Pay Off Past Debts and Request Removal If your eviction resulted from unpaid rent, contact your previous landlord to settle the debt. Upon payment, you can request they file a motion to remove the eviction from the court record. You can also ask for a "goodwill deletion" of the collection account from your credit report.
2. Dispute Inaccurate Information Errors happen. If your landlord failed to provide proper legal notice, filed paperwork incorrectly, or a credit bureau reported inaccurate information, you have the right to dispute it. File a dispute with the relevant credit bureau or tenant screening agency, providing documented evidence of the error.
3. Seek a Legal Expungement If you believe the eviction was wrongful—for example, if it violated the Fair Housing Act through discrimination—you can petition the court to expunge the record. Winning such a case requires legal evidence but results in the eviction being sealed or removed.
4. Update Tenant Screening Reports After resolving the issue with your previous landlord, obtain written confirmation. Provide this documentation to tenant screening companies to ensure your report is updated, reflecting that the debt was satisfied or the eviction was vacated.
When your record isn't spotless, a proactive approach is essential to reassure potential landlords.
Be Transparent and Provide Context Do not try to hide the eviction. Instead, address it directly in a cover letter or during a meeting. Briefly explain the circumstances (e.g., a temporary job loss) and, more importantly, emphasize what you’ve done to ensure it won’t happen again. Honesty builds trust where a perfect record cannot.
Strengthen Your Application Financially Landlords are primarily concerned with financial risk. Mitigate this by:
Target Private Landlords and Smaller Operators Large property management companies often have strict, automated screening policies. Private landlords, who manage their own properties, frequently have more flexibility to consider your entire story. They may be more willing to overlook a past eviction if you present a compelling case in person.
Build a Renter's Resume Treat your rental search like a job hunt. Create a one-page renter's resume that includes your stable employment history, monthly income, and personal references. This document allows you to control the narrative and highlight your strengths as a responsible individual.
Secure Strong References Compensate for the eviction with positive voices. Ask a current employer or a previous landlord (from a tenancy that ended well) to provide a reference letter. They can vouch for your character and reliability, assuring the new landlord that the eviction was an exception.
While an eviction on your record is a serious challenge, it is not an absolute barrier to renting a home. By taking proactive steps to address the past and presenting yourself as a reliable candidate, you can find a landlord willing to give you a second chance.
