Can Landlord Refuse to Rent To Me After Bankruptcy?

When you file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy the information will remain on your credit report for a landlord to see for seven years after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and ten years after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This information appearing on your credit may hurt your ability to rent a property, but there are strategies that you can employ to increase your chances of renting a house or apartment.

How to Get a Rental After Bankruptcy

While there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to rent a house or apartment after bankruptcy, landlords may consider other factors when making the decision. Things like the amount of income you have, your employment history, that status of your bankruptcy case, and how long ago you completed bankruptcy can all factor into the equation. For example, if your bankruptcy case is completed and you received a discharge more than two or three years ago, the landlord may be more willing to consider renting to you.

Additionally, landlords are much more likely to consider renters with a bankruptcy on their credit who have steady employment. Showing your landlord your employment history can be a deciding factor if you can show you have been employed at the same job for a long period of time, have no employment gaps, and have a wage history that will allow you to make on-time rent payments.

Strategies for Renting After Bankruptcy

Make sure you are upfront with your landlord about your bankruptcy before they run a credit check. It’s better to be proactive in explaining versus waiting for them to check your credit and make their own assumptions. Additionally, if you have been renting previously, giving the landlord rent payment records that demonstrate a solid track record of on-time rental payments, you can increase your chances in convincing the landlord that there won’t be any issues.