How to Get an Apartment With an Eviction on Your Record
Overcome housing hurdles with an eviction. This guide offers practical steps to strengthen your application and find an apartment.
An eviction on your rental history complicates securing an apartment, but it is not impossible. Understanding landlord expectations and preparing applications helps many navigate this. This article outlines strategies to secure an apartment, even with an eviction.
Understanding Landlord Screening
Landlords screen prospective tenants to assess financial behavior and rental history. Screenings involve comprehensive reports, including credit, criminal background, and eviction records.
Tenant screening reports combine data from credit bureaus and specialized companies. They detail past rental payment history, outstanding debts, and prior eviction filings. Landlords use this information to assess reliability.
An eviction record signals concerns about a tenant’s ability to pay rent or adhere to lease terms. These public records appear on screening reports for up to seven years. While an eviction may not directly impact a credit score, unpaid balances sent to collections can negatively affect credit.
Addressing Your Eviction Record
Address your eviction record by understanding its details and preparing a clear explanation. Obtain tenant screening and credit reports to review eviction entries. This helps identify inaccuracies and understand what landlords will see.
Prepare a concise, honest explanation for the eviction. Outline the circumstances that led to it and steps taken to resolve underlying issues. Demonstrate how your situation has changed, such as securing stable employment or improving financial habits.
Gather supporting documentation to strengthen your explanation. Include employment verification letters, recent pay stubs, or bank statements showing improved financial stability. If the eviction involved outstanding debt, provide proof of repayment or a payment plan. Letters of reference from employers or personal contacts vouching for your current reliability are also valuable.
When completing rental applications, use your prepared explanation. Being upfront builds trust. Presenting a supported explanation demonstrates your responsibility and commitment to being a reliable tenant.
Improving Your Application
Strengthening other application aspects enhances your appeal. Provide strong proof of financial stability, including recent pay stubs, employment verification letters, and bank statements (covering three to six months). Landlords often require gross monthly income to be at least two to three times the monthly rent.
Strong references strengthen your application. While previous landlord references are ideal, consider professional references from employers or personal contacts who can attest to your character and reliability. These individuals should speak positively about your responsibility.
Consider offering a larger security deposit or paying several months’ rent in advance, where legally permissible. State laws often cap security deposits (usually one to two months’ rent); confirm local regulations. This demonstrates financial commitment and can alleviate landlord concerns.
A co-signer or guarantor can improve your application. A co-signer, often a financially stable family member or friend, agrees to be legally responsible for lease obligations, including rent payments, if you cannot fulfill them. Landlords typically require co-signers to have excellent credit scores (often above 670) and stable income (sometimes three to five times the monthly rent) to cover potential liabilities.
Finding Eviction-Friendly Housing
Once application materials are prepared, focus your housing search on specific landlords and properties. Private landlords, who manage fewer properties, may offer greater flexibility than large corporate companies. They often have more discretion and may consider applicants with an eviction, especially if you present a compelling case.
Explore “second-chance” rental programs or apartment complexes that explicitly consider applicants with past evictions. These properties assist individuals with challenging rental histories and can be found through specialized apartment locators or online searches. Some non-profit organizations also offer housing assistance programs working with open landlords.
When contacting potential landlords, be upfront and honest about your eviction history. Immediately present your prepared explanation and supporting documentation, demonstrating your proactive approach and changed circumstances. This transparency builds trust and shows commitment to being a responsible tenant.
Anticipate that properties willing to rent to individuals with an eviction may require additional conditions. These could include a higher security deposit (if permitted by local regulations) or stricter lease terms. Being prepared and persistent can lead to suitable housing.