Rent and applications
Can I rent an apartment with an eviction on my record?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Yes, but it is harder, and large complexes often decline automatically. Your best chances are with private landlords who will hear your explanation, especially if you can show the debt is paid, your income is stable now and you have a guarantor or larger deposit. Eviction records usually matter less as they get older.
Start by finding out exactly what is on your record. Get a copy of your tenant screening or court records so you know whether it shows a filing, a judgment or an unpaid balance.
- Pay or settle any money owed to the former landlord, and get written proof.
- If the case was dismissed or settled, ask the court or a legal aid office whether it can be sealed or removed. Some states allow this.
- Write a short, honest explanation of what happened and what has changed.
- Gather proof of reliability since then: on-time rent at a later place, steady employment and savings.
- Line up a guarantor with good credit and income.
Tell landlords before they run the check rather than hoping they will not see it. Many private owners care more about honesty and recent history than about something from years ago.
Renting a room from an individual, or a unit from a small landlord who does not use automated screening, can also be a way back into a standard lease after a year or two of clean history.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting Your First Apartment: Applications, Leases and Move-in Costs.