What landlords and property managers are actually checking

An apartment background check is a report a landlord orders about your rental history, criminal record, credit, and sometimes employment. The landlord uses it to decide whether to rent to you. What shows up depends on which company runs the check and what the landlord paid for — there is no single standard report.

Most checks include criminal history (felonies and misdemeanors), eviction records, credit score and payment history, and previous landlord references. Some also pull employment verification, income records, or driving history. The landlord decides what to order and what to care about; there is no legal requirement that they check anything specific.

You have the right to know that a check is being run. The landlord must tell you in writing before they order it, and you can request a copy of the report afterward. If you are denied housing based on the report, the landlord must tell you which company ran it and give you a way to dispute inaccurate information.

Key Takeaways

  • Criminal history, eviction records, and credit reports are the most common items landlords check, though what appears varies by state and what the landlord paid for.
  • A felony or misdemeanor will show up on a background check, but landlords cannot automatically reject you for a conviction — they must consider how old it is and what it was for.
  • An eviction record stays on your report for seven years in most states, even if you won the case or settled with the landlord.
  • You have the right to see your own background report and to dispute anything that is wrong before the landlord makes a decision.
  • Late payments, collections, and high credit card balances show up on credit reports, but a low score alone does not disqualify you — landlords weigh it differently.

Criminal history and what landlords see

A background check will show felonies and misdemeanors from your criminal record. What appears depends on the state: some reports go back seven years, others go back ten, and a few states allow reports to go back further. Sealed or expunged records should not appear, but errors happen — if you had a record sealed, you can dispute it on the report.

Landlords cannot automatically reject you because of a conviction. Federal law (the Fair Housing Act) and many state laws require landlords to consider the age of the conviction, what crime it was, and how it relates to being a tenant. A drug conviction from 15 years ago and a recent assault charge are treated differently. Some landlords have written policies about this; others decide case by case.

Arrests that did not result in conviction should not appear on a rental background check, though they sometimes do by mistake. If you were arrested but the charges were dropped or you were found not guilty, you can dispute that information with the background check company.

Eviction records and how long they stay visible

An eviction record shows up on a background check if you were sued for eviction, whether you lost the case, won it, or settled. The record includes the court case number, the date filed, the reason (nonpayment, lease violation, end of lease), and the outcome. It stays on your report for seven years in most states, though some states keep it longer.

Landlords treat evictions seriously because they show you have been in a legal dispute with a previous landlord. Even if you won the case or the eviction was dismissed, the filing itself appears on the report. Some landlords will not rent to anyone with an eviction on record; others will rent to you if the eviction was years ago or if you can explain what happened.

If the eviction record is inaccurate — for example, if it lists the wrong address or outcome — you can dispute it with the background check company. You will need documentation from the court (a case dismissal, judgment, or settlement agreement) to prove the error.

Credit reports and what shows up

A credit check shows your credit score, payment history, outstanding debts, and collections accounts. Landlords use this to see whether you have paid bills on time in the past. Late payments stay on your credit report for seven years; collections accounts stay for seven years from the date of first delinquency.

A low credit score does not automatically disqualify you. Landlords weigh credit differently — some require a minimum score (often 600 or 650), others look at recent payment history rather than the score itself, and some do not check credit at all. If you have recent late payments but an older eviction, a landlord might focus on the eviction instead.

Landlords also see how much debt you carry relative to your income. If your monthly debt payments are more than 40 or 50 percent of your gross income, some landlords will deny you. This is separate from your credit score — you can have good credit and still be rejected if your debt-to-income ratio is too high.

Rental history and previous landlord references

A background check includes your rental history — where you have lived, how long you stayed, and whether you paid rent on time. This information comes from credit reports, eviction databases, and sometimes from the background check company contacting previous landlords directly.

Previous landlords can tell the current landlord whether you paid rent late, damaged the unit, or broke the lease. They can also say you were a good tenant. What they say is not verified by the background check company; the current landlord decides how much weight to give it. If a previous landlord gives you a bad reference and it is inaccurate, you can ask the current landlord to contact other landlords or to let you provide your own references.

Gaps in your rental history (periods when you owned a home, lived with family, or were homeless) will show up as missing information. Landlords sometimes ask about these gaps. Being honest about why you were not renting is better than leaving it unexplained.

Employment verification and income checks

Some landlords order employment verification as part of the background check. This means the background check company contacts your employer to confirm you work there and what your income is. Other landlords skip this and ask you to provide pay stubs or a letter from your employer instead.

If the background check company cannot reach your employer or gets conflicting information, the landlord will usually ask you to provide documentation yourself. Bring recent pay stubs (usually the last two months), a letter from your employer on company letterhead, or a tax return if you are self-employed.

Income verification is separate from the background check itself — it is used to make sure you earn enough to afford the rent. Most landlords require that your monthly income be at least 2.5 to 3 times the monthly rent. If you do not meet this threshold, you may be asked to provide a co-signer or to pay a higher security deposit.

What does not show up on a background check

Medical history, mental health records, and disability status do not appear on a standard background check. Landlords are not allowed to ask about these things or to use them to reject you. If a landlord asks about your health or disability during the process process, that is illegal discrimination.

Bankruptcy appears on your credit report for seven to ten years depending on the type, but it is separate from a criminal or eviction background check. Some landlords care about bankruptcy; others do not. A bankruptcy from ten years ago is weighted less heavily than one from last year.

Traffic violations and minor infractions do not show up on rental background checks. Driving history is only pulled if the landlord specifically orders it, which is rare for apartment rentals.

How to get a copy of your background check and dispute errors

You have the right to see the background report the landlord received about you. Ask the landlord or property manager for the name and contact information of the background check company. Then contact that company directly and request a copy of your report. You may have to provide identification and pay a small fee, though some companies provide one free copy per year.

If something on the report is wrong — a criminal conviction that was expunged, an eviction that was dismissed, a late payment you actually made on time, or an address that is not yours — you can dispute it. The background check company must investigate your dispute within 30 days and correct or remove inaccurate information. You will need documentation to support your dispute: court records, payment receipts, or letters from previous landlords.

If the landlord denies you housing based on the background check, they must tell you in writing which company ran the check and give you contact information so you can dispute it. You have the right to explain your side of the story to the landlord before they make a final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a misdemeanor show up on my background check?

Yes, misdemeanors appear on rental background checks just like felonies do. However, landlords cannot automatically reject you for a misdemeanor — they must consider how old it is and whether it relates to being a tenant. A shoplifting conviction from 20 years ago and a recent one are treated very differently.

How long does an eviction stay on my record?

An eviction record stays on your background report for seven years in most states. Some states keep it longer. The seven years starts from the date the eviction was filed, not from the date it was resolved. Even if you won the case, the filing itself remains visible.

Can a landlord reject me because of my credit score?

A landlord can consider your credit score, but they cannot reject you based on score alone if it is the result of discrimination. Some landlords have a minimum score requirement; others look at recent payment history instead. If you have a low score but can explain why (medical debt, job loss), some landlords will still rent to you.

What if the background check has wrong information about me?

Contact the background check company directly and file a dispute. Provide documentation that proves the information is wrong — court records, payment receipts, or letters from previous landlords. The company must investigate within 30 days and correct or remove inaccurate information. You can also ask the landlord to consider your explanation before they make a decision.

Do landlords check driving history?

Most landlords do not order driving history checks for apartment rentals. Driving history is only pulled if the landlord specifically requests it, which is uncommon. Criminal and eviction records, credit, and rental history are the standard checks.