You can ask the judge to give you a “money judgment,” in the amount of the rent the tenant owes you. A money judgment means that the tenant is legally required to pay you that amount of money plus interest. This is called “garnishing” the tenant’s wages or bank accounts.

How do you stop a sheriff lockout?

You can take an appeal from the judgment of unlawful detainer, but this doesn’t automatically stop the eviction process or the sheriff lockout in California. Your best bet at this stage is to ask the court for a stay of eviction. This is a legal document, but there is no California form for it.

Is it possible to rent an apartment with a judgment?

Owing a landlord money, losing an eviction case, or having a court judgment against you can put black marks on your tenant record, making it virtually impossible to rent an apartment owned by a large property management company. Smaller landlords may rent their apartments without a tenant screening check.

What happens if you have a civil judgment against you?

When you have a civil judgment against you, the apartment owner has several ways to collect on the judgment. Your wages can be garnished, your bank accounts can be levied and even your personal property could be seized.

How long does it take to get a civil judgment off your credit?

If you are able to, pay the money you owe on your judgment as quickly as you can. Once the judgment has been paid in full, many states have regulations in place that will remove the judgment from your credit record within thirty days.

What to do if you have a judgment on your property?

Short of having significant cash resources, a potential tenant can appeal to a property owner or management company if he can demonstrate fiscal responsibility. The most basic path is to make sure the judgment has been fully satisfied, meaning that it’s paid off.