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Does a Dismissed Eviction Show Up When You Rent in Texas?
Many renters are surprised to learn that an eviction case can hurt their application even if they won it or it was dismissed. In Texas, the case becomes a public record the day it's filed, and screening companies report filings, not just judgments. Here's how it works and how to get approved anyway.
- In Texas, an eviction case is a public court record as soon as it's filed.
- Dismissed and settled cases can still appear on tenant screening reports.
- Under federal law, screening companies generally can't report civil suits and judgments older than 7 years.
- Texas has no general way to seal or expunge eviction records.
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Why a dismissed case still shows up
Tenant screening companies pull eviction filings from court records. Some reports show the outcome, and some only show that a case was filed. Automated scoring systems often treat any filing as a risk, so a dismissed case can still lead to a denial.
Researchers at Rice University's Kinder Institute make the same point in their 2026 Harris County eviction analysis: a filing can follow you even when the tenant wins.
How long it can follow you
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act generally stops consumer reporting companies, including tenant screening companies, from reporting civil suits and judgments that are more than seven years old. The court record itself stays public, but after about seven years most screening reports drop it.
Texas doesn't have a general process to seal or expunge eviction records, so what helps most is getting your application in front of properties that look past it, which is what we do.
How we help with a dismissed or old eviction
A dismissed or old eviction shouldn't keep you out of a home. Our team handles the hard part:
- Tell us about the case upfront. A Houston Counselor reviews your situation one-on-one.
- Bring your dismissal order, settlement or paid-in-full letter. We use it to show properties the full story.
- We match you with Partner Properties where a person reviews your full situation, including properties that accept a broken lease.
- We back your application and stay with you until you're approved and moving in.
Get approved despite your past
See if you qualify for one of our 96 Partner Properties, most in Houston, or call 713-992-3000.
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