How Long Does an Eviction Stay on Your Record?

worried looking man pouring over finances sitting next to small child
Dear Experian,

I was evicted almost seven years ago, and at one point I saw the money owed on my credit report in collections. Now I don't see it, but I know it was there at one time. Do you think this means the eviction is gone also from my rental history? How long does it take for an eviction to come off my record?

- CHP

Dear CHP,

An eviction will not show up on your credit report, but any collection accounts may remain on your credit report for up to seven years from the original delinquency date, which is the date of the first late payment that led to the collection status. If you have obtained a recent copy of your credit report and the collection account is not appearing, it may simply have been removed due to its age. However, this does not necessarily indicate whether the eviction still appears on your rental history report.

Does an Eviction Show Up on Your Credit Report?

While positive rental payment history may be included in your Experian credit report, your report will not show eviction information. Eviction records can be found in a separate rental history report, which can be obtained through a tenant screening company.

If you had an unpaid debt following your eviction, such as unpaid rent and any fees, your landlord or leasing company could have sold that debt to a collection agency. If the collection agency that purchased the debt reports to Experian, the account would then appear on your credit report as a collection account. You can also request a copy of your Experian RentBureau report by mail or by calling 877-704-4519.

How Long Does an Eviction Stay on Your Record?

Evictions will not appear on your credit report, but they may appear on tenant screening reports for seven years. If you are in the process of applying for a lease, ask the landlord or leasing company to tell you the name of the tenant screening company they use. Contact the company in advance to find out whether the eviction is still appearing.

Can You Dispute an Eviction?

If you have an eviction listed on a tenant screening report that you believe is inaccurate, contact the tenant screening company directly to dispute the information.

To check if there are any collection accounts for eviction-related debt appearing on your Experian credit report, you can request your free Experian credit report online.

If you have a collection account on your Experian credit report that you believe is incorrect, you can dispute that information quickly and easily through the online Dispute Center.

How to Avoid Eviction

If you think you may not be able to make your rent payment, contact your leasing office or landlord as soon as possible.

If you are facing financial difficulty or have had credit difficulties in the past, reviewing your credit reports regularly can help you get back on track. Experian's free credit monitoring can help you stay on top of your credit history information by allowing you easy access to your credit information any time and alerting you to changes to your credit file as they happen.

Thanks for asking.

Jennifer White, Consumer Education Specialist