Does an Eviction Affect Your Credit? (2024)

Will a notice of eviction appear on my credit report?

Evictions do not appear on your credit report. A notice of eviction is your landlord's declaration that they intend to evict you unless you take corrective action.

The most common eviction notice is a notice to pay or quit, given when a tenant misses a rent payment. It tells the tenant to pay within a certain number of days or the landlord will seek a court order. If you either pay what you owe or move out voluntarily, the eviction process ends.

In some situations, the eviction notice will not give you an opportunity to fix the problem. For example, if you damaged the property, the landlord may want you out as soon as possible. This still may not appear on your credit report as it is only the start of the legal process.

Will a court-obtained eviction judgment against me appear on my credit report?

If you lose in court after an eviction notice, a judge will enter an eviction judgment on behalf of your landlord. This is the official court order that the landlord is allowed to remove you from the premises if you fail to leave by a certain deadline.

While the eviction judgment is officially an eviction, it does not appear on your credit report. Your credit report reflects only financial debt and whether those debts have been repaid. The purpose of the eviction is to end the lease permitting the landlord to retake possession of their property.

While an eviction judgment does not appear on your credit report, it is still a public record. Most tenant background checks search public records for evictions, so prospective landlords may see the eviction when you apply for housing.

How much damage can an eviction do to my credit?

While an eviction does not directly affect your credit score, many evictions involve owing money to the landlord. This might be unpaid rent or damage to the property. Unlike other debts, your landlord will not typically report your rent history or late payments to a credit bureau.

Can an eviction affect my credit even if I move out before it goes to court?

Again, the eviction itself does not impact your credit. Additionally, you have not been evicted if the court has not entered a judgment. If you agree to move out, you have not been evicted. Still, you may owe your landlord money that could be pursued through collections.

The COVID-19 eviction moratoriums bring up another potential scenario. Landlords may file for an eviction as soon as you are behind on rent. However, a landlord who cannot legally seek an eviction can still send a debt to collections, depending on the COVID-19 tenant protections in your area. This could lead to your credit score going down, even if you still live in the same unit.

The best thing to do if facing eviction is talk to your landlord, since they generally want to avoid the eviction process. You may be able to enter a Late Rent Payment Agreement that lets you avoid both an eviction and collections.

Protect your credit and your reputation as a tenant

When facing an eviction, finding a new place to live is just one challenge. While an eviction may not directly hurt your credit, it could lead to problems down the line. To learn more about your legal rights, how to approach your landlord, or how to respond to an eviction, ask a lawyer.

Evictions and Credit Reports

Evictions and Credit Reports:
- Evictions, per se, do not show up on your credit report.
- An eviction notice is a warning from the landlord about potential eviction if corrective action is not taken, such as paying overdue rent.
- Common eviction notices, like the "pay or quit" notice, give tenants a chance to rectify the situation before legal proceedings start.
Court-Obtained Eviction Judgment:
- An eviction judgment obtained through the legal system is not directly reported to credit bureaus.
- However, it becomes a public record, accessible through tenant background checks.
- Prospective landlords may learn about the eviction during housing applications.
Credit Impact of Eviction:
- While an eviction itself doesn't affect your credit score, the financial aspects tied to it can.
- Unpaid rent or damages owed to the landlord might lead to collections.
- Collections accounts can significantly impact your credit score, potentially dropping it by hundreds of points.
Court Judgments and Credit Scores:
- Court judgments for rent or other charges don't appear on credit reports.
- Credit scores may be affected only if the debt is sent to collections.
Moving Out Before Court:
- If you move out before a court judgment, you technically haven't been evicted.
- However, you might still owe money, leading to potential collections.
- Eviction moratoriums, like those related to COVID-19, add complexity, with landlords possibly filing for eviction even if they can't legally pursue it.
Credit Impact and COVID-19:
- Landlords may resort to collections even if evictions are not pursued due to COVID-19 tenant protections.
- This could result in a negative impact on your credit score.
Mitigating Eviction Impact:
- Communication with your landlord is crucial when facing eviction.
- Negotiating alternatives, such as a Late Rent Payment Agreement, can help avoid both eviction and potential damage to your credit.
Legal Advice Disclaimer:
- The article wisely includes a disclaimer emphasizing the need for legal advice, highlighting the complexity and ever-changing nature of the law.

In conclusion, while an eviction itself might not directly harm your credit, the associated financial consequences and legal actions can have a lasting impact. Understanding your rights, communicating effectively, and seeking legal advice are essential steps to navigate this challenging terrain successfully.