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Can I rent an apartment after filing for bankruptcy?

Writer Robert Bradley

How Long Will It Take to Rent An Apartment? Most people will qualify for a rental within three months of a bankruptcy discharge. It is possible to rent or lease after bankruptcy–and depending on how you handle your fresh start, it may even be possible to become a homeowner again without waiting seven years.

Can you rent if you have declared bankruptcy?

You’re also protected by the law – provided you adhere to the housing rental agreement, the Bankruptcy Act ensures that you cannot legally be evicted solely because of being bankrupt. Being bankrupt could provide greater security for the landlord than you being insolvent.

Can you rent an apartment after filing bankruptcy?

Renting After Bankruptcy Most apartments require both rental history and credit checks before agreeing to rent an apartment. Many apartment complexes won’t be willing to rent to you if you’ve filed for bankruptcy up to two years beforehand, so you can expect it to be somewhat difficult to obtain housing during this period.

What to bring when applying for an apartment if you file bankruptcy?

If you’ve recently filed for bankruptcy, when you fill out rental applications, it might be a good idea to bring along proof of your income—such as pay stubs or bank statements—to show a potential landlord. A steady employment history will also help.

Can a landlord extend a lease after bankruptcy?

However, you must still pay rent, and when your lease comes due again, your landlord might not agree to extend it another term. Understand that the longer it has been since your bankruptcy, the less impact the bankruptcy will have when a potential landlord evaluates your rental fitness.

Where can I rent an apartment with no credit history?

You may also have some luck renting near a college or university campus, because landlords there will likely be accustomed to renting to students with little or no credit history, so they might have a little more wiggle room in their policies. At the end of the day, what your landlord cares about is that you can pay the rent on time each month.