Paid vs Unpaid Older Broken Leases: What to Ask

Age and balance answer different questions

How old the broken lease is and whether you still owe can fall under different rules. When we say older, we mean two years or more since the lease ended. An old balance can still matter after a community's lookback period (how far back its screening checks) passes.

We ask each community which date it counts from, which records it looks at and how it handles an open collection or a finished settlement. That's our job, not yours, so you can focus on places where your situation fits.

Gather what you can show on paper

• The lease end date.
• The current balance and account holder.
• Any completed payment or settlement.
• Rental references or lease records from after the broken lease.
• Proof of income and anything else the application asks for.

What paying can change

Check that the debt is right first. Paying often opens more communities and can remove a risk fee, but not at every community. Some communities take a paid receipt. Others want the account updated on your credit report before they'll consider you. Paying doesn't wipe entries off your report, and you still have to meet the community's other rules.

Price out the whole move

Compare real move in quotes with your budget and timing. If you dispute the debt or think its age raises a legal question, talk to a lawyer or a legal aid group. Don't lean on a general rule about how old a debt has to be.

Tell us if the old account is paid, settled or unpaid, and what paperwork you have. We look for communities that fit your actual history, balance and budget. If it's unpaid, we can still put a list together.

Sources and further help

• CFPB: how long information stays on a credit report

The community makes the final call, based on its current screening rules and what your application shows.