Bankruptcy - should you file for it if you had prior evictions and want to rent a house now? or wait to file?

Boyfriend and I want to rent a house. He had two prior evictions from last marriage. Should he file for bankruptcy before we apply? Does filing bankruptcy look worse? Please help!!

If you think the bankruptcy erases evictions you are wrong.

You will have a hard enough time finding anyone to rent to you with multiple evictions. Adding bakrupsy to the pile makes it 100% clear that you are NOT going to be paying any bills.

I would wait, you will have a hard enough time as it is.

They are all black marks on the history. I'm not sure what others will say but as a landlord i can tell you my criteria.

First for the bankruptcy. If there is a bankruptcy that is ongoing I will not rent to a tenant. the reason is that I could be listed as one of their creditors and would have to get in line to be paid by the courts just like everyone else. If the bankruptcy has been discharged I consider the tenants based on other criteria.

the evictions are one matter that also catch attention. If there is a balance owed to a previous landlord then I do not rent to a tenant. Again, the reason being that if the prospective tenant didn't pay the other landlord (and still hasn't paid them) why will I think that they will pay me?

Filing bankruptcy is a serious step and results in repercussions in your life for many years. It is a last resort and not a solution to temporary financial problems. It is not something that should be done lightly. He may not even qualify for bankruptcy. And bankruptcy will certainly not erase prior evictions.

..."U"... don't file 4 "BANKRUPTCY" when "U" want 2 rent a house or ap.... doesn't make sens... "IF-U-DO".. 4 the next 7 years "U" can not apply 4 credit, get a loan, mortgage, interfare w/job applications; "U"r life will be a crap... so stay a way from it under any circumstances ...&... 4 renting "U" do "NOT" have 2 give all the information[just say that u lived w/u'r parents] ...simple like that.....

How is your credit? Do you have good credit? do you know why your Husband was evicted twice? I don't think the bankruptcy will help, the evictions will still be on his credit report whether he files or not. He should file if he has a ton of debt he can't pay back.

By the way, to the person who says they wouldn't rent to someone that is in bankruptcy, your criteria is faulty, if you have a post-petition debt (ie incurred after they filed), you don't wait in line, you aren't subject to the bankruptcy and the debt can't be discharged by a bankruptcy that exists prior to their renting from you, even if the bankruptcy hasn't been discharged yet.