Rent and Credit > Who can see my eviction history?

Who can see my eviction history?

Wollit Team2 minute read · Updated 23rd July 2024

An eviction notice is a document that formally notifies tenants of a landlord's intention to terminate their tenancy.

This is usually due to breaches such as unpaid rent, property damage, illegal activities, or some other breach of contract (like hosting on Airbnb out of your rented flat without your landlord’s consent).

Is my eviction history public?

Yes, eviction notices are considered public records in the UK. This means they can be accessed by anyone who has a legitimate interest, like potential landlords running background checks on you.

However, checking these records isn't as simple as doing a quick Google search; one usually needs to go through official channels such as court records or specific online databases.

Also, even though these notices are public, not all details within them are freely accessible. The law puts restrictions in place to protect the privacy of tenants, especially when it comes to sensitive personal information.

Does an eviction appear on my credit report?

No, an eviction itself usually does not appear on your credit report in the UK.

However, if you have unpaid rent or if you’re responsible for damages, and if the landlord sends this debt to a collection agency, then the collection will be reported to the credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Basically, the eviction itself is not listed, but the resulting collection of unpaid debt may still impact your credit file.

As a side note, this is another reason why it’s important to get tenant insurance – it can often cover things like damages or other liabilities.

There is, however, a situation where an eviction can show on your credit report – if you or your landlord have been reporting your rent payments to the credit reference agencies.

Normally reporting rent can be a real bonus towards improving your credit file, as it shows lenders that you’re reliable and pay your bills on time. You can do this using an app like Wollit or you can ask your landlord to do it through a service like Experian’s Rental Exchange.

Of course, if you miss rent payments and get evicted this can also count as a missed payment and hurt your credit file. The good news is that, because rental history is not included in your credit score, then an eviction won’t either. It might raise some eyebrows with lenders or future landlords, but your credit score should be safe.

This is why, if you’re relying on rent to build credit, you should use a credit-building app that allows you to report not only your rent but also your monthly subscription to the credit reference agencies. Wollit is one such app.

Besides rent, Wollit also reports your fixed fee monthly subscription as a loan repayment to the credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). In fact, you can choose which one you report – your subscription covers both.

This helps you improve your credit history by showing that you can pay debt on time, one of the main factors that influences your credit score, and eventually it will reduce the impact of an eviction notice in your rental history when any future landlords will run a check on you.