Does an eviction go on my credit report?

The Short Answer

While the eviction proceeding itself isn't reported to credit bureaus, the financial fallout often is. Collection accounts for unpaid rent and court judgments can appear on your credit report and damage your score for up to seven years.

What You Need to Know

Eviction filings become part of the public court record, and many tenant screening companies include this information in their reports. Even if you win the case or it's dismissed, the filing may still show up on screening reports. Some states have enacted laws requiring screening companies to exclude dismissed or sealed eviction cases, but this protection isn't universal.

If your landlord sends unpaid rent or damages to a collection agency, that collection account will appear on your credit report and can drop your score significantly. A court judgment ordering you to pay back rent has a similar effect. These marks typically remain on your report for seven years from the date of the delinquency. Some landlords also report payment history directly to credit bureaus, though this is less common.

How to Protect Yourself

If facing eviction, try to negotiate a settlement that includes the landlord not reporting to collections and agreeing to seal the court record. If an old eviction appears on screening reports despite being dismissed, dispute it directly with the screening company. Check your reports regularly through annualcreditreport.com.