How a Broken Lease Impacts Your Ability to Rent

How does an eviction affect my ability to rent?

‍An eviction filing can immediately affect your ability to get approved for a rental, as it signals high risk to landlords and property managers during the tenant screening process.

County Public Court Records

‍An eviction can significantly impact your ability to rent in the future. Once an eviction is filed, it immediately becomes part of the public court record, even if the case is later dismissed or resolved. Many landlords and property managers view an eviction as high risk, often associating it with non-payment or lease violations. As a result, you may face limited rental options and outright denial of your rental application.

‍It’s important to understand that in the State of Texas, civil court records including eviction filings cannot be expunged or sealed, regardless of the case outcome. Once filed and accepted by the court, these records become part of the public record and remain permanently accessible unless specific statutory authority allows otherwise.

Under Texas Government Code § 552.003(1)(B) and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, civil case records are considered public information and are subject to disclosure unless sealed by a court order, something rarely granted in eviction cases. Unlike criminal records, Texas law does not provide a general mechanism for expunging or sealing civil matters, including landlord and tenant disputes. This means that even if an eviction case is dismissed or a judgment is satisfied, the filing itself may still appear in background or tenant screening reports.

For more information on how we can help you get approved for an apartment, even with a past or active eviction, contact us today to learn more about our Second Chance Apartment Program at (713) 322-4799.

Consumer Reporting Agencies

‍An eviction, regardless of the outcome, can be reported to consumer reporting agencies that specialize in tenant screening and share data with landlords, apartment communities, and property managers. While an eviction does not appear on your traditional credit report (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion), it can still show up on tenant screening reports for up to 7 years, which many landlords rely on during the application process. The reporting of information to consumer reporting agencies is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which sets strict guidelines to ensure accuracy, fairness, and privacy in the handling of consumer data.

‍These tenant screening reports may include details such as past evictions, payment history, broken leases, and court filings, even if the case was later dismissed or the judgment was satisfied. As a result, an eviction filing can significantly affect your ability to secure future housing. Below is a list of commonly used consumer reporting agencies that share data when a tenant screening report is requested:

1. Contemporary Information Corp (CIC): https://www.cicreports.com/consumer-assistance/
2. Experian Rent Bureau: www.experian.com/rentbureau
3. First Advantage: https://fadv.com/industries/residential-tenant-background-checks/
4. Leasing Desk (RealPage): www.realpage.com/support/consumer
5. LexisNexis: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/consumer
6. Rent Grow (Yardi): https://www.rentgrow.com/learn-now/
7. SafeRent: https://saferentsolutions.com/consumer-support/

If your rental application is denied, you have the right to ask the property management company which consumer reporting agency was used in making the decision. You’re also entitled to request a free copy of your report directly from that agency to review the information that may have impacted your application.

For more information on how we can help you get approved for an apartment, even with a past or active eviction, contact us today to learn more about our Second Chance Apartment Program at (713) 322-4799.

Rental Reference Check

As part of the tenant screening process, many property management companies will conduct reference checks, particularly by contacting your previous and current landlords or property managers. This step helps them verify your rental history beyond what appears in public court records, credit reports, and consumer reports. When reaching out to your former property, the new landlord may ask questions such as:

1. Did the tenant pay rent on time?
2. Were there any lease violations, complaints, or property damage?
3. Did the tenant fulfill the lease terms and give proper notice before moving out?
4. Would you rent to this tenant again?

‍These direct landlord references provide critical insight into your reliability as a renter and can strongly influence the outcome of your application. It's a good idea to inform your previous landlord that they may be contacted and to ensure your rental history is accurately reflected in their internal records.

For more information on how we can help you get approved for an apartment, even with a past or active eviction, contact us today to learn more about our Second Chance Apartment Program at (713) 322-4799.