How to Prevent an Eviction By Your Landlord

For some tenants, the threat of eviction is an everyday occurrence. And for others, it’s the last thought on their minds. How is this possible? It’s because the second party knows how to avoid potential eviction.

Here are some tips to ensure your landlord won’t evict you:

* Pay your rent on time. And make certain you pay the complete amount.

* Read your lease agreement. This agreement stipulates all the rules established by the landlord for living in the apartment or rental home. It will cover everything from pets to noise levels to appropriate parking spaces. Be sure to follow these rules.

* Atone for any damages. If you or a guest of yours causes damage to the apartment, contact your landlord immediately and discuss how you can get the repairs covered. The landlord may offer to do the work, and charge you the fee. Or the landlord may be OK with having you handle and pay for the repairs yourself.

Of course, when your lease agreement expires, your landlord may opt to not renew the agreement, and while it’s not an eviction, you will need to vacate the apartment or rental unit on the end date of the lease. Also, if something comes up on the landlord’s end like the property has been sold, the landlord or new owner can go through legal channels and provide you with a 30-day or 60-day termination of lease notice. This type of eviction should not be reflected on your rental history report, as it is caused by the landlord, not your actions or behaviors.

How to Fight an Eviction You Think Is Wrong

If you receive a legal or official notice of eviction, make certain that the notice contains accurate information. It’s important to do some research to confirm that the notice is in accordance with the law in notifying you of your upcoming eviction. This is especially important because you’ll need to know how to fight an eviction you think is wrong.

The reason you want to check that your landlord filed the notice legally – and that the eviction is justified – is because this information appears on your rental history report. In fact, the notice of eviction is listed, as well as the date of eviction, if it follows through. If you do end up evicted and attempt to find a new apartment, you might discover landlords refusing to rent to you because they’ve looked up your rental history report and see that you have an eviction history.

How to know if an eviction is on your record:

Get a copy of your rental history report to check it over for eviction records, as well as other background information like your criminal history and your credit history. If you find any information that is inaccurate, take steps immediately to correct the errors.

Here’s how to fight an eviction you think is wrong:

Take legal action – contact an attorney who specializes in rental agreements. Share with the attorney all information and correspondence you’ve had with your landlord, including a copy of your lease agreement, the notice of eviction, and any supporting evidence you have against the notice of eviction. The attorney will handle notifying the landlord if he thinks your eviction notification is in error, and will also be responsible for filing the case in court if your landlord wants to continue forward with the eviction process.

Bad Rental History ? How You Can Still Rent…

If you need to move, or are facing an eviction, you are probably thinking about the next home you’re going to live in. If it’s going to be a rental home, you might want to review your rental history report to see what kind of information it contains. Even if you have a bad rental history you still can rent.

Of course, an eviction will be a negative mark on your rental history report, which could limit how many landlords may be willing to accept you as a future tenant. So how do you rent with a bad rental history?

1. Make certain the information is correct. If it isn’t, take action immediately to report and correct the information so it helps you to look like a better rental candidate.

2. Seek out apartment complexes where landlords don’t conduct a background check. Note, often these apartment complexes are not the most desirable living locations, or have lower quality accommodations.

3. Tell your side. Share your background information first, before they have a chance to conduct the background check, and provide your story, if you think it will help sway the landlord to accept you as a renter.

4. Keep your record clean. As time passes, your record will be cleared of past negative marks, and you can highlight how long you’ve been keeping a good profile, showing that you should be considered a good rental candidate.

Always review your rental history report before you apply for a new apartment or rental home. Knowing what information is portrayed in the report will help you better negotiate with the landlord and encourage them to rent to you.

Why is an Eviction Record a Big Deal?

Sometimes life presents you with temptations. You get a great new job offer, but it requires moving to a new city. Yet your current lease agreement doesn’t expire for another couple of months. Is it worth sacrificing your rental history report to break a lease, and possibly end up with an eviction record on your record?

A lease agreement is a legally binding contract, and when a set end date is specified for the lease to expire, you as the tenant are responsible until that date for your end of the agreement. If you need to move out early due to job relocation, you are still responsible for paying rent. If you don’t, your landlord could take you to court for payment of rent, and/or evict you, which will show up on your rental history record.

Why is an eviction record such a big deal? Anytime you want to move to a new rental property, there’s a good chance the landlord at that location will conduct a rental history background check, looking at your rental payment history, credit history and criminal background. Landlords conduct this check to find the best candidates for their vacant properties. If you have an eviction record, or missed rental payments on your rental history report, you may not be able to find a landlord willing to rent to you.

If you don’t have any intention of renting again, and are not worried about the potential for a landlord taking you to court for missed rental payments, then you might find the temptation to break a lease is too great to ignore. But if the potential consequences are too severe, consider trying to work an alternative agreement out with your landlord, like subleasing, or helping the landlord find a new quality tenant. This action can help to keep your rental history report clear of negative entries.

Is My Rental History Affected by My Spouse’s Credit Record?

Renting an apartment can be a challenge, especially if the renter does not have good information appearing on his rental history report. But when a couple is involved in the renting process, they have options to consider, which might make the rental process easier.

When applying for a new apartment or home to rent, a couple can choose to put one person’s name on the lease or both names. If both members have good credit information appearing on their rental history reports, they should both appear as good candidates to a landlord. If they put both their names on the lease, rental payment history information will be recorded in each report.

However, if one spouse has a bad credit record, it might be a good idea to only have one name attached to the lease. Each person’s rental history report is unique to that person. Individual records like credit reports and criminal records do not cross over to another person’s rental history report. The person with the better report is the better candidate to apply to rent the unit.

One thing couples should keep in mind is the spouse whose name is on the lease will be responsible for all conditions of the lease agreement with the landlord. This includes paying the rent on time, obeying the rules stipulated in the lease agreement and fulfilling all terms of the lease. And only the person with their name on the lease will have information reported to their rental history report.

My Rental History Will Stay with Me for Life: Myth or Fact?

People who plan to be life-long renters, or decide to return to the renting world in later life because they want an easier living arrangement, might be interested in knowing how long their rental history will be active. The question of if a rental history will stay with a person for life is both a myth and a fact. Here’s why:

 

Fact – Everyone who has rented in the United States should have a rental history report. This report includes credit information, a background check of eviction records and criminal history, and a rental payment history.

 

Myth – The information reported on your rental history report for today will not always be there. Many states have expirations on different records – like eviction records – and therefore after time, this information will drop off a report. In addition, renters with bad credit scores – who take action to improve those scores – will also see the information updated in a rental history report. Finally, a court order by a judge can also have information removed from a rental history report.

 

It’s always a good idea to check out your rental history report prior to applying to rent an apartment or home, just to make certain the information is accurate. If it isn’t, take action immediately to get the report corrected, providing you with a stronger application for that apartment.

How Can I Fix My Rental History Report?

If you have negative information on your rental history report, you know how difficult it can be to secure rental opportunities. But you don’t have to let that previous incident linger on your record. Follow these tips to repair your rental history report and move on to the residence of dreams.

1. See what’s out there. Before you can repair any blemishes, you first need to know what the report says about you. If you have ever missed a payment or you were responsible for the destruction of property and never paid for the damage, your landlord likely reported you. Review your rental history report to see what it says about you.

2. Verify the information. OK, you’ve seen your rental history report and it is less than perfect. But is it correct? Are you responsible for the information listed? Were you even a tenant in that building? It is possible your previous landlord made a mistake or you’ve been cited for misdeeds because you share the same name as the guilty party. If there are errors, contact a credit reporting agency, challenge the errors and see that they are removed.

3. Close the gaps. If the information in the report is correct and reflects negatively on you, then meet with the landlord who lodged the complaint and try to rectify the situation. You may have to pay for that damaged piece of furniture, but you will be better off in the long run. If you can reach a deal with your previous landlord, there is a chance the marks on your record could be reduced or completely expunged.

4. Put your best foot forward. Some landlords may not be willing to work with you even if you pay them the money owed. In those cases, you can do nothing but move forward. When you attempt to secure your next residence, be honest with your new landlord about your rental history report. You stand a better chance of landing the rental by doing this than if your landlord finds your past report on his or her own. And if you have a previous landlord who felt you were a good tenant, ask them to write you a letter of recommendation.

Ensure a Past Landlord Doesn’t Jeopardize Your Rental History

Your rental history may include a landlord you’d like to forget. But as you look for a new place, be aware that a lingering dispute with that landlord could jeopardize your new rental opportunity. If a previous landlord has put negative information in your rental history report, it’s best to try and resolve the situation so the marks on your report are mitigated or even removed. Keep the following tips in mind as you work with your previous landlord.

* Keep a cool head. You and your previous landlord probably didn’t part on the best of terms and damage to property, eviction or money owed heightens the tension. Remember to keep a level head in all discussions with or about your previous landlord. If you are calm and willing to listen your previous landlord is more likely to do the same.

* Know the law. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to renter’s rights. Rights differ from state to state so make sure to research appropriately. Your previous landlord may assume your lack of knowledge and try to take advantage of that.

* Hire a mediator. If you’ve met with your previous landlord and couldn’t reach an agreement , it might be time to hire a mediator. A third party may offer ideas you didn’t think of and you both may be more open to the opinion of a stranger.

* Seek legal advice. If you feel you’ve tried everything and you still haven’t been able to resolve the situation, it may be time to consult a lawyer. It is possible that a discussion between your lawyers may broker a resolution. Otherwise, your lawyer may recommend that you pursue arbitration, small claims court or even litigation.

Settling a disagreement with a previous landlord can be an unpleasant experience, but you will never resolve the issue by ignoring it. If you have a previous incident on your rental history report, work to resolve it. You will be better off in the long run.

5 Tips to Protect Your Rental History Report

You never know how important it is to have a good rental history report until not-so-positive reports begin showing up on your personal background check. When bad news shows up, you may find landlords are no longer interested in renting to you.

Potential tenants should check their rental history report before they start the process of applying for apartments or rental homes. Reports can contain errors, leading landlords to move on to other potential tenants who have a better rental history. To protect your rental history report information, always make certain the information appearing in the report is correct.

Here are five other tips to protect the information on your rental history report:

1. Pay rent in full and on time – always.
2. Don’t break any rules written in the lease contract.
3. Stay out of criminal trouble.
4. Maintain a good credit score.
5. Handle any conflicts with the landlord with respect and by following the law.

If a landlord doesn’t have any reason to report negative information about you as a tenant, it will help keep your rental history report looking good.

Find out what’s on your rental history report today, before you apply for your next apartment or rental home.

Have a Common Name? Check Your Rental History Report for Mistakes

Bob Smith? Chris Jones? Mary Anderson? Common names allow people to blend into the anonymity of data reported on the Internet very easily. But having a common name could also easily lead to incorrect information reported on background checks. And sometimes incorrect information can turn into negative information.

Human error happens all the time, and when it comes to connecting a name – any name – with information like rental history, criminal history or even credit reporting, mistakes can happen. Especially if there are multiple people with the same name living in the same city or county.

If you are a Bob Smith and are interested in renting an apartment or private home, before you apply, be sure to review your rental history report to make certain the information being reported about you (and connected with your Social Security number) is correct. You’ll be able to see reports about your credit history, eviction notifications, sex offender listings, criminal records and even a history of your previous addresses – all information a landlord will evaluate to determine if you’re a good candidate to be a tenant. Be sure to correct any errors immediately.

And when you do apply, mention to the landlord that you have a common name, and request that they double check that the background check they conduct goes by your Social Security number, in addition to your name. This will help ensure they see the correct information about you.