How to Rent an Apartment With an Eviction

Why an eviction makes renting harder

Most landlords screen applicants through a tenant screening report, which can include eviction filings and judgments from court records. When an eviction shows up, many properties issue an automatic denial before anyone reads your story.

That automatic denial is a policy, not a verdict on you. Evictions happen for many reasons: a job loss, a medical emergency, a dispute with a landlord, or a family crisis. Properties that review applications individually can see the difference between a one-time setback and a pattern.

Step 1: Know exactly what is on your record

Before you apply anywhere, find out what a landlord will see. Tenant screening companies are covered by federal consumer reporting law, and you generally have the right to request a copy of your report and to dispute information that is wrong. Check the case details too, since a filing that was dismissed or settled should not look like a judgment against you.

Court records are separate from screening reports. You can usually look up a Texas eviction case through the county justice court where it was filed. Write down the date, the outcome and whether any balance is still owed.

• Request your tenant screening report and read every entry.
• Look up the court case and confirm the outcome.
• Dispute anything incorrect, and keep a copy of your dispute.
• Note any unpaid balance, since that often matters as much as the eviction itself.

Step 2: Clear up what you can

If you owe a former landlord money, paying it or setting up a payment plan can change how your application reads. Ask for a written letter confirming the balance is paid. A landlord who sees an old eviction with the debt settled will often view it more kindly than one with a balance still open.

Also gather proof of steady income, recent pay stubs and a list of current references. Recent stability is the strongest counterweight to an old problem.

Step 3: Be upfront and prepared

Hiding an eviction usually backfires, because it will surface in screening and can lead to a denial for the omission alone. Instead, prepare a short, honest explanation: what happened, what has changed, and what you can show now. Keep it factual and calm.

Where you apply matters as much as how. Every application typically costs a fee, and repeated denials add up. Avoid applying to properties with a flat no-evictions policy.

Step 4: Apply where evictions are reviewed case by case

Some properties will consider an application with an eviction. The hard part is knowing which ones before you pay to find out. That is where Done Deal Cosign helps. We work with 121+ partner properties in Houston, and a counselor reviews your situation and points you to properties where you have a real chance of being approved. More than 10,000 Houstonians have been approved through us since 2014.

Our general guideline is two or fewer rental issues, such as evictions, broken leases or unpaid landlord balances. If you are not pre-approved within 7 days, the Initial Fee is refunded.

What to avoid

Be careful with anyone who promises to erase an eviction for a fee. Legitimate paths exist in some situations, such as an eviction that was filed in error or one that can be sealed through the court, but outcomes vary and you may want to speak with a licensed attorney or a legal aid organization about your case.

Also avoid paying large deposits or fees to a property before you have a written lease and a receipt. Ask what is refundable and get the answer in writing.

A realistic timeline

If you need housing soon, skip the lengthy cleanup and start with the steps that move fastest: confirm what is on your record, gather income proof and talk to a counselor about partner properties. If you have more time, resolving old balances and adding months of steady rent history will improve every future application.

Frequently asked questions