Do Evictions Show Up on Your Credit Report?

An eviction is a legal process initiated by a landlord to remove a tenant from a rental property, typically due to a breach of lease terms, such as non-payment of rent. Understanding the implications of an eviction is important for individuals concerned about their financial well-being and future housing. The broader impact extends to an individual’s financial records and ability to obtain future housing.

Eviction and Credit Reports

An eviction does not appear directly on a standard credit report from major credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. However, the financial consequences associated with an eviction can significantly impact one’s credit standing. The eviction itself is a legal action to regain property, distinct from a credit obligation.

Unpaid rent, late fees, or property damages stemming from the eviction process can be sent to third-party collection agencies by the landlord. When these outstanding debts go to collections, they are reported to credit bureaus and will appear on a credit report. A collection account can substantially lower credit scores and can remain on a credit report for seven years from the date of the first missed payment that led to the collection. This negative entry can make it more challenging to secure new loans, credit cards, or even other rental properties.

A monetary judgment awarded to the landlord by a court for unpaid rent or damages can appear on public records. While the three major credit bureaus stopped reporting civil judgments directly on credit reports in July 2017, the underlying debt that led to the judgment, such as unpaid rent sent to collections, can still affect one’s credit for up to seven years. These judgments represent a direct financial consequence of the eviction process. Traditional credit reports primarily reflect financial accounts like loans, credit cards, and mortgages, rather than landlord-tenant payment histories, unless those debts are sent to collections.

Eviction and Tenant Screening Reports

While evictions do not appear directly on standard credit reports, they are prominently featured on specialized tenant screening reports. These reports serve a different purpose than credit reports, as landlords use them to evaluate a prospective tenant’s rental history and overall suitability for a property.

The content of a tenant screening report includes eviction filings, court judgments related to tenancy, and previous addresses. Landlords also receive information such as basic credit data, criminal background checks, and rental references through these reports. The data for these reports is pulled from various sources, including court records, public databases, and specialized tenant databases.

The presence of an eviction record on a tenant screening report can significantly affect a tenant’s ability to secure future housing. Many landlords rely on these reports to assess risk, and an eviction history signals potential issues, making it more difficult to be approved for new rental agreements. Landlords use these reports to identify if an applicant has a history of not paying rent or violating lease terms.

Understanding and Addressing Records

The duration for which eviction-related records persist on various reports is consistent. Eviction filings and court judgments remain on tenant screening reports for up to seven years. Similarly, collection accounts resulting from unpaid rent or damages also stay on credit reports for seven years from the date of the original delinquency.

Individuals can obtain copies of their credit reports annually and for free from each of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) through AnnualCreditReport.com. Accessing tenant screening reports involves requesting them directly from the tenant screening companies. If a rental application is denied due to a tenant screening report, the landlord is legally required to provide the name and contact information of the company that supplied the report, along with information on how to obtain a free copy.

Disputing inaccuracies on these reports is a consumer right. For credit reports, individuals can dispute inaccuracies directly with the credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) online, by phone, or by mail. The dispute should clearly identify the error and include supporting documentation.

To dispute errors on a tenant screening report, one should contact the reporting agency, document the inaccuracies, and provide supporting evidence. The reporting company is required to investigate the dispute within 30 days. Only inaccurate information can be disputed; valid records, even if unfavorable, will remain on the reports for their designated duration.