Under the federal FCRA, eviction cases and judgments generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old, though a judgment can be reported longer if the governing statute of limitations has not expired. Some states set shorter limits.
An eviction case is a civil lawsuit, so the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s limits on reporting civil suits and judgments apply when a tenant screening company includes it in a report.
The federal rule
Section 1681c(a)(2) bars a consumer reporting agency from reporting civil suits, civil judgments, and records of arrest that, from the date of entry, are more than seven years old, or until the governing statute of limitations has expired, whichever is longer. In practice:
- Eviction filings generally age off after seven years from the date of entry.
- Eviction judgments can sometimes be reported longer if the statute of limitations on the judgment has not run.
- Unpaid rent sent to collection is generally limited to seven years under § 1681c(a)(4).
The seven-year limits in § 1681c(b) have exceptions for credit, insurance, and high-salary employment, but none of those exceptions covers renting a home.
Old is not the only problem
Even a recent eviction case must be reported accurately. Under § 1681e(b), a screening company must follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. Common problems include:
- a case reported without its outcome, such as a dismissal or a judgment for the tenant,
- a judgment shown as unpaid after it was satisfied,
- a case filed against a different person with a similar name, or
- one case listed more than once.
The CFPB’s November 2022 report on the tenant screening market identified public records, including eviction records, as one of three areas of challenges for renters.
State law
Some states and cities seal eviction records or restrict how they can be reported or considered. Check the rules where you live and where you are applying.
If a screening report included an eviction that was too old or reported incorrectly, a free case review can help you understand your options, with no fee unless we win.
Related
- Tenant screening lawsuits
- How to Dispute a Tenant Screening Report: Evictions, Sealed Records and Wrong-Person Errors
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681e (Cornell LII)
- CFPB: Tenant Background Checks Market (Nov. 2022)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.