The movement to seal eviction records is gaining traction, as advocates push to prevent past filings from limiting tenants' housing options indefinitely. During the pandemic, federal protections reduced eviction rates in major metros, but these safeguards have since expired, driving eviction rates above pre-pandemic levels in many cities, especially in the Sunbelt. States like Maryland, Massachusetts, and Idaho have passed laws to seal records...The movement to seal eviction records is gaining traction, as advocates push to prevent past filings from limiting tenants' housing options indefinitely. During the pandemic, federal protections reduced eviction rates in major metros, but these safeguards have since expired, driving eviction rates above pre-pandemic levels in many cities, especially in the Sunbelt. States like Maryland, Massachusetts, and Idaho have passed laws to seal records in cases where tenants won or settled out of court, allowing renters a “clean slate.” Housing advocates argue that eviction filings act as a “Scarlet E,” unfairly stigmatizing tenants—even when cases don’t end in removal—often leading to denied applications and increased housing insecurity.

New research reveals that eviction records disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, especially low-income Black women. As a result, more states are considering sealing laws to address rising evictions and tenant protections. For landlords, eviction records offer valuable insights into a tenant’s payment history and stability, but these records are often incomplete or misleading, leaving room for misinterpretation. In response, screening firms are now adjusting practices to better reflect a tenant’s full rental history while adapting to new state laws.

Washington, D.C., has implemented a balanced approach, allowing sealed records for research purposes. This compromise offers a model as states move toward tighter tenant protections, spurred by a growing housing crisis. The trend toward sealing eviction records is reshaping the rental market, requiring landlords to adopt new screening strategies.

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