After you file for bankruptcy, you may feel like this will follow you around forever. Any time someone pulls up your credit score, your bankruptcy will be sitting there (at least for the next 7 to 10 years). This can feel like a massive burden, especially when you are trying to start over and move on with your life after filing for bankruptcy. If you are hoping to rent an apartment or a house after you file for bankruptcy, the landlord will most likely see that you have filed for bankruptcy and this may be the point where the landlord chooses not to rent to you. However, this is not always the case.
What things can help change my eligibility to rent an apartment?
Remember, having a bankruptcy filing on your credit history does not automatically mean you will not be able to live your life. A landlord has the opportunity to look at other factors that will come into play regarding whether you would be a good tenant.
- Your employment history. If you have a solid employment history, then this can play a big role in whether or not a landlord will rent out an apartment or home to you. They may want to know how long you have been working at your job, how much you make, and what other kinds of jobs you have had. An employment gap is not necessarily a bad thing.
- Show your payment history. If you have receipts or invoices that can show you paid your rent or mortgage on time and consistently, this can be positive. Many people are still able to make their rent even if they are in credit card debt.
- Use your filing date to your advantage. In the first few years after you have filed for bankruptcy, this can still be so fresh that a landlord will be hesitant to let you rent. However, if it has been a few years, the bankruptcy will be less and less a reason that someone does not want to rent to you.
- Show that you are making payments. While you may have filed for bankruptcy, you can show that you are now making your credit card payments on time and making them consistently. This can go a long way in showing that you have started over and are working hard to be stable financially.
If you are having financial difficulties and are interested in seeing if bankruptcy is the right course of action to take, reach out to a lawyer you can trust, like a bankruptcy lawyer from a law firm like Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols today.