How to Rent a House with Bad Credit and Evictions
Bad credit scores and eviction histories make it difficult for anyone looking for apartments, especially if your next landlords ask you to undergo a rigorous screening procedure and pay a hefty security deposit.
Here's everything you need to know if you're renting with bad credit and several evictions.
Know What's in Your Credit Report
Before you start home hunting, you must know what's in your credit record. Personal information, credit account history, credit inquiries, and public data are all included in your credit report.
Lenders and creditors report this to three main credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. A large portion of this data is used to compute your FICO Scores, which tell potential lenders about your trustworthiness.
Look for Property Owners Who Don't Check your Credit
Complexes owned by large property management businesses often request a credit check. Unfortunately, you will most likely get rejected if you have a credit score below 580 FICO score.
Instead, look for apartments held by private landlords that don't do credit checks. Here's where you can find some individual-owned properties.
Craigslist
If you're looking for apartments with no credit check, Craigslist offers all kinds of available rental properties.
Considering that only a few management-owned apartment complexes are advertised on Craigslist, the housing website is the go-to alternative for people with poor credit scores and several evictions.
Classified Section of Your Local Newspaper
More traditional individual property owners choose to advertise their apartments in the classified section of local newspapers. Newspaper rental advertisements aren't only found on paper but online too.
Considering that Sunday's paper usually has the most ads, you should look at the weekend release.
Real Estate Agent
Looking for "private owners that accept bad credit and evictions near me" can be challenging without a real estate agent's help. However, as many homeowners rent their properties through real estate agencies, it's always best to consult these professionals.
After contacting a property owner, please inquire about the criteria they employ to accept tenants for rent. If one isn't a credit check, you'll have one less problem.
Vacant Property
Last but not least—take advantage of vacant units. As homeowners lose money when they have vacant apartments for an extended period, they might consider putting their apartments for rent, even to people with bad credit or evictions.
Recommendation
Getting a recommendation letter that attests to your financial responsibility might help you overcome a poor credit record. You can request this reference from past landlords, banks, creditors, and current or former employers.
Whether you went through a divorce, unemployment, student loans, or medical costs, start by outlining the reasons behind your financial struggles. Then, remember to mention in your letter why you're capable of paying rent despite your difficulties.
Demonstrate Provable Income
Most of the time, having a sufficient salary can compensate for a less-than-stellar credit report.
You must earn three to four times the monthly rent to prove to your landlord that you can afford the following payments. But that's not all. Remember to provide reliable documentation of your income that can meet your homeowner's requirements.
Pay More Up Front
Even if you need no credit check for the following apartments to rent, you should always expect to spend more money in advance.
Before moving into a new apartment, you might be required to pay a larger security deposit or the first three months of rent. A tip for the future—if your credit is far from perfect, start putting some savings aside before moving into a new home.
Co-signer
Getting a co-signer with a good credit history to sign your lease might be your last resort. However, keep in mind that if you can't fulfill your payments or get evicted for any reason, the homeowner has every right to sue the co-signer for the lease amount. For this reason, you should be extra cautious when using other people's credit.
What Are The Effects Of Bad Credit And Eviction History On Your Tenancy Application?
How does an eviction affect your tenancy application? First, let's take a step back. Luckily, evictions don't appear on credit records. However, landlords might consider selling your debt to a collection agency, which will stay on your credit history for up to seven years.
Adverse credit is always an indicator of financial struggles. This often leads landlords to distrust you because you might be unable to keep up with your monthly bills. However, you can still rent a home with bad credit. Avoid sending a tenancy submission to rental agencies and turn to private landlords instead.
What Are The Landlords' Standard Screening Processes?
Tenancy always starts with sending out a submission to landlords. But even before that, homeowners should clarify their criteria to avoid dealing with troublesome applicants—and screening is their best defense.
In general, the standard process can be broken down as follows:
- Pre-screening
- Application
- Income verification
- Credit check
- Criminal background
- Rent history
- Reference check
How To Fix Errors In Your Credit Report
If you find any inaccuracy on your credit report, consider disputing it with the most relevant credit organizations (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). Explain in your letter why you believe something is incorrect and attach reliable proof that supports your claim.
Remember to include your contact information, account number, confirmation number, and a copy of your credit report.
How To Get An Eviction Erased From Your Record
If you're concerned about how an unfair eviction affects your credit score, you can always try to delete it from your record.
Here are three points that will make your eviction effective across all US states:
- Refusal and delay of rent bills
- Violation of lease agreement
- Destruction of the property
Removing an eviction from your records is easy if the court is in your favor. The court will only approve an eviction removal if the property manager fails to follow proper procedures or violates the laws.
Can You Increase Your Chances Of Getting The Tenancy Despite Having Bad Credit And an Eviction History?
The short answer is yes. Getting letters of recommendation, proving financial security, and looking for private landlords that conduct no credit checks on homes for rent is the best course of action to get accepted as a tenant.
You can also get a roommate with good credit to raise your chances of getting an apartment with financial struggles and evictions.
The good news is—poor credit can be fixed over time. So focus on developing good financial habits every month to undo the damage.
Bottom Line
As a general rule of thumb, you might want to score 670 or above on your report to secure an agreement with a landlord.
However, this article showed you how to rent a house with bad credit and evictions. Follow our tips, and you'll be on the right track to renting your next apartment!
