Table of Contents
How Long Does An Eviction Stay On Your Record?
Does an Eviction Show Up on Your Credit Report?
Can You Dispute an Eviction?
Is an Eviction Removed From Your Credit Report If You Pay It Off?
How Can I Remove an Eviction From My Public Record?
How Can I Rent If an Eviction is Still on My Public Record?
How Long Does an Eviction Stay on Your Record Bottom Line
How Long Does An Eviction Stay On Your Record?
An eviction will stay on your record for at least seven years, and up to ten years, depending on the statute of limitations in your state. That means that the eviction will show up on your credit report and rental history reports for whichever is longer, seven years or your states statute of limitations.
Does an Eviction Show Up on Your Credit Report?
Yes, an eviction will show up on your credit report, and it can be a significant headache. As rental history can be reported on your credit, evictions will almost always show up on your report. If you are evicted, this is yet another mark that could affect your credit. It can remain on your credit report for as long as seven years, even if you pay off the balance you owe.
Having an eviction show up on your credit report will cause several problems. If you are evicted, this will likely cause your credit score to go down. An eviction is also considered a civil judgment for reporting purposes so it will stay on your history much like a collections account would.
Many landlords will require credit and background checks to qualify you for a lease, and having an eviction can make it much harder for you to rent an apartment.
Can You Dispute an Eviction?
Yes, you can dispute an eviction on your credit report. This is a long process, and it may or may not work. To enter a dispute, you will need specific documentation that supports your dispute. Once you compile the documentation, you can send this to the credit bureaus for review.
The request to the credit bureau generally has to be in writing, so be sure to refer to each specific bureau for their requirements. You will have to reach out to each bureau separately, and you may also have to follow up.
Is an Eviction Removed From Your Credit Report If You Pay It Off?
No, paying off an eviction debt doesn’t make it disappear from your credit report. Unlike other debts that creditors report directly, an eviction this is on your record is reported after a civil judgment, making it much harder to remove. The dollar amount will show with the record. So while with other collection accounts, you can often pay them off to improve your credit and even ask creditors to delete them once paid off, that’s not the case with evictions.
How Can I Remove an Eviction From My Public Record?
- File a Petition
- Provision of Proof
- Go For the Win
It is possible to remove an eviction from your public record. However, you should be aware that just because you try this, it doesn’t mean it will be approved. However, if you are willing to go through the process and have a legitimate case, you could make it happen.
The way to get your eviction removed from the public record is to dispute something that is incorrect, win a case, or file a petition with the courts. Follow these steps to work towards clearing your public record.
1. File a Petition
The first step to remove an eviction from your public record is to file a petition with the court. You can do this as an individual, but it’s usually best to hire an attorney to help you out. There is no guarantee you will be approved. Ultimately, the petition is a request to the court to remove the eviction from your records. Therefore, you need to have a legitimate request.
2. Provision of Proof
If you have a valid case that shows your innocence or perhaps clears you in some way, you need to prove it. If you were at fault, you might not be able to remove this from your record. Ultimately, you need to show you didn’t violate a lease or a specific agreement made with the landlord.
3. Go For the Win
If you file the petition or hire an attorney for a case, you need to win for success. Hopefully, you have a good foundation for your request. While it might be possible to have the record removed even if you were at fault, it’s easier when you are innocent.
Evictions require legal grounds to be legitimate, so if you can prove it was unfounded, this could be helpful for you.
If your landlord did not follow the proper legal process for eviction, this could also work in your favor. Check out the laws in your state and document the process as it was presented to you.
How Can I Rent If an Eviction Is Still on My Public Record?
If you can’t get the eviction removed, it doesn’t ruin your chances of ever renting again. While many landlords do look at this, not all of them do. Some landlords will allow you to explain, especially if the eviction is not a fresh reporting.
Here are some tips for renting even with an eviction on your public record.
1. Show Financial Stability
Ultimately, a landlord wants to know that you will be able to pay your rent. If you’ve rented since the eviction, you can document proof of paying on time. You can also show the potential landlord proof of paying other types of accounts on time. Share with them documentation proving that you have a stable income and you pay your bills responsibly.
2. Provide an Explanation
If you have the opportunity to explain, this can be helpful. Be upfront and honest with the potential landlord. Give them an explanation before they even find the record. Let them know any resolution that was made and share with them what happened. This might help you out with any prospective landlord.
3. Improve Your Credit Score
An eviction record isn’t something fun to deal with. However, if you have one, go ahead and take steps to improve your standing. You can do many things to improve your credit and get yourself in a better financial position.
Improving your credit score can go a long way to show that you’re financially stable or responsible. You can often make major improvements by making payments on time, keeping low balances on credit cards, and getting rid of bad debt.
4. Co-Sign with Someone
This may not always be an option, but the landlord might feel more comfortable if you can get a co-signer. Ultimately, the landlord can rest assured that there is more than one person, and they have recourse should you run into problems.
5. Get References
Finally, if you have an eviction on your public record, you can gather references. Many lease applications require references, so choose people who can speak highly of you. You want references that will vouch for you being responsible and worthy of getting a chance.
How Long Does an Eviction Stay on Your Record Bottom Line
Evictions can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years, and it's quite difficult to remove them from your record. However, you can still rent with an eviction, but it will take extra effort. And if you are able to get a landlord to accept you when you have an eviction, don’t burn them. Make an effort to be responsible and pay them on time. The last thing you want is to face another eviction.