# Resident History #### Prior Eviction What it controls: How long after an eviction filing before you'll consider applicants. Default Setting: 3 years Range: No requirement to any number of years Important Distinctions: * Eviction filing: When the case is filed (appears on records) * Eviction judgment: When the court rules in landlord's favor * Collections: When unpaid rent goes to collections Company Policy: No universal standard - this varies widely by market and property type. Consider: * Your market's competitive landscape * Property type and rent level * Your risk tolerance * Local laws (some jurisdictions limit eviction history screening) #### Money Owed to Landlord What it controls: Whether owing a previous landlord money is an automatic decline. Default Setting: Yes (automatic decline) How it works: * Shows on credit report as collections from property management companies * May also appear as civil judgments * Indicates unresolved tenant debt Why this matters: Strong predictor of payment issues. If they didn't pay the last landlord, they may not pay you. Automatic Decline: This is one of the few criteria that triggers an immediate decline without further review. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.rentzap.com/help-docs/guides/criteria-building-guide/resident-history.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.