Does an Eviction Show Up on a Credit Report?

An eviction can significantly impact a person’s financial standing and future housing opportunities, but its presence on a credit report is often misunderstood. While the eviction itself may not directly appear on a standard credit report, the financial consequences and the public record of the eviction can still affect a person’s ability to secure new housing or credit. Understanding how eviction information is recorded and accessed is essential for anyone navigating the rental market. This involves looking beyond just credit reports to other specialized databases and public records that landlords frequently utilize.

Credit Reports and Eviction

An eviction judgment does not typically appear directly on credit reports issued by the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. These credit reporting agencies largely stopped including most public records, such as civil judgments and tax liens, on traditional credit reports. The primary public record that still consistently appears on a credit report is bankruptcy.

The financial repercussions stemming from an eviction can appear on a credit report, negatively affecting one’s credit score. If a tenant owes unpaid rent, late fees, or damages to a landlord, and this debt is sent to a collection agency, that collection account will be reported to the credit bureaus. Collection accounts are derogatory marks that can significantly reduce credit scores. These negative entries remain on a credit report for up to seven years.

If a landlord pursues a civil lawsuit for unpaid rent or damages and obtains a judgment against the former tenant, this civil judgment could be reported. While the major credit bureaus do not include civil judgments directly, some specialized credit reports or older records might still contain this information. A civil judgment, if reported, can remain on a credit report for up to seven years from the filing date, impacting the ability to secure new loans or credit. The presence of these financial consequences signals a higher risk to potential lenders and landlords.

Eviction Records Beyond Credit Reports

Since an eviction judgment itself does not appear on standard credit reports, landlords primarily rely on other sources to check a prospective tenant’s eviction history. These sources provide a more direct view of past rental behavior and legal proceedings.

Eviction filings and judgments are public court records maintained by local and county courts. These records are accessible to the public, including landlords and tenant screening companies. Landlords can search these public databases directly to find information about past eviction cases, including the filing and outcome. This public accessibility means that even if an eviction does not impact a credit score, the record of it remains discoverable.

Specialized tenant screening services are used by landlords to compile background checks on applicants. These services gather information from various sources, including public court records, tenant databases, and sometimes credit report data. These reports are designed to provide landlords with an applicant’s rental history, including previous eviction filings or judgments. Tenant screening companies may collect eviction records from court websites as soon as they are filed. Landlords often rely on these tenant screening reports more than traditional credit reports when assessing a potential renter’s eviction history.

Accessing Your Rental History Information

Understanding what information is recorded about your rental and financial history requires reviewing both your credit reports and specialized tenant screening reports. Accessing these documents allows you to verify accuracy and address any discrepancies.

You can obtain a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting agencies—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—through AnnualCreditReport.com. Review these reports for any collection accounts, civil judgments, or other negative entries that might be related to a past tenancy. Regular review ensures that the information accurately reflects your financial obligations.

Tenant screening reports provide a more direct view of your rental history, including eviction records. If a landlord denies a rental application based on information in a tenant screening report, they are required to provide you with the name and contact information of the company that supplied the report. You can then request a free copy of this report from the tenant screening bureau to review it for accuracy.

If you find inaccuracies on your credit report or tenant screening report, you have the right to dispute them. For credit reports, you can initiate a dispute directly with the credit bureau, providing supporting documentation to prove the error. The credit bureau is required to investigate the dispute within 30 days. For tenant screening reports, you can contact the screening company to submit a written dispute with evidence of the inaccuracy. The screening company is required to investigate and correct inaccuracies within 30 days, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).