Navigating Evictions and Your Credit: A Comprehensive Guide

Evictions can be a daunting experience, impacting not only your immediate living situation but also your future housing prospects. At O1ne Mortgage, we understand the complexities surrounding evictions and their potential effects on your credit and rental history. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate the aftermath of an eviction, offering practical advice on how to manage your credit, secure future housing, and avoid evictions altogether. For personalized mortgage services, call us at 213-732-3074.

Does an Eviction Show on Your Credit Report?

Evictions are public records, but they do not appear on your credit reports. The only public records that are part of your credit reports are bankruptcy filings. However, landlords often request tenant screening reports, which can include your rental history, employment verification, criminal history, and whether you appear on sex offender registries or terrorist watchlists. These reports may also contain a risk score, similar to a credit score but created for landlords.

How Long Does an Eviction Stay on Your Record?

Eviction records can stay in your tenant screening reports for up to seven years. This timeline also applies to other public records such as judgments and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. However, Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stay on your report for up to 10 years, and there is no limit for criminal convictions.

Can You Get Evictions Removed From Your Credit?

While evictions do not appear on your credit report, removing them from tenant screening reports and public records may be possible depending on the situation. Here are a few options:

Dispute Inaccurate Eviction Records

You have the right to dispute information in your consumer reports, including tenant screening reports. Although you might not be able to remove accurate records of evictions, you can dispute inaccuracies and errors. According to a study of 3.6 million state eviction cases in 2021, 22% were ambiguous or false records. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) maintains a list of consumer reporting companies, including major tenant screening companies, which can be a good starting point.

Review State Laws

Some states have procedures for sealing or expunging eviction records. The law might require the court to automatically seal or expunge an eviction record in certain circumstances. Otherwise, you will need to bring the case forward yourself. Your rights and the process can vary widely, so try to find information relevant to where you lived when you were evicted.

Contact an Attorney

An attorney specializing in housing law may have insights that can help you remove evictions from your records. You could try contacting a local legal aid clinic or other organizations that might offer free legal assistance.

How to Rent an Apartment After an Eviction

A landlord might hesitate to approve your rental application if you have been evicted, but you do have some options:

Explain the Situation

If the circumstances surrounding the eviction have changed, explain what happened and why it won’t happen again.

Offer More Money Upfront

You might offer to pay a larger security deposit or prepay the first month’s rent.

Get a Letter from Your Previous Landlord

If you have worked things out with the previous landlord since the eviction, see if they would write a letter of recommendation.

Have Other References Ready

See if you can get rental references from other landlords or other types of references from your employer, previous roommates, or colleagues.

Get a Cosigner

Ask a creditworthy friend or family member if they can cosign the rental agreement.

Look for Rentals Without Background Checks

Although not common, some landlords do not require a tenant screening check. They might still check your credit report or score but won’t see the eviction.

In general, you might have a better chance of renting from someone who has one or two rental properties than a large company.

How to Avoid an Eviction

There are a few things you might try if you are facing a potential eviction:

Reach Out to Your Landlord

Discuss the issue with your landlord and see if you can work out an arrangement. If you are behind on rent because of a temporary setback, like a medical emergency, maybe you can work out a payment plan.

Know Your Rights

The legal justification for evicting tenants can vary widely depending on the city and state. Learn when and why a landlord can evict you and what rights you have as a tenant. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) links to information about tenant rights in every state.

Get Help with Bills

You might qualify for financial aid that can help with utilities, rent, and other necessary expenses. The 211 hotline, FindHelp.org, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition could be good places to get referrals.

Contact a Housing Counselor

Nonprofit credit and housing counseling organizations might be able to connect you with a housing counselor who can offer free advice. The website JustShelter also has links to national and state-specific resources that you might find helpful.

Monitor and Build Your Credit

A past eviction can make finding housing difficult. In addition to the steps above, having a good credit score might help landlords see you more favorably. You can use rent reporting services to add on-time rent payments to your credit reports, which can help some of your credit scores. A free Experian account also comes with ongoing credit report monitoring, FICO® Score tracking, and the Experian Boost® feature, which you can use to add eligible rent payments to your Experian credit report.

Conclusion

Navigating the aftermath of an eviction can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can improve your chances of securing future housing and maintaining a good credit score. At O1ne Mortgage, we are committed to helping you through every step of your housing journey. For personalized mortgage services, call us at 213-732-3074. Let us help you find the best solutions for your mortgage needs.