How Long Does an Eviction Take to Show on a Credit Report?

An eviction represents a significant event in a tenant’s housing history. While the legal process primarily impacts one’s ability to secure future housing, its financial repercussions can extend to credit reports.

How Evictions Appear on Credit Reports

An eviction itself does not directly appear on standard consumer credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. These bureaus stopped including most civil judgments, including those related to evictions, in 2017. Instead, financial consequences like unpaid rent or fees referred to a collection agency impact a credit report. When a debt goes to collections, the account is reported as a negative item.

Additionally, if a landlord obtains a civil judgment for unpaid rent for the money owed, this judgment could historically appear as a public record. Major credit bureaus no longer routinely report most civil judgments; bankruptcy remains the primary public record that typically appears. Actual eviction records are more likely found on specialized tenant screening reports, which landlords frequently use to assess prospective renters.

Timeline for Eviction Reporting

The timeline for an eviction’s financial impact to appear on a credit report is not fixed. Its appearance depends on when associated financial obligations, such as unpaid rent, are reported. If a landlord sends past-due rent to a collection agency, that agency may report the debt to credit bureaus. This process can take weeks to a few months after the debt is placed with the collection agency.

Similarly, if a civil judgment for unpaid rent is issued, its reporting timeline would depend on court processing and how frequently credit bureaus or their data providers access public court records. However, since credit bureaus largely ceased reporting civil judgments, this avenue for credit report impact is less common today. The primary factor influencing when a negative entry appears is the speed with which a collection agency reports the delinquent account.

Duration of Eviction on Credit Reports

Once a collection account for unpaid rent or a civil judgment appears on a credit report, it remains for a specific duration. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), most negative information, including collection accounts and civil judgments, stays on a credit report for up to seven years. This seven-year period begins from the date of the first delinquency that led to the collection or the date the civil judgment was filed.

Even if the outstanding debt is paid, the negative entry remains on the credit report for the full seven-year period. While the impact may lessen over time with positive financial activities, the record will not be removed before this statutory timeframe expires. Eviction records on tenant screening reports also follow a similar seven-year reporting period.

Addressing Eviction Records on Your Report

If you find an eviction-related record on your credit report, first obtain a copy from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You are entitled to a free annual copy from each bureau through AnnualCreditReport.C om. Reviewing these reports helps identify inaccuracies.

If you identify an inaccurate eviction-related entry, such as a collection account for a debt you do not owe or a dismissed judgment, you can dispute it with the credit reporting agency. Provide the credit bureau with an explanation of the error and supporting documentation. The credit bureau must investigate the dispute, typically within 30 days, and correct or remove inaccurate or unverifiable information. Accurate negative information cannot be removed simply by dispute.