Recently I received a notice of motion to seal an eviction that occurred with a tenant in 2016. I recently saw that a new bill was passed to amend the eviction act. Bill SB0077, which essentially seals a judgement of eviction from being listed on the evicted tenants court record. I attended the hearing as I wanted to 1) let the judge know that I objected to the sealing and 2) to defend the rights of landlords to evoke their right to sue/evict to obtain possession of their units. My argument indicated that the ruling would take away the rights of landlords to do a through background search and could in essence position the tenant to not pay the landlord and repeat the process of sealing the eviction on another unsuspecting landlord. Needless to say the judge sided with the tenant and ordered that her eviction be sealed. Unfortunately there is no recourse at this time for landlords if the judge decides to use their discretion to seal the eviction records. This is a relatively new bill but one that could have a large impact on landlords post covid. What are your thoughts? --12.239.xxx.xx

Good that you went to defend the rights of LL's, unfortunately it sounds like the judge is not paying attention. --73.113.xxx.xxx

This nonsense is also happening in Utah --50.4.xxx.x

@David(MI) simply ridiculous. Not sure what can be done as the bill did not provide any recourse for the landlord. I also believe this is to clear the backlog in courts. However I will be monitoring the hearing judge when it is time for election and asking folks to not elect her. There was a person in front of me, been waiting for 2 years to evict his tenant, she continued his case until September. Who is lobbying for the rights of the landlord? --12.239.xxx.xx

@6x6 definitely the judge was not listening. She allowed the former tenant to provide a sob story about why she quit and stayed in my unit. She didn't meet the statue for mandatory sealing but the judge used her "discretion", by the way this was a newly elected judge-she is using landlords as practice dummies. While I feel some type of way, I will watch and see how this bill can be amended to at least allow a recourse for landlords. --12.239.xxx.xx

and the Judges name is ? --24.183.xxx.xxx

If the rental units or houses are not all inclusive then the majority of those tenants will have unpaid utilities where unpaid utilities and unpaid rent go hand in hand together. On the credit reports if they moving around a few times a year then why? In the province of Ontario vacancy rates are at zero or one per cent on and off in most major urban areas where it is seven hundred and above or you keep looking while more upfront a credit check on all adult applicants to even minimize evictions. If they are employed then if have a judgement can go garnishee of wages where if not then reluctant to take. So in the end the leftist blame the rental housing providers for the eviction where unpaid rent is the reason. --68.69.xxx.xxx

In Los Angeles I run a comprehensive criminal, credit and eviction check. But, the records are sealed for 90 days to allow an evicted tenant to find a new place to live. So when I compare a tenants application with prior know addresses to 2 credit reports, I come up with an unknow address. I pay special attentions and contact the owner and or manager to find out why the applicant didn't list that address. And I find out they left on bad terms, owing back rent and being evicted. Sometimes, not always. --47.156.xx.xx

I haven’t heard anyone attempt to make a rational argument in favor of expunging court judgements from credit reports or public databases. --149.76.xxx.xxx

What they hope is they learn from mistakes then find another rental unit or house where there are very few who do not run thorough credit checks on all adult applicants. Had a couple holed up in mothers basement where he said his girl friend would not fill out a rental application. A few months later he called still looking for a apartment for rent. There are some holed up in motels, relatives or friends place. Rental housing is finite where now more than ever the number of vacant rentals is going down which means they better shape up or stay out of the rental housing market all together. Under the rent control system here once a rental unit or house is vacant the rent goes up to market where they find that they no longer to rent in the private market. As governments have been hostile to private sector rental housing providers the lower end of the rental housing market is no longer there where now almost the entire rental housing is owned by very large corporations who have deep pockets where once they buy a rental complex the objective is evict for late rent or any other non rent issue. There is not enough money in the provincial treasury to build the non profit housing unless they increase taxes. In the provincial election the progressive Conservatives where elected with a majority which means they pass legislation without any input from the leftist parties which are Liberals, Greens and Socialist Democratic called the New Democratic Party or NDP. After many bad experiences with Socialist parties they only lasted four years then voted out. The NDP is most hostile to rental housing providers where the last Liberals were as leftist. The leader of Liberals did not win in riding. How does a province fund universal medical care then have the funds for socialist rental housing. Maybe in Finland they have as taxes are really high. --68.69.xxx.xxx

--71.117.xxx.xx

Sadly, I have noticed over the years that all these illogical, political, "pro-tenant" maneuvers really do is run up the cost of renting for everyone. This drives yet more working people out of being able to afford a place to live. Interestingly, I have also noticed that the more expensive my places have become, the less problem tenants I get. --24.115.xxx.xxx

Sisco, you should read the reports out of Utah, They have already passed such a law. So much crazy talk! --50.4.xxx.x

Point being this could be a reason to strengthen local LL associations. If only to share eviction status. --206.84.xx.xxx

@tryan I LOVE the idea of a lobbyist for landlord or some form of association. What we are facing as private landlords is ridiculous. I agree that tickets should be expunged as well. Lol. Tenants Legal aid are assisting these folks with completing the motions/summons for FREE. There is a video of an attorney showing tenants what to say on the motion to seal. This person went to legal aid and they did the documents for her. She owes approximately 12k to various landlord/private companies ranging from 2000-2017. Illinois/Cook County favors the tenants. The judges name is Theresa Smith Conyers. We also need to look at the judges who are being assigned eviction/landlord dispute cases so we knkw who to vote for, we need to look at the congress also and see who is for/against us. Our rights need to be established and supported. I do diligence and try to cross reference missing addresses with credit repor. This person also filed 2 bankruptcies and listed the landlords/rental companies as debtors to avoid paying so she is using the loopholes in the system. --73.75.xxx.xx

NC doesn't seal their eviction records but they make it impossible to search them effectively. There are exactly 100 counties in NC and it's a big state. To check for evictions, you must go to each individual county courthouse and check records from one of THEIR special terminals. --50.82.xxx.xxx

@WMH that sucks. @JA I have noticed the same when I increase my prices…or may take longer to rent but I get a better selection of tenants. Lol my “bad” tenant was a school teacher with the Board of Education her in Illinois. So much for quality. I think it will show that she has been in court but it won’t show the eviction. The more I think about sharing eviction status is a great idea. Not sure what it would look like, where it would be located (private Facebook page,??!!) maybe forming a meetup for landlords (could have some imposters in the group) but we have to be able to connect with each other. Hence I love this forum because it has truly been a godsend just to connect, see what others see ding, get advice and support. I’m fired up because this is my retirement plan…the tenant also gave a sob story about having a child and being a single mother…LL’s have families to support as well…it’s not just about my loss is about protecting the legacy and what I have built for my future. --73.75.xxx.xx

Robert J, that is a smart way to find out. --73.113.xxx.xxx

I think the way around this is to request 6-months proof for rent payments. A recent evictee won't have that. Of course, that doesn't help with evictions further back. I hope PA doesn't start this craziness. --209.122.xx.xxx

@Gkarl definitely a great suggestion for my regular tenants...I do rooms for rent at one of my properties and I ask for 6 months proof of employment. I used to ask for 3 months. It doesn't work anymore with the current environment. @Robert J love that you do 2 credit checks. May I ask how much do you charge tenants for this? I guess we will have to create ways around this eviction thing as I think it will get tighter as more cases are hitting the courts post eviction moratorium. We still have to think about who is representing us in Congress. This bill got passed and I was unaware of it. --12.239.xxx.xx

This is why it pays to report a late tenant to the credit bureaus before filing an eviction. It takes over 30 days to get on the T's credit report, so when they skip out or stall the eviction, the next LL already has your name and phone number for a chat. I savor those little chats - Did you know your applicant never paid the rent on time or in full and was running an electric cord from the apartment laundry room to power three xboxes after the electric was disconnected? If you want a gamer who doesn't work and drives a giant SUV with custom rims which takes a fortune to fill leaving no money for rent, you have hit the jackpot! LOL --201.140.xxx.xx

GKARL, that is a good way to catch a current eviction. --73.113.xxx.xxx

Maybe you could start one in your own town? --172.58.xxx.xx

ROBIN: Where are you in WI? --75.11.xx.xx

Been going on since 2019 here in NYS. I have no doubt they won't stop until NYS has no private property rights. --72.231.xxx.xx

That way it becomes part of a permanent national record and if the courts close records, the landlords' scans are still there. --174.205.xxx.xx

--72.231.xxx.xx

Perhaps what is needed is the creation a private database of court proceedings that could be assembled and accessed for a fee to members. --70.90.xx.xxx

Thank you everyone for your comments, feedback, and suggestions. Lots of space for discussion to see what can done to protect ourselves. I would definitely be interested in doing a list. By the way my former tenant is trying to move to a surburbs in Illinois to do this to another landlord all over again. Can I report her to the credit bureau? There is an outstanding judgement. --73.75.xxx.xx

Sonia, didn't you read my post above? You should have reported your tenants to the credit bureau BEFORE you filed the eviction. Report T to the credit bureau asap... --70.174.xxx.xxx

@W thank you will do. Illinois is a funky state. They don’t even want us doing anything pursuant to a judgement but I’m on it! --73.75.xxx.xx