How Do Landlords Check for Evictions?
How do Landlords Check for Evictions?
Landlords typically check for past evictions using several methods to assess a potential tenant's rental history and reliability. Here's how they generally go about it:
- Tenant Screening Services: Many landlords use tenant screening services, which provide a report that includes eviction history, credit reports, and criminal background checks. These services aggregate data from public court records and other sources, offering a detailed eviction history for prospective tenants.
- Credit Reports: Some credit bureaus, like TransUnion or Experian, include eviction information in their reports. If an eviction went to court and resulted in a judgment, it can appear in a tenant’s credit report.
- Public Records: Evictions are often part of public court records. Landlords or property management companies may access local or state court databases to see if a potential tenant has had any eviction proceedings filed against them.
- Previous Landlords: Landlords often contact a prospective tenant's previous landlords to ask about their rental history. They may inquire specifically about whether the tenant was ever evicted or had issues with paying rent on time.
- Rental Applications: Many rental applications ask tenants directly if they’ve ever been evicted. If a tenant lies, the landlord can verify through the methods above.
Eviction records can stay on a tenant’s credit report or public records for up to 7 years, depending on local laws.
