How to Get an Eviction Off Your Record

Getting a lease with a new landlord can be challenging if you have an eviction on your record. After seven years, the eviction may get dropped from public records, but this mark can sometimes stay on your rental history forever. An eviction can impact your credit history, rental history, and your ability to rent in the future. If an eviction has happened to you and you’re unsure what to do so that you can move forward with your life, you’re in the right place. Learn how to get an eviction off your record.

What’s involved in the eviction process?

An eviction occurs when a landlord asks a renter to vacate a rental property due to violating the lease or nonpayment of rent. The eviction process begins with a formal notice with specific instructions for further action. This formal notice will also include a specified number of days to comply with the lease or make the rent current before the landlord brings the eviction to court. After receiving an eviction notice, the renter can either choose to comply or vacate the property. The final step in an eviction is removing the renter and the renter’s belongings from the property. Check the eviction laws in your state to ensure you don’t violate any other eviction laws.

How can I see if I have an eviction on my record?

Evictions do not show up on a regular credit report. To see your eviction records, you’ll need to get a rental history report or background check, which are available through either Experian RentBureau or a renter-screening company. If you were evicted for nonpayment or owe any fees to your previous landlord or leasing company, the landlord might have sent the amount to collections. If turned over to a collection agency, the amount would show up on your credit report for at least seven years. You can request a free credit report from all three nationwide agencies once a year, so if you are unsure if you have any negative marks such as an eviction, you may want to request a copy.

How to get an eviction removed from your record in 5 steps

1. Pay or settle your debs If you’re able to get your debt settled and negotiate a settlement with your former landlord, make sure that the landlord is willing to contact the major credit bureaus and have the amount of the collection removed. You should also make sure that the landlord is willing to get the eviction removed from renter-screening company records as well. If the landlord agrees, ask for a statement in writing through a confirmation letter.
2. Ask to have the collections removed from your credit report After you’ve made the final payment, make sure you get your letter that confirms the eviction removal from the proper reporting agencies. You may want to include a statement requesting this confirmation along with the payment.
3. Verify your eviction removal Order copies of your credit report and renter-screening. If your eviction is still showing on your record, then follow up with your previous landlord.
4. Dispute errors with the credit bureaus or tenant screening agencies If you find any inaccurate information related to your eviction, you can file a dispute with the credit bureau. Similarly, you can contact the tenant screening company to dispute the information. You will be asked to provide proof of the inaccuracies, so be sure to have all documents at the ready, including any proof of payment.
5. If you believe you were wrongly evicted, petition the court If the required paperwork wasn’t served to you as ordered by the courts, then a judge may be more likely to rule in your favor. If you can prove that you didn’t violate your lease, you could get the eviction removed from your record. If you win, then you can petition to have the eviction removed from your record. Always consult a legal professional before taking this step.

Remember that each state has different laws for evictions. Keep yourself informed by following the laws in your state. Remember that unless you get your eviction record expunged, then the eviction report will still be present. Following up is required to get this issue taken care of so that you can get back in control of your future and appeal to landlords as a renter again.

Can I still rent if I have an eviction on my record?

While your best bet for renting in the future is to get the eviction removed from your rental history, it isn’t always feasible. While the eviction will still show on your record, you can rent again, although securing rent may be more difficult in certain circumstances. You can increase your odds of being approved for a new property through the following actions:

• Offer a higher down payment. If you’re able to pay more, such as the security deposit plus rent for your first and second months, then you might be more likely to be approved.
• Explain the eviction. Be honest with your potential landlord. If the landlord can understand what happened, you might secure the new rental property you want.
• Provide additional references. Many landlords will want references, but providing more references can show you’ve been a trustworthy renter.
• Improve your credit. If you have a good credit score, you can show a potential landlord that you have the ability and funds to pay your bills on time.

How can you avoid an eviction?

If you think that you may not pay your rent on time, contact your landlord or the leasing office as soon as you can to work out a repayment plan to help you get caught up. Many landlords would rather help you stay in the property and avoid the eviction process in favor of finding another renter for the property. It’s also in your best interest to work with the landlord to prevent eviction so that you can remain in the rental unit and keep your record clean.

Frequently asked questions

Evictions can stay on your public record for seven years. Public records are not included in credit reports, but an eviction could show up on a background check during the screening process when applying for an apartment.

An eviction itself won’t drop your credit score, but collections related to the eviction will. Unpaid debts can result in collections which present as negative marks on your credit report, affecting your score. How many points your score drops will depend on your credit history. If you have good credit, you could see your score drop upwards of 50 points for an eviction related collection, whereas someone with a low credit score could not see such a dramatic drop.

There are a few things you can do to build your credit back up after an eviction. Make sure you work on your payment history, paying all balances at their due date. Lower your credit card usage to keep your debt to income ratio low. Do not have any hard credit checks during this time, as credit checks can dip your score even lower. Always monitor your credit reports and credit scores. Most banking apps have a tool where you can monitor your credit scores and history directly through the app.

Final thoughts

If you need more information about evictions or the rental process in general, check out our resources. You can also take virtual home tours or search for apartments. With Instarent, you can reserve apartments you love online. This feature allows you to reserve the apartment for 24 hours for a small fee, which takes the unit off the market and lets you apply without losing it to another renter. Once you’ve reserved the unit, you complete an online application and get approved in 24 hours or less.

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