do you know? 1.5 million eviction judgments Millions of people are evicted every year in the United States. If you’re one of those 1.5 million, you might be wondering if you can rent with an eviction record. How long do eviction records last, and how can you find an apartment that’s eligible for eviction waivers?
This Redfin article answers these questions and more. Madison, Wisconsin apartment or rent a house in las vegas nevadaWe offer 12 tips to help you find your next rental home, regardless of your eviction history.
What is an eviction?
Eviction is when a landlord forces a tenant to move out of the property. Tenants can be evicted if they violate the terms of their lease, such as not paying rent on time, staying in the property past the end of the lease, or having pets when the property doesn’t allow them. Renting with petsYou may also be ordered to vacate the building as it will require lead removal and other procedures that require the removal of tenants.
How to Check if You Have an Eviction Record
Evictions are legal proceedings, so they will appear on your legal records. They will also appear on your rental history report and background check. To see if you have an eviction notice, you can request a copy of your rental history report from a reputable credit reporting agency. You can also run a background check on yourself to see if there are any signs of a problem with your rental history.
Don’t worry if you have a history of evictions, there are still ways to find your next rental home.
How to rent when you have an eviction record
1. Try to get your eviction record expunged
If you have an eviction on your record, the first thing you should try is to get it removed from your record, which will make it much easier to rent an apartment or house in the future. Apartments for rent in Miami, Florida,or Homes for Rent in San Jose, CaliforniaIf you’ve been evicted for nonpayment of rent or other fees, you can have the eviction dismissed by paying off any past due amounts. You can also have the eviction expunged if it was illegal, such as for not giving enough notice.
2. Talk to your previous landlord
Speak to your previous landlord and offer to pay any outstanding balances. In some cases, property management companies may be lenient and agree to clear your eviction record if you settle your past debts. They may even be able to give you positive reviews about your new apartment.
3. Improve your credit score
Many landlords require that their tenants have a credit score of 670 or higher. The higher your credit score, the more likely a landlord is to discuss any past evictions, gain a better understanding of the situation, and get a complete picture of you as a tenant. Plus, landlords will be more likely to trust you to pay your rent in full and on time if you have a good financial track record.
Several methods Increase your credit score fast This includes paying off past debt, especially high-interest debt like credit card debt. If you only have one or two lines of credit, you might also consider opening another one; doing so could help improve your score. Finally, don’t use more than one-third of your credit limit each month. For example, if your credit limit is $3,000, limit your monthly credit spending to $1,000 and pay it off in full to keep your score going up.
4. Increase the rent
Paying a higher monthly rent not only lines the pockets of property management companies, it also makes you a more attractive tenant. If you say you’re willing to pay a higher monthly rent, it tells potential landlords that you’re a financially responsible tenant. This goes a long way, but landlords will likely ask for proof of income and assets to prove you can afford the higher rent.
5. Get references
Another great way to present yourself as an attractive tenant is to include references on your apartment application. Consider asking for references from employers or previous landlords. They can vouch for your ability to pay your rent in full each month and to be a courteous tenant.
Your recommenders can write letters on your behalf, or you can include their email addresses and phone numbers along with their names on the recommendation form. Rental ApplicationMake sure you’re prepared to argue that the eviction was a one-time thing and won’t happen again — after all, the property manager wants to hear that you’ve changed your past behavior and will be a responsible tenant going forward.
6. Create a borrower resume or cover letter
Creating a renter resume and cover letter is a great way to showcase your strengths as a renter. You should treat your renter resume just like a work resume: make sure it’s typed, organized, and conveys the best of who you are as a renter.
Things you should include in your borrower resume or cover letter are the same as you would include in a job resume: your name, contact details, salary, employment history, and why you would be the perfect borrower. This should strengthen your case.
7. Be transparent and provide explanations
Any potential new landlord will surely want to know about your eviction record, so if possible, explain any evictions as honestly and clearly as possible over the phone, in person, or in your cover letter.
After you explain the reasons for your eviction, don’t forget to explain to your new landlord why and how you’ll be a great tenant going forward. For example, if you were evicted because you had problem pets, offer to introduce your pet to the landlord. The important thing is that the landlord wants to know what exactly happened and what you plan to do to prevent the same thing from happening in their rental property.
8. Consider renting from a private landlord
A private landlord is someone who manages their rental property themselves, rather than hiring a property management company.
Private landlords are often understanding about past evictions and may have apartments with eviction waivers. Renting from a private landlord is generally a more personal experience than renting from a management company, so having an eviction record can work to your advantage.
You can find properties owned by private landlords on social media sites and public marketplaces. However, it is important to vet the property beforehand to ensure that it is Rental fraud.
9. Finding a guarantor, cosigner, or roommate
Another way to strengthen your argument is to Guarantorco-signer, or Roommate Someone with good credit and no history of evictions. If a landlord knows you have someone to back you up, they’re more likely to believe you’re a trustworthy tenant. Paying your rent in full and on time also gives them peace of mind.
10. Offer to pay rent in advance on your new apartment
One way to approach a prospective tenant who is facing eviction is to offer to pay the rent for their new apartment in advance. If you can offer the new property manager the first 2-3 months’ rent up front, they will be more likely to trust that you are serious about the apartment and that you would be a trustworthy tenant.
11. Suggest a larger down payment
Whatever the reason for eviction, offering to pay a higher security deposit can really strengthen your case as a prospective tenant. To make the most attractive offer, you’ll need to pay a few months’ rent up front as a security deposit. It may be expensive, but paying a higher security deposit is one of the best ways to support your claim.
12. Find an apartment to house evicted tenants
Because renting to a tenant who has been evicted carries obvious risks for a landlord, it can be difficult to find an apartment that will accommodate someone with an eviction record. But it’s not impossible. Some landlords and private property managers will ignore past evictions.
How to clear your eviction record
you Renting in Minneapolis or TampaThere are several ways to have an eviction removed from your record. You may have to call several people to have the eviction removed from all of your documents, including your legal records and credit report.
1. Payment or settlement of rental debts
First, as mentioned above, offer to pay or settle your past rental debt with your previous landlord, and they may be willing to remove your eviction record.
2. Ask to have the collection record removed from your credit report
Removing debt collections from your credit report can not only improve your credit score, but it can also remove traces of evictions and other debts from your record. There are two ways to remove debt collections from your credit report. Good faith removal You can dispute a collection report if you have paid off any outstanding debts or if the collection on your report is in error.
3. Ask to have the eviction removed from your tenant screening report
A Tenant Screening Report may be used by a landlord to determine if they want to rent to you. If you have paid off your debt with your previous landlord or reached another settlement, you can request that the eviction be removed from your Tenant Screening Report. You may also need to contact the collection agency to verify that your landlord has sent the outstanding balance to the collection agency.
4. Dispute Errors
As mentioned above, if a mistake was made by your landlord, a credit reporting agency, or a debt collection agency, you can dispute the error and have the eviction removed from your record.
Errors in the eviction process can happen for a variety of reasons: A landlord might not give you proper notice of the eviction or file the right paperwork, or a credit reporting or collection agency might misreport the amount due or make another mistake.
To remove your eviction record, you can file a complaint with the landlord, credit reporting agency, debt collection agency, or other company. If you can remove your eviction record, it will be much easier to get a rental property.
5. Ask the court to evict you
If you believe you have been wrongfully evicted, you can go to court and have the eviction removed from your record. For example, if you were wrongfully evicted because of discrimination, this is against the law. Fair Housing Act
If your landlord violates the eviction rules, you can take them to court. If you win, the eviction should be removed from your record.
Frequently asked questions about renting when you have an eviction record
Will an eviction hurt my credit?
Eviction is your credit Your score will go down. However, if you are evicted for past due rent or other unpaid balances, it could hurt your credit. Plus, if the past due balance is sent to a collection agency, it could have a pretty negative impact on your credit score.
How long does an eviction stay on your record?
Once you have been evicted from a property, the eviction will at least be on your record. 7 years If your overdue payments are sent to a collection agency, you may have up to 10 years to recover them. Records of evictions are usually included in background checks, tenant screening reports, rental history reports, and credit reports. And because eviction judgments are entered by local courts, evictions remain on your legal record.
What do I do if there is an inaccurate eviction listed on my credit report?
If an eviction was mistakenly put on your credit report, your best bet is to report it to the credit reporting agencies. You will need evidence that the eviction was put on your report in error, as well as proof of your payment history.
Conclusion of a rental agreement involving eviction
Obtaining a lease with an eviction on your record can be difficult, but there are many ways to obtain a lease with an eviction on your record, as well as many ways to have the eviction removed from your documents.
