How to Pay Off Eviction Debt: A Complete Guide to Resolving Apartment Debt
- After an eviction, it's common to face financial obstacles.
- Eviction-related expenses such as back rent, court fees, and late fees can add up quickly, resulting in eviction debt.
- When you’re tackling eviction debt, consider strategies to make debt repayment more manageable, such as debt settlement or debt consolidation.
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If you're facing debt after an eviction, don't feel discouraged. Many renters navigate financial hurdles after being evicted, and debt is pretty common. Eviction-related expenses such as back rent, late fees, and court fees can leave you with hefty bills.
But this situation is resolvable. There are ways to pay off your debt. Once you have a plan, you can take action, from adding income when possible to seeking aid or debt relief. Let's review some strategies for paying off eviction debt.
Understanding Eviction Debt and Its Consequences
As a renter, you have to meet the terms of your rental agreement. One of the reasons your landlord can take legal action to evict you and collect money owed is non-payment of rent.
If you're evicted, you’re responsible for repaying any money you owe your landlord or property manager. The judge overseeing the lawsuit can issue a money judgment, ordering you to pay your landlord for eviction-related expenses. Eviction debt can include:
Unpaid rent
Late payment fees
Court filing fees
Property damage costs
If your eviction debt remains unpaid, you could also be legally forced out of your home. Eviction debt, like other unsecured debts such as credit card debt, isn't backed by collateral. But because you’re a tenant and don’t own the property you’re living in, a judge can order you to vacate the property if you have outstanding debts.
Owing a significant amount of money and facing disruptions to your routine are realities you're likely to experience after eviction. Here are some other ways eviction debt could impact your life:
Credit damage
Difficulty finding a new landlord who will rent to you
Financial instability
How to Find Out If You Have Eviction Debt
You can improve many aspects of your life by conquering debt. If you’re ready to create a debt payoff plan, a good first step is to verify how much eviction debt you’ve got. Eviction court documents are public record, but eviction debt doesn't automatically appear on your credit report.
However, if you owe back rent or other eviction debt, a property owner or manager may turn your unpaid debt over to a collection agency. Collections activity can appear on your credit reports as soon as something that is at least 30 days past due gets sent to collections.
If you have eviction debt on your credit report, verify that the amount listed on your credit report aligns with the amount listed in court documents. You can get a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus, or annualcreditreport.com.
Another place eviction debt is likely to appear is on a tenant screening report. Landlords and property managers review these reports when screening applicants. They include details such as your credit history, criminal background, prior rental history, and eviction court filings, and may include unpaid eviction debts that were sent to collections.
When you’re applying for a rental property, the property owner or manager can usually see that you have unpaid eviction debt on your record, which could make it challenging to get approved for a rental. You can review the contents of your report by getting a copy from a tenant screening agency.
Immediate Steps When You Can't Pay Rent to Avoid Eviction Debt
If you're experiencing financial difficulties, don't be too hard on yourself. Navigating financial hurdles just makes you human—many people experience similar challenges after eviction. And while this may be your current experience, it doesn't have to define you forever.
It’s essential to prioritize your current rental payments as you tackle your debt. If you can't pay rent, be proactive. Taking action to address the situation immediately could help you avoid growing eviction debt.
Here are some practical steps to take.
Negotiate with your landlord
Try communicating your concerns to your landlord right away. Be honest when explaining your situation, and try to negotiate a solution. When discussing your concerns, be clear about what you can do, and how much you can afford to pay.
Your landlord may allow you to defer payments or make a partial payment, especially if you've been a good tenant, and have a history of timely rent payments. If you reach an agreement, get the details in writing, and ensure that both of you sign it to avoid any issues down the road.
Trade rent for labor or services
Another option to explore is bartering labor or services in exchange for cheaper rent. Your landlord may see value in your help in maintaining the property or another property they own.
If you can handle lawn maintenance tasks or basic property repair tasks, you might ask your landlord if you can provide these services in exchange for a modification to your rental agreement. Again, get everything in writing, and have both parties sign the document.
Move money around
See if you could move money around elsewhere to cover rent. For example, if you’ve received forbearance on a student loan, car loan, cell phone bill, insurance plan, or another expense, consider using the money you would’ve spent on that expense to pay your rent.
If there is no money to move around, talk to your lenders, creditors, and service providers and ask for a discount or fee waiver. If they work with you, that could free up some money for rent.
Find ways to earn more money
If it’s possible, increasing your income could help you better afford rent. As you look for ways to earn more money, you may want to prioritize opportunities that pay quickly, for example, walking dogs or petsitting, selling unwanted items around your home, or providing lawn care services to your neighbors.
It can also be beneficial to consider long-term solutions to boost your earnings. Applying for a better-paying job with your current employer or asking for a raise could help you improve your personal finances for the long haul.
Turn to organizations that provide aid
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There may be local or national organizations that could provide relief until you get back on your feet.
Aid may look like:
One-time rental assistance
Ongoing financial aid
Public housing or other resources
Salvation Army, USDA Rural Development Program, and Catholic Charities USA are some organizations to explore. You could also research whether utility companies in your area offer financial support. If you qualify for a reduction in the cost of service or other forms of financial aid, reducing your monthly expenses could make it easier to pay rent.
Prioritize rent over debt
Housing should remain a priority. If money is tight and you have debt to repay, it’s okay to pay the minimum amount due on your debts for the immediate future so you can pay rent. But do your best to stay on top of your payments to prevent late fees and additional debt.
Tip: Maintaining detailed financial records could help you manage your finances so you avoid falling behind on rental payments. Keep physical or digital copies of rent payments and other expenses paid to your landlord or rental company. If you're ever mistakenly accused of missing a payment, these records can help you resolve issues quickly.
Strategies for Paying Off Existing Eviction Debt
Ready to tackle eviction debt? Here’s how.
Include eviction debt in your budget
Establishing and following a monthly budget could help you meet your financial obligations. Whether you’re just getting started with budgeting or are reworking your existing budget, include your eviction debts on your list of expenses to prioritize.
Negotiate to make debt repayment more manageable
Negotiating could be worthwhile. They may agree to put you on a repayment plan so you can chip away at your debt. You may find it easier to repay your eviction debt with affordable monthly payments.
Negotiate to have a portion of your eviction debt forgiven
Debt settlement is another strategy that could help you pay off existing eviction debt. If your debt has been sent to a collections agency, they may agree to reduce the amount you owe in exchange for payment. Debt settlement could save you money and help you get out of debt faster.
If an agreement is reached to reduce the amount you owe in exchange for a lump sum payment instead of a series of payments, determine how you will come up with the necessary funds. For example, if you're due a tax refund, you may want to use it to pay off the debt.
Consolidate multiple debts to make debt payoff more manageable
Another way to make your debt more manageable is debt consolidation. If you're approved for a new loan with a reasonable interest rate, you could use the funds to pay off your eviction debt.
Personal loans are a popular debt consolidation tool, in part because most have fixed interest rates, meaning the interest rate and payment amounts remain the same. Fixed monthly loan payments could make repaying your debt more manageable.
How Eviction Debt Could Affect Your Credit Score
Unpaid eviction debt could affect your credit standing. Eviction debts don't automatically appear on credit reports. But if you have unpaid debt, your landlord can send it to a collections agency. Collections activity can show up on a credit report if the debt is reported as early as 30 days past due and sent to collections, and can remain on your credit report for up to seven years.
Payment history is a significant factor in your credit score. If you were evicted because you didn't pay rent and your landlord sends the unpaid debt to collections, your credit score could drop significantly.
These strategies may help you repair your credit after repaying your eviction debt:
Dispute reporting errors: Review your credit reports and dispute any inaccuracies that you find. Contact each credit reporting agency to have errors removed. This may improve your credit.
Pay your bills on time: Maintain a positive payment history moving forward by paying every bill on-time and in full. On-time payments show that you can manage your money, and may help to improve your credit standing.
Lower your credit utilization ratio: Your credit-utilization ratio, or how much of your available credit you use, is another factor that impacts your credit standing. Continuing to pay down your debt could reduce your credit utilization ratio, and may improve your credit.
Professional Debt Relief Options for Eviction Debt
You don’t have to navigate financial hurdles like this alone. If your debt feels unmanageable, a professional debt relief company can help.
Debt settlement is a possible solution if you have unpaid rent and other eviction debt expenses that have been sent to collections. With this debt relief strategy, you work with your creditors to lower the amount you owe on your debt.
Debt settlement could help you take control of your eviction debt by making your payments more manageable, helping you get out of debt faster. And if you have other outstanding debts, like credit card debt, you may be able to combine multiple debts in one settlement program.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, enrolling in a debt settlement program may ease your stress and reduce your workload, and could yield good results. Companies like Freedom Debt Relief do this work every day, so they're skilled at negotiating with creditors.
If you’ve been evicted and have related debt, let a debt relief company help you understand your options so you can make your dream of a debt-free life a reality.
Debt relief stats and trends
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking a debt relief program during September 2025. The data uncovers various trends and statistics about people seeking debt help.
Age distribution of debt relief seekers
Debt affects people of all ages, but some age groups are more likely to seek help than others. In September 2025, the average age of people seeking debt relief was 53. The data showed that 25% were over 65, and 15% were between 26-35. Financial hardships can affect anyone, no matter their age, and you can never be too young or too old to seek help.
Collection accounts balances – average debt by selected states.
Collection debt is one example of consumers struggling to pay their bills. According to 2023, data from the Urban Institute, 26% of people had a debt in collection.
In September 2025, 30% of debt relief seekers had a collection balance. The average amount of open collection account debt was $3,203.
Here is a quick look at the top five states by average collection debt balance.
| State | % with collection balance | Avg. collection balance |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 23 | $4,899 |
| Montana | 24 | $4,481 |
| Kansas | 32 | $4,468 |
| Nevada | 32 | $4,328 |
| Idaho | 27 | $4,305 |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a collection account balance over $0.
If you’re facing similar challenges, remember you’re not alone. Seeking help is a good first step to managing your debt.
Regain Financial Freedom
Seeking debt relief can be the first step toward financial freedom. Are you struggling with debt? Explore options for debt relief to regain control of your finances. It doesn't matter how old you are or what your FICO score or credit utilization is. Take the first step towards a brighter financial future today.
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Author Information
Written by
Natasha Etzel
Natasha is a contributing writer for Freedom Debt Relief. She is a veteran professional financial writer. She provides realistic strategies to help readers improve their knowledge and change their financial situations.
Reviewed by
Kimberly Rotter
Kimberly Rotter is a financial counselor and consumer credit expert who helps people with average or low incomes discover how to create wealth and opportunities. She’s a veteran writer and editor who has spent more than 30 years creating thousands of hours of educational content in every possible format.
Can eviction debt be forgiven?
You may be able to negotiate with your landlord or the collection agency to have your eviction debt total lowered in exchange for paying off the lower amount. You could hire a professional debt relief company to handle negotiations.
How long does eviction debt stay on record?
Eviction records, including eviction debt, typically stay on tenant screening reports for up to seven years. Debt that has been sent to collections could show up on your credit report and remain on your report for up to seven years. But your unpaid eviction debt shouldn't appear on your credit report unless it's been sent to collections.
Can you rent again with eviction debt?
Yes. It’s possible to rent again with eviction debt. Be honest about your situation, provide references, and consider renting from private landlords, who may be more flexible. Taking steps to improve your credit standing could help improve your chances of being approved for a rental.
What happens if you ignore eviction debt?
If you ignore eviction debt, the landlord or apartment manager could send your unpaid debt to collections. If it remains unpaid, it could show up on your credit report. Ignoring eviction debt could impact your credit standing, and make it difficult to secure housing in the future.
Can wages be garnished for eviction debt?
State law dictates whether a landlord can garnish your wages for eviction debt. In many states, it’s legal for a landlord to garnish a portion of a tenant’s wages to repay eviction debt. However, the landlord must first obtain a court judgment against the tenant.
