How to Check for Evictions on Your Record

Getting evicted from a home or apartment is a legal process that is rarely forgotten. In order to be evicted, you would have received an eviction notice and the landlord would have to file an unlawful detainer with the court. If you had to vacate a property in an emergency and did not make appropriate arrangements with the owner, the owner may have pursued an eviction in your absence in order to reclaim the property and collect past-due rents. Having an eviction on your record could cause your application for housing or credit to be denied.

Instructions

Finding out if there is an eviction on your record

1

Make a list of all the residences you have lived. Writing out your past addresses may result in remembering if there was a past residence where the landlord had grounds for eviction or where final financial responsibilities were not met.

2

Obtain a copy of your credit report. If you owe the landlord money, there may be an entry on your credit report for the amount owed. Eviction records are recorded on your credit report when they are reported by the landlord, the landlord's attorney or a third-party reporting service. Check all three credit reporting agencies, because the eviction could show on the report of one, but not all agencies. The three credit reporting agencies are TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.

3

Check court records. Copies of eviction judgments can be found at the court where they were filed. You can access the court records by contacting the records department. You will be required to present photo identification. Some counties provide online access, making it easy to search eviction records from home.

4

Contact a past landlord. If you find an eviction listed on your credit report or through a court record search, you should contact the landlord. You may be able to pay any past due monies. Evictions can stay on your credit report for 10 years. Even if the monies are paid, you may still have a difficult time finding a landlord to rent to you.