Can I rent an apartment if I file for bankruptcy? 23 Answers as of September 21, 2011

I am sincerely sorry to hear about your situation. As you are aware of, however, there are options available to you. To answer your question, yes, you can rent an apartment before, during or after bankruptcy. If you haven't filed yet, it is better to secure a rental contract first. A potential landlord may be unwilling to rent to you after you have filed bankruptcy. I would be happy to meet with you for a free consultation and explain your options to you, if you are so inclined. I look forward to hearing from you and, if not, wish you the best in the resolution of your financial issues.

A prospective landlord can discriminate against a potential tenant on account of bankruptcy. This means that you might have an application to rent turned down in a given instance. You may need to apply for several rentals before eventually being approved as a renter.

Bankruptcy planning may be important in your situation. I would be careful about the timing of any bankruptcy to be filed. Rental is normally based on the policy of the landlord. You need to discuss your entire case with a bankruptcy attorney prior to making any decisions.

yes... some will turn you down but I have never had anyone come back and say they could not find a place to live.

Yes it is possible to rent an apartment after filing Bankruptcy. You Kay be denied some places after a credit check, but if they allow you to explain the circumstances you may be able to overcome you credit report.

Yes, you can rent an apartment after filing bankruptcy. Many potential lamdlords will pull a credit report on you and some will refuse to rent to you because of your bankrupty filing. You can avoid this by renting a condo or house from a mom & pop landlord and avoiding large apartment complexes and any landlord using a real estate management firm.

Yes but it is best if you sign the lease before you file. I am happy to discuss these issues with you.

Yes. You can rent. If your mortgage has not been foreclosed you may qualify for a mortgage modification. Both the Federal Government and the State of Michigan have programs to assist homeowners in modifying the mortgage to make it affordable. The State of Michigan provides housing counselors free of charge to assist homeowners in taking advantage of the various programs and in processing and negotiating for modifications. These are available even if you file a bankruptcy. If you file a bankruptcy your personal liability on the underlying debt is discharged. The mortgage company however retains the right to take the property. In the case of junior liens for 2nd and third mortgages, home equity loans etc. In some cases they can be " stripped off " and removed from the property, allowing the homeowner to retain the property with only the first mortgage payment. ( with or without a modification) You should consult an attorney that handles consumer bankruptcy to explore your options. If you are unable to or do not want to keep the property or if the mortgage company has already held a sheriff's sale you have two rights that remain with you. 1) The right to redeem the property and 2) The right to remain in possession of the property for a period of time. The period of time these rights last is called the "redemption period". It begins to run from the date of the sheriffs sale or foreclosure sale and lasts from 6 moths to a year depending on the amount of property and other factors. If the property is abandoned the period can be shortened to 30 days. During the " redemption period" you can continue to live in the property " rent free" without making any mortgage payments, or any tax payments. Alternatively, you can rent the property , keep the rent and live someplace else. Often times the mortgage company and their agents will attempt to intimidate the homeowner into leaving the property. Again, you should consult a qualified attorney to explore your situation.

Yes, you can rent an apartment. But if you are still in the property living rent-free, why would you move? The process of foreclosure can take a while and will be interrupted by your bankruptcy filing.

Yes. You may be required to provide an extra deposit.

Yes, but it will probably be harder for you. Most landlords these days run credit checks and blindly rent to whichever applicant has the highest credit score. That wont be you because you recently filed for bankruptcy (or youre considering it, which means your credit score is already pretty bad). But theres still hope. For the landlords that do credit checks, they might rent to you if (a) you can convince them that youre trustworthy with paying on time despite your credit score, and (b) youre willing to put more money up front than the other applicants. There are laws limiting how much and what kind of money can be paid up front in California (such as security deposits), so make sure you dont put yourself in a position to be swindled just because you really want an apartment. You should probably talk to an attorney first.

Yes you can rent a place, however there are some places who may decline to rent to you due to your credit. Try to find a single landlord rather than a big complex.

There is life after bankruptcy. You will need to find the right landlord. Some landlords will require a co- signer or a higher deposit. Good luck!

You need to discuss moving and rentals with a lawyer before you file.

It depends on the landlord. Some will deny you based on bad credit (bankruptcy), some will allow it if it was due to a foreclosure, but may take a larger deposit, some don't check credit.

That depends only on the landlord decision to rent not bankruptcy law.

Yes, though they may ask for a larger deposit. Stay in your house until it forecloses, though, and save yourself some money.

Yes. There is nothing that prevents you from renting, however you may have difficulty finding an apartment complex to rent to you if they run a credit report. You will find better luck renting a room or a home from a home owner. If you are in my area and are looking for an attorney,