Real NEastate: Will an eviction hold me back from renting?

Q: I wanted to rent a house in Castor Gardens, but the owner turned me down flat because I have had a past eviction. I never got the chance to explain the eviction, but it was not my fault. How can I find a rental that won’t care about the eviction?

A: In this economy and housing atmosphere, rentals are in high demand these days so landlords can afford to be picky about their tenants. Job stability is a concern. A low credit score may be a problem. And any past evictions will definitely be a deterrent in finding a rental.

Landlords need to protect their investment. If they lease to someone that is likely to default, they are risking more than just the rent. There may be a mortgage they have to cover as well. Plus there are the legal fees involved in having to evict someone.

It will not be easy to find a landlord that would not check into your background so I suggest never lie about the eviction. If, in fact, the eviction was not your fault, you’d be smart to prepare an explanation and attach it to your application. Maybe you’ll find a forgiving landlord that will take that into account.

Good luck!

Stacey McCarthy is a real estate agent with the McCarthy Group of Keller Williams. Her Real NEastate column appears every Wednesday on NEastPhilly.com. See others here. Read other NEast Philly columns here.