Tenant eviction check

Know eviction history before handing over the keys.

Run an eviction check now and see housing court filings and judgments, giving you a fuller picture of your next tenant.

Housing court search

Sample result
Unlawful detainer
Clear
Judgments
Clear
Nationwide search
Clear
Included from Essential ($34.99)
Sample eviction check result. Actual results returned depend on the applicant and jurisdiction.
FCRA Compliant Nationwide court search Included from Essential Same-day results

What is a tenant eviction check?

A tenant eviction check, also called an eviction history check, searches housing court records for eviction filings and judgments on a prospective renter, with their written consent, so a landlord can evaluate them before approving a lease. With Checkr Tenant, the search covers 49 states, South Dakota excluded, and results come back the same day, right alongside credit and criminal background results.

Inside a tenant eviction check

Housing court findings before it's your problem.

Checkr is an industry leader in background checks, running 65M+ checks a year across every industry in the U.S. An eviction check for tenant screening searches housing court records directly, not a secondhand list that goes stale. Each section opens with a clear summary, so you can read it in minutes instead of digging through raw court filings.

Unlawful detainer

The legal filing that starts most evictions, surfaced whether or not the case ended in a judgment.

Judgments

Court judgments for nonpayment, lease violations, or holdover actions, with the outcome, not just a flag.

Case detail

Filing date and case number behind every record, so you can verify it instead of taking a red flag on faith.

Nationwide search

30M+ records scanned in one pass across housing courts in 49 states, South Dakota excluded.

Case timeline

Each case moves through filing, hearing, judgment, and possession, so you see where it actually landed, not just that a filing exists.

Identity match

Matched using the applicant's Social Security number and date of birth, the same identity details used across every check in the report.

This is the same direct-to-source court records search behind Checkr Trust, covering 99% of the U.S. population. Other providers lean on static, secondhand databases that miss recent filings. Checkr pulls fresh, accurate, and comprehensive data straight from the source, so you see the full picture before you approve a lease.

What's reportable can vary by state and local law. Search coverage spans 49 states, South Dakota excluded; actual results depend on the applicant and jurisdiction.

Why this matters right now

Fraud hides in what applicants don't tell you.

You rarely find out someone concealed an eviction until after they've already moved in. By then, undoing it means housing court, a vacant unit, and bills you didn't budget for.

Checkr's recent 2026 State of Rental Fraud report surveyed 1,400 landlords and property managers and found 65% approved an applicant who had concealed eviction history or a criminal record.

Skipping the eviction check on a good-looking application is the gap where fraud can slip through. Running it with Checkr Tenant is one of the best ways to close that gap with no additional steps between you and a signed lease.

65%

of landlords approved an applicant who concealed a criminal record or eviction history

55%

have discovered or suspected the person who moved in wasn't the person who applied

48%

have evicted a tenant specifically because of fraud found during screening

46%

have lost at least $5,000 to a single fraudulent or bad-fit tenant

Source: Checkr's 2026 State of Rental Fraud report, based on a survey of 1,400 landlords and property managers conducted August 13-18, 2026. Read more about how Checkr is bringing screening into one platform to close gaps like this one.

Know the rules

Rules vary by state and city.

An eviction filing isn't automatically the whole story. Beyond the federal FCRA, states and cities set their own rules for what shows up on a screening report. Check the rules in your state or city, and talk to your own counsel, before setting a screening policy.

Lookback periods
7 years

The FCRA's general cap on reporting most older non-judgment information. State and local law can set different limits, and some records may be reportable longer.

Filing vs. judgment
2 outcomes

A filing alone isn't a judgment. Some states limit or seal cases that were dismissed or where the tenant prevailed; others report the filing regardless of outcome.

Fair housing guidance
No blanket policies

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has published guidance cautioning that blanket screening policies can raise Fair Housing Act concerns.

This is general information, not legal advice. Screening policies should be reviewed with your own counsel against the laws where you rent.

FCRA compliant

Consent first. Then the search.

A landlord eviction check counts as a "consumer report" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), so it can only be requested after the applicant gives written consent. Checkr Tenant builds that consent step into every applicant's screening flow.

If a landlord decides not to approve an application because of something in the report, the FCRA's adverse action process requires giving the applicant notice, a copy of the report, and a chance to dispute anything inaccurate before the decision is final.

Applicants can read a plain-language breakdown of these rights in the FTC's guide to tenant background checks.

The consent flow, step by step
  1. 1
    Disclosure

    The applicant is told an eviction check will be run and by whom.

  2. 2
    Written consent

    The applicant authorizes the search on their phone before anything is requested.

  3. 3
    Report & dispute rights

    The applicant can review the report and dispute anything they believe is inaccurate.

How tenant eviction checks work

Run a tenant eviction check in minutes.

From signup to first report takes minutes, with results back the same day. The applicant does their part on their phone. You see live progress on your end.

  1. 1

    Make a free landlord account

    Takes about five minutes. No credit card. No contracts. Just your name, email, and the address of the place you're renting out.

  2. 2

    Pick Essential or Complete

    An eviction check is included starting with the Essential Package ($34.99), alongside credit and criminal history. Complete ($44.99) adds income and assets from the applicant's bank.

  3. 3

    Send the applicant a screening link

    We text or email the applicant. They open it on their phone, consent to the eviction check, and take a selfie with their ID. You decide who pays the screening fee, you or the applicant. You don't chase paperwork. (See what they see, on the right.)

  4. 4

    Read the report. Decide.

    Most eviction reports come back the same day. You get a notification, open the report, and see housing court filings and judgments right next to credit and criminal history.

One dashboard. Full picture.
Sample preview of Checkr Tenant applicant dashboard
Eviction
Criminal
Credit
Income
Identity

Eviction history in a single view beside everything else.

An eviction check is one signal. See it side by side with credit, criminal history, income, and identity so you have the whole picture in one place without switching between tools and platforms. Everything to give your most confident, “Yes.”

Eviction check pricing

Included from Essential.
You decide who pays.

An eviction check is included in both Essential and Complete. No monthly fees. No contracts. Pay per screening.

Starter
$24.99 per screening

Core criminal checks for landlords just getting started.

  • Criminal History Criminal History National criminal database search covering felony and misdemeanor records across 900M+ records from 2,400+ state and county data sources nationwide, plus county courthouse searches. National DB - State - County
  • Sex Offender Registry New Sex Offender Registry Checks U.S. public sex offender registries across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, tribal territories, and the federal NSOPW (National Sex Offender Public Website). 50 State Registries - DC - Tribal - NSOPW
  • Global Watchlist New Global Watchlist Search Searches a comprehensive list of government and regulatory watchlists. Denied Persons List - Interpol Most Wanted - OFAC Sanctions - FBI Most Wanted - And More
  • Identity Protection for $2.95
Start new screening
Includes eviction
Essential
$34.99 per screening

The complete picture: financials, rental history, and background in one report.

  • Everything in Starter
  • Full eviction history Full Eviction History Searches housing court records for eviction filings and judgments across 49 states, South Dakota excluded. State Housing Courts
  • Credit Score Credit Score Rental-specific credit scores that gives you the confidence you need to make informed decisions. Credit Report Agencies
  • Credit Report Credit Report Include payment history, number of open accounts, average payment per month, and credit utilization ratio. Credit Reporting Agencies
  • Identity Protection for $2.95
Start new screening
Includes eviction
Complete
$44.99 per screening

Adds income verification on top of the full background and eviction picture.

  • Everything in Essential
  • Income Information Income Verification Verifies income directly from the applicant's bank account. No pay stubs or uploads required. Bank Records
  • Assets & Bank Report Assets & Bank Verification Directly information from your renter's bank account, allowing you to know asset and income stream information from source. Bank Data
  • Identity Protection for $2.95
Start new screening

You decide who pays at checkout, you or the applicant. An eviction check is included starting with Essential.

Tenant eviction check FAQ

Quick answers

What is a tenant eviction check?

A tenant eviction check, also called an eviction history check, searches housing court records for eviction filings, judgments, and unlawful detainer actions on a prospective renter, with their written consent, so a landlord can evaluate them before approving a lease. Coverage spans 49 states, South Dakota excluded.

What shows up on a tenant eviction check?

A Checkr Tenant eviction check may show unlawful detainer filings and eviction judgments, along with the filing date, case number, and outcome. What's reportable can vary by state and local law, and some cases where the tenant prevailed or the matter was dismissed may not appear or may be sealed.

Is it legal for a landlord to run an eviction check on an applicant?

Yes, as long as the applicant gives written consent first and the landlord follows the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Checkr Tenant is FCRA compliant and captures that consent automatically as part of the applicant's screening flow.

How far back does a tenant eviction check go?

Under the FCRA, consumer reporting agencies generally cannot report most non-conviction and non-judgment information older than seven years, though state law can set different limits. Coverage windows and record availability vary by jurisdiction.

Can an eviction filing show up even if the tenant won the case?

It depends on the state. Some jurisdictions limit or seal records of eviction filings that were dismissed, resulted in the tenant prevailing, or never reached judgment; others report the filing regardless of outcome. This is one reason to read the full case status, not just whether a record exists.

How much does an eviction check for renters cost?

An eviction check is included starting with the Essential package at $34.99 per screening, and in Complete at $44.99. It is not included in Starter. You decide who pays at checkout, you or the applicant.

How long does a tenant eviction check take?

Most tenant eviction checks come back the same day, often within minutes. The applicant consents and verifies their identity on their phone, and whichever of you is paying completes checkout there too.

How does an eviction check help prevent rental fraud?

Checkr's 2026 State of Rental Fraud report found that 65% of landlords and property managers approved an applicant who had concealed a criminal record or eviction history, and 48% have evicted a tenant specifically because they discovered fraud during the application process. An eviction check surfaces housing court history the applicant did not volunteer, closing one of the gaps fraud slips through.

Get started

Run a tenant eviction check today.

Make a free landlord account and send your first screening invite in under five minutes. You decide who pays, you or the applicant.

Run an eviction check

An eviction check is included from Essential, so you find out before you're the one stuck in housing court.

Included from Essential ($34.99) - FCRA compliant - You decide who pays

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