How to track down ex-tenants?

Asked by: Prof. Delbert Shields  |  Last update: October 20, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (3 votes)

How to Locate a Former Tenant
  1. Method 1 To Locate a Former Tenant: The Rental Application.
  2. Method 2 To Locate Your Tenant: Forwarded Mail.
  3. Method 3 to Find Your Former Tenant: Search Online.
  4. Method 4 to Track Down Your Former Tenant: Hire a Bounty Hunter.
  5. Method 5 To Locate Your Former Tenant: Go to Their Place of Employment.

Do apartments keep records of past tenants?

The widely accepted practice is to hold onto these lease records for a minimum of three years post-tenancy. This duration serves as protection against potential legal disputes or claims that may emerge well after tenants have vacated.

How do I check a tenant's rental history?

How Do I Verify Rental History?
  1. Step 1: Understand Your Personal Expectations for a Tenant. ...
  2. Step 2: Inform Applicant that Rental History Information is Required. ...
  3. Step 3: Have Applicant Sign a Rental History Release Agreement. ...
  4. Step 4: Review the Rental Application. ...
  5. Step 5: Conduct a Landlord Reference Check.

How can I find my ex-tenant's new address?

You can go to the Post office and exercise the freedom of information act. The person that used to live at your property forwarded his address. And under the freedom of information act you have a right to know the person's new address.

Can you find out if someone has been evicted?

You can typically just search for the county court name online and go directly to their website. There, you can manually use their database search tool to see if your applicant has any eviction records in that county.

Tracing ex tenants

16 related questions found

How are evictions tracked?

Public court records: Evictions are typically public records. Landlords can access these records through local courthouses or online databases, although this method may require more effort and time. Credit reports: Some credit reports include eviction history as part of the tenant's financial background.

How to look up eviction records?

Visit your state's court records website. Search your full name, including any variations such as birth name, nicknames, alternate names, names with or without initials, and names before or after marriage/divorce. Review the results to see if any eviction records appear.

Is it illegal to throw away previous tenants' mail?

Is it okay to open, tear, or throw away the mail of a previous renter? No, you must not read, shred, or discard a previous tenant's mail. Doing so can subject you to a penalty of up to five years in prison. You might also face a large fine for opening mail that's not intended for you as this is labeled as theft.

How do I find previous tenants of my property?

How to Locate a Former Tenant
  1. Method 1 To Locate a Former Tenant: The Rental Application.
  2. Method 2 To Locate Your Tenant: Forwarded Mail.
  3. Method 3 to Find Your Former Tenant: Search Online.
  4. Method 4 to Track Down Your Former Tenant: Hire a Bounty Hunter.
  5. Method 5 To Locate Your Former Tenant: Go to Their Place of Employment.

How do I find someone's address after they moved?

Try to get their last address from the Post Office

If the person filed a change of address with the United States Postal Service (USPS), the USPS may give you the new address if it's only to be used to serve the person in a lawsuit. You will need to fill out a form with the USPS to ask for this.

Can rental history be looked up?

How to check your rental history. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you can get your rental history report for free. You can do so annually via Experian, Transunion, or Equifax.

How to find someone's rental address?

Requesting the Address From the U.S. Post Office

The simplest way to find an old tenant's new address is to use the U.S. Post Office. First, you should send a letter to the tenant's last known address and write “address service requested” underneath the stamp.

How do I do a free background check on tenants?

Tenant background screening process step-by-step
  1. Sign up for a free RentSpree account.
  2. Enter your property address.
  3. Choose a rental application and screening reports.
  4. Share your custom application link and invite renters to apply.
  5. View application packages in RentSpree.

How to check tenant rental history?

Request Reports from Major Tenant Screening Agencies

CoreLogic SafeRent: Offers detailed reports, including rental addresses, payment performance, and eviction history. TransUnion SmartMove: Frequently used by landlords for tenant screening, SmartMove allows you to request your own report.

How far back do apartments check rental history?

The majority of apartment background checks will look at your credit, employment, and rental history for the past 7-10 years. Let's take a deeper look at what you can expect from an apartment background check.

Is it legal to record renters?

Step 1: Review your state laws (but even closer this time)

In two-part consent states like California, Florida or Michigan, both or all sides need to give their consent to have their conservation recorded. It is never legal to record a conversation where no one is giving consent.

Is there a tenant database?

Say yes to more renters, faster

Experian® RentBureau® is the largest and most widely used rental payment database. We provide data detailing rental payment history on prospective residents so you can confidently approve more applicants, faster.

Can I see who used to live at my address?

If you're curious about the history of who lived at your address in decades past, census records will give you details about the identity and number of people who previously called the place home. The first Federal Population Census was taken in 1790 and has been taken every 10 years since.

Can I find my own tenants?

Effective ways to find tenants include working with a leasing agent, holding a for-rent open house, and using a rental listing website. The best local property managers often have waiting lists of qualified tenants who are ready to rent a nice home.

Am I responsible for old tenants mail?

No, landlords are not responsible for holding the mail they receive for the old resident for any extended period. Once the Postal Service has been notified, it is generally best to keep any mail received until it is returned or the sender stops sending mail altogether.

Has anyone gone to jail for throwing away mail?

Feds: U.S. Postal worker arrested for throwing away mail, including an election ballot. A United States Mailman is accused of tossing away more than 1,000 pieces of mail, including 400 pieces of pollical mail and one election ballot, according to newly filed court documents.

How to stop getting letters for previous tenants?

Reach Out to Postal Services

Let them know that the former tenant no longer lives in the property and that you don't want to keep receiving their mail. This way, they can sort out the mail from your previous tenant before it arrives at your home.

Do evictions show up on Credit Karma?

Evictions are public records, but they don't appear on your credit reports. The only public records that are part of your credit reports are bankruptcy filings. But landlords often get your credit history and credit score as part of a tenant screening report.

Do dismissed evictions show up on background checks?

In some jurisdictions, laws protect tenants by restricting the reporting of dismissed eviction cases. For example, California law prohibits the reporting of eviction cases that did not result in a judgment against the tenant (California Civil Code Section 1785.13).

How do I find a house with an eviction?

Look for Independent Landlords

Most of those corporations have strict rules about renting to people immediately following an eviction. A local landlord with fewer units to manage should be more willing to work with you; especially if you're able to provide trusted local references.