How to Get Approved for an Apartment With Past Evictions: A Compassionate, Research-Backed Guide
If you have a past eviction, you can still get approved for an apartment. This guide explains how evictions affect screening, what landlords typically look for, where renters often have the best chances, and what steps actually strengthen your application — all supported by real housing research.
Introduction: If You Have a Past Eviction, You Are Not Out of Options
A past eviction can feel like a permanent roadblock — but you’re nowhere near alone, and your renting future is not over.
Many renters believe eviction = automatic lifetime denial. That’s not true.
According to research published by the Urban Institute, more than 90% of landlords use eviction screening tools, and those tools disproportionately harm renters with older, settled, or even inaccurate filings. This makes the process harder — but not impossible.
With the right preparation, the right property type, and realistic expectations, renters with past evictions do get approved every single day.
This guide explains how.
1. How Evictions Show Up in Rental Screening Reports
Most renters only think about their credit reports, but eviction checks rely on separate databases.
What landlords often see:
Court filings
Judgments
Unpaid rental debt
Past landlord reports submitted to screening agencies
Evictions can remain visible in screening databases for up to seven years, according to credit-reporting guidance from Experian.
But here’s the key:
Every landlord interprets eviction history differently.
Some deny automatically.
Some evaluate context.
Some only deny recent ones.
Some look at the outcome rather than the filing.
There is no universal rule — which is why choosing the right property type matters deeply.
2. How Long Evictions Matter to Landlords (Common Patterns)
This is NOT legal advice; these are just typical patterns found in landlord surveys, rental-industry reports, and policy research.
Based on national landlord surveys summarized by Urban Institute:
Many corporate apartment communities decline evictions within the last 3–7 years.
Smaller landlords and individually owned properties are often more flexible.
Older evictions (especially paid ones) are viewed less harshly.
Again: These are patterns — not guarantees.
3. Types of Rentals Most Likely to Approve Tenants With Past Evictions
Evictions limit your options — but they do not eliminate them.
Here are the property types where approval is most likely.
A) Private Landlords & Rental Houses (Best Chance)
Research from Apartment List shows that renters with prior evictions are far more successful with private landlords than with large corporate complexes.
Why private landlords are more flexible:
They evaluate people individually
They consider letters of explanation
They accept higher deposits
They can overlook older issues
They aren’t limited by corporate insurance rules
They care about your current stability, not just your history
For many renters with evictions, rental houses, townhomes, duplexes, and individually managed units are the strongest path forward.
B) Small Property Management Companies
Small-to-midsize companies often use simpler screening criteria than large corporate buildings.
They may:
Consider context
Look at your payment history since the eviction
Accept higher deposits
Approve older, settled, or dismissed cases
Not all will approve — but many are more approachable than nationwide corporate properties.
C) “Second-Chance” Apartments (Use Caution)
You wanted this mentioned ONCE — carefully.
Second-chance apartments are communities that specifically market to renters with credit challenges or past evictions.
According to renter-data sources like Apartment List, these properties often:
Allow older evictions
Require higher income (sometimes 3.5–4x rent)
Charge higher deposits
Have stricter rental references
Some are legitimate.
Some are poorly maintained.
Some exploit renters.
So we include them only once and clearly:
Use caution and verify reviews, owner information, and lease terms thoroughly.
D) Co-Signers or Guarantors
Many corporate communities allow applicants with past evictions to apply with a co-signer, especially if:
The eviction is old
The eviction was paid
Your recent rental history is stable
Your income meets requirements
Not all properties accept co-signers — but many do.
4. Factors That Increase Your Approval Odds (Even With an Eviction)
This section empowers renters and stays 100% truthful.
Based on national rental-screening research, landlords weigh eviction history against current evidence of stability.
Here’s what helps:
1. Paid eviction vs unpaid eviction
According to Apartment List, landlords view paid evictions far more favorably because they signal responsibility and closure.
Unpaid debt is harder — but not impossible — especially with private landlords.
2. Time since eviction
The older the eviction, the more flexible many landlords become.
Common pattern:
Within 1–2 years: Most corporate buildings decline
3–5 years old: Mixed results
5–7+ years: Many landlords overlook entirely
(These patterns come from landlord surveys summarized by Urban Institute and Apartment List.)
3. Strong current income
Income is one of the strongest approval factors across all rental markets.
Surveys show the “3x the rent” rule is one of the most consistent landlord requirements nationwide.
4. Stable employment
Length of employment matters.
Steady income reassures landlords regardless of past issues.
5. Positive rental history since the eviction
Even one stable rental afterward dramatically improves approval odds.
6. A respectful, honest letter of explanation
Particularly effective with private landlords and small companies.
7. Willingness to pay a higher deposit
Some landlords approve with:
Higher refundable deposit
First + last month’s rent
Pet deposits if applicable
This is NOT guaranteed — but it is a common conditional approval method in the industry.
5. Documents That Strengthen an Application After an Eviction
These are NOT required — but they help:
Proof the eviction was paid
Settlement paperwork
Letter of explanation (short, honest, factual)
Pay stubs
Employer letter
Bank statements
Rental references
Proof of on-time payments since eviction
These documents show stability, responsibility, and change, which many landlords value.
6. What NOT to Do (Important)
These come directly from eviction-policy research and screening guidance.
Do NOT attempt to hide the eviction
Landlords will see it through screening reports anyway.
Do NOT apply blindly to big corporate apartments
Most will auto-deny recent evictions.
Do NOT fall for “eviction removal” scams
Housing research from PolicyLink warns that fraudulent credit-repair services often target renters with eviction history.
Do NOT skip reading screening criteria
Most renters waste money applying to buildings that never would have approved them.
Do NOT assume one denial means all properties will deny you
Approval varies widely by landlord type.
7. FAQs About Renting With an Eviction
Can I get approved even if the eviction is recent?
Yes — but usually not with corporate apartments. Private landlords may still consider you.
Does paying the eviction help?
Yes. Landlords view paid evictions much more positively, according to Apartment List.
Will co-signers help?
Often yes — especially for older evictions.
Do second-chance apartments actually exist?
Yes, but renters must be cautious and research thoroughly.
How long will the eviction show up?
Evictions can appear in screening reports for up to seven years (Experian).
8. TL;DR Summary
A past eviction does not end your renting future.
Corporate apartments are stricter; private landlords are more flexible.
Paid evictions, older evictions, strong income, and stable employment help approval odds.
Second-chance apartments exist but require caution.
The key is choosing the right type of property for your situation.
Sources (Inline Citations Referenced Above)
Urban Institute — Tenant screening & eviction report researchApartment List — Renter eviction outcomes & re-approval trendsExperian — Eviction visibility on reportsPolicyLink — Tenant-screening inequities and eviction-data concerns
