How Long Does It Take for an Eviction to Fall Off Your Credit?

An eviction is a legal action that affects an individual’s financial standing and future opportunities. While the eviction process concerns the legal removal of a tenant from a property, its financial repercussions can extend to credit reports. An eviction-related mark can signal to potential lenders, landlords, or employers a history of financial instability or unfulfilled obligations.

The Reporting Period for Evictions

The eviction itself, meaning the court order or filing, does not appear directly on a standard credit report issued by the three major credit bureaus. Instead, financial consequences stemming from an eviction typically affect a credit report. This often occurs when unpaid rent or other lease-related debts are sent to a collection agency.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), negative information, including collection accounts, can remain on a consumer’s credit report for up to seven years. For collection accounts resulting from unpaid rent, this seven-year period begins from the date of the original delinquency, which is the first missed payment that led to the debt going into collections. Eviction filings and judgments are public records accessed by tenant screening companies. These records, distinct from credit reports, can also remain visible for up to seven years, impacting future rental applications.

Impact of an Eviction on Credit

Financial marks associated with an eviction, such as collection accounts for unpaid rent, can lower credit scores. A single collection account can decrease a credit score by 50 to 100 points or more, depending on an individual’s credit history. This reduction indicates an increased risk to potential creditors.

A lower credit score makes it more difficult to secure new housing, as landlords frequently check credit reports and tenant screening reports during the application process. Many landlords use specialized tenant screening services that compile rental history, including eviction filings and judgments, which can lead to denials of rental applications. An eviction-related collection on a credit report can also hinder access to various financial products, such as mortgages, car loans, and personal loans. Lenders may view such a record as a sign of financial irresponsibility, potentially leading to loan denials or less favorable terms like higher interest rates and larger down payments. This can also affect certain employment opportunities, particularly those requiring financial trustworthiness.

Disputing Inaccuracies and Post-Removal Considerations

If an eviction-related entry on a credit report or tenant screening report is inaccurate, incomplete, or reported in error, consumers have the right to dispute it. This process involves gathering supporting documentation, such as court records showing a case dismissal, proof of payment, or correspondence with the former landlord. The dispute can be filed directly with the credit bureaus or tenant screening agencies, providing them with evidence to support the claim. Upon receiving a dispute, the credit reporting agency is required by law to investigate the claim within 30 days and correct any verified errors.

After the seven-year reporting period concludes, collection accounts related to an eviction should be automatically removed from a consumer’s credit report. Eviction filings on tenant screening reports should also become inaccessible. The removal of these negative marks can lead to an improvement in credit scores over time, assuming other positive financial behaviors are maintained. This opens up more opportunities for securing housing, obtaining loans, and accessing other financial services.