How to Remove Eviction Records From the Internet

An eviction record can be one of the most damaging pieces of information attached to your name. Even if the case was dismissed, decided in your favor, or resulted from circumstances beyond your control, the mere existence of an eviction filing can cause landlords to reject your application. Worse, eviction records spread across court databases, tenant screening reports, and data broker sites, making them visible to anyone who searches for your name. Here is how to get them removed.

Understanding How Eviction Records Spread

When an eviction case is filed, it becomes part of the public court record in most jurisdictions. From there, the information is picked up by multiple sources:

• Court databases: County and state court systems maintain electronic case records that are often searchable online
• Tenant screening companies: Services like TransUnion SmartMove, RentPrep, and AppFolio pull eviction filings from court records and include them in rental background check reports
• Data brokers and people-search sites: Aggregators scrape court records and publish eviction information alongside other personal data
• Public records databases: Sites specializing in court records make eviction filings searchable by name

This means that even a single eviction filing — regardless of outcome — can appear in multiple places online and follow you for years.

Legal Options for Removing Eviction Records

Court-Ordered Expungement

Expungement is the most thorough form of removal. When a court grants an expungement, the eviction record is either destroyed or sealed so that it no longer appears in public searches. You are generally eligible to petition for expungement if:

• The case was dismissed by the court
• The judgment was ruled in your favor
• You experienced a COVID-19 hardship that led to the filing (several jurisdictions created special provisions for pandemic-related evictions)
• You settled with the landlord and both parties agreed to vacate the judgment
• A specified period of time has passed since the case was resolved

The process typically involves filing a motion with the court that handled the original case, paying a filing fee, and in some cases attending a hearing. An attorney or legal aid organization can help you navigate the specific requirements in your jurisdiction.

Automatic Sealing Laws

A growing number of states have enacted laws that automatically seal eviction records under certain conditions, without requiring the tenant to petition the court. As of 2026, states with some form of automatic eviction sealing include:

• California — automatically seals eviction records when the case is decided in the tenant's favor
• Colorado — seals records of dismissed eviction cases
• Illinois — provides automatic sealing for cases that did not result in a judgment against the tenant
• Minnesota — seals eviction records when the case is dismissed or the tenant prevails
• Nevada — automatically seals certain eviction records after a waiting period

Additional states including Oregon, Washington, and Connecticut have passed or are considering similar legislation. Check with your local court or a tenant rights organization to determine what protections apply in your state.

Remove Evictions From Tenant Screening Reports

Even after an eviction record is sealed or expunged by the court, the information may continue to appear on tenant screening reports used by landlords. This is because screening companies maintain their own databases and do not always update them promptly when court records change.

Dispute Under the FCRA

Tenant screening reports are considered consumer reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This means you have the legal right to:

1. Request a copy of your report — any screening company that has a file on you must provide a copy upon request
2. Dispute inaccurate or outdated information — if an eviction has been sealed, expunged, or is otherwise inaccurate, you can file a formal dispute
3. Require the company to investigate — the screening company must investigate your dispute within 30 days and correct or remove information that cannot be verified

The FTC has confirmed that consumers can dispute errors on tenant background check reports just as they would errors on a credit report. The CFPB also advises tenants to review their rental background check reports and dispute any inaccuracies.

Major Tenant Screening Companies to Contact

File disputes with each of the following companies that may have your eviction record:

• TransUnion (including SmartMove and ShareAble for Hires)
• Experian RentBureau
• Equifax
• CoreLogic (rental screening division)
• RentPrep
• AppFolio
• National Tenant Network

Negotiate a Pay-for-Delete Agreement

If you owe a balance to a former landlord and the eviction resulted from unpaid rent, a pay-for-delete agreement may be an option. In this arrangement, you negotiate with the landlord to pay the outstanding balance (or a portion of it) in exchange for the landlord agreeing to:

• File a joint motion to vacate the eviction judgment
• Request dismissal or stipulated settlement of the case
• Notify tenant screening companies to remove the record

Always get a pay-for-delete agreement in writing before making any payment, and confirm that the landlord will follow through on their end. An attorney can help draft the agreement to ensure it is enforceable.

Remove Eviction Data From Data Broker Sites

Even after a court seals your record and screening companies update their databases, your eviction information may persist on data broker sites and people-search engines. These sites scrape court records independently and do not automatically update when records are sealed. Your eviction details may still be visible on sites like:

• People-search engines (Spokeo, BeenVerified, TruePeopleSearch)
• Public records aggregators (Intelius, PeopleFinders)
• Court records sites (UniCourt, Judyrecords)

Removing your information from each of these sites individually is time-consuming and often temporary — many will re-add your data the next time they refresh their databases. PrivacyOn monitors over 100 data broker sites and automatically submits removal requests whenever your personal information is found, including eviction records and other court data that may have been scraped before sealing.

Get Help From Tenant Rights Organizations

If you are unsure where to start, tenant rights organizations and legal aid offices can provide free assistance with:

• Determining whether you are eligible for expungement or sealing
• Filing the necessary court paperwork
• Disputing inaccurate screening reports under the FCRA
• Negotiating with former landlords
• Understanding your rights under state and local tenant protection laws

Organizations like the National Housing Law Project, your state's Legal Aid Society, and local tenant unions can connect you with attorneys who handle these cases at no cost.