Does an Eviction Show Up on a Tenant Screening?
An eviction shows up on a tenant's screening report in a number of circumstances either through the court or through the tenant's former landlord. According to financial management and help website Bills.com, reporting delinquent payments on rent can begin as early as 180 days into a delinquency and will remain on the tenant's credit report for the full amount of time regardless of whether the debt is paid.
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Laws Regarding Tenant Screening
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You are permitted to collect personal information such as a Social Security number, driver's license and last known address for the purpose of conducting tenant screening and to verify identity. It is a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act to use this information to discriminate against a prospective tenant based on the prospective tenant's race, ethnicity, gender, marital status, age, sexual orientation, religion or disability.
Tenant Credit Checks
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An eviction may show up on a tenant's credit history if the eviction took place within the last seven years. A record of the eviction is generated only when the tenant did not willingly leave the residence being rented or is being pursued for rent money owed to the landlord. If a tenant receives an eviction notice from his landlord and willingly leaves the residence before the court can render a decision, no record of eviction will exist unless the landlord chooses to report the eviction to credit reporting bureaus on his own.
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When an Eviction is Found
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An eviction on your credit report can be grounds for a landlord to refuse to rent to you. A landlord or rental company can alternatively choose to charge you a higher security deposit up to the maximum allowed by state law to act as collateral for the increased risk of renting to you. It is illegal for a landlord of any kind to attempt to raise rental rates based on the finding of an eviction on your credit report.
Who Pays For The Credit Check?
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The short answer to this question is you do. Often a landlord or rental company charges a non-refundable application fee as part of the tenant screening process. This fee is used to obtain a copy of your credit report and any other necessary documents such as court documentation and arrest record. Unfortunately, with an eviction on your record, it may cost you a couple hundred dollars in application fees until you find a landlord willing to rent to you.
Overcoming an Eviction
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Reliable income is the best means of overcoming an eviction on your credit report. If the landlord feels that you can afford to rent the place, he may be willing to ignore the eviction. Additionally, if you are able to provide references from previous rental companies or landlords who can attest to your reliability, you may be able to show that the eviction was an aberration and not indicative of a pattern of irresponsible behavior.
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