What we verified in “What to do if you get an eviction notice”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. The CFPB explains that if you are behind on rent and received a demand for payment, an eviction notice or an eviction lawsuit, help is available, and it sorts what you can do into three situations: an eviction lawsuit has not been filed, it has been filed, or a court has ruled that you can be evicted.

   Sources 1 · What to do if you’re facing eviction (modified December 12, 2024): 'If you’re behind on rent and received a demand for payment, an eviction notice, or an eviction lawsuit, help is available'; 'If an eviction lawsuit has NOT been filed'; 'If an eviction lawsuit HAS been filed against you'; 'If a court has ruled that you can be evicted' · Checked October 17, 2026

2. The CFPB advises finding out whether your landlord is willing to work with you or plans to file an eviction lawsuit, and notes that it is very rare for a landlord to prefer going through the process of evicting you instead of receiving their rent.

   Sources 1 · What to do if you’re facing eviction: 'Find out if your landlord is willing to work with you or if they plan to file an eviction lawsuit'; 'It is very rare for a landlord to prefer going through the process of evicting you instead of receiving their rent' · Checked October 17, 2026

3. According to the CFPB, some states or local areas have rules that could delay your eviction while you get help, and local housing counselors, legal aid and social services organizations can explain how they work; you can also apply to state or local organizations for federal money to cover rent, utilities and other housing costs; many of the pandemic assistance programs have closed or stopped accepting applications, but some money may still be available.

   Sources 1 · What to do if you’re facing eviction: 'Some states or local areas have rules that could delay your eviction while you get help'; 'Local housing counselors, legal aid, and social services organizations can help you understand how state or local eviction protections work'; 'You can apply to state or local organizations for federal money to cover rent, utilities, and other housing costs'; 'Many of these programs have now closed or stopped accepting applications, but some money may still be available' · Checked October 17, 2026

4. The CFPB explains that, besides applying for rental assistance, renters and landlords may benefit from talking about a repayment plan; many rental assistance programs accept applications from both landlords and renters, and where renters can apply they often need the landlord's help to complete the application; options include moving the due date to match payday or splitting rent into several payments a month, forgiving late fees as long as some payment is made, accepting smaller payments for a few months, and a plan to repay back rent over a period such as six months to a year.

   Sources 3 · Start a conversation about rent repayment (modified December 12, 2024): 'renters and landlords may benefit from having a conversation about options for a repayment plan'; 'Many rental assistance programs accept applications from both landlords and renters'; 'they often need help from landlords to complete the application process'; 'Rent due dates are changed to align better with payday, or split into multiple payments over the month'; 'Late fees and interest are forgiven as long as some payment is made'; 'A smaller rent payment is accepted, as long as some amount is paid each month'; 'Back rent is repaid over a period of time, say, six months to a year' · Checked October 17, 2026

5. According to the CFPB, you have the right to file a written answer explaining to the court why you should not be evicted: you can describe your situation, what your landlord has or has not done to get rental assistance funds and any pending assistance applications; the judge may delay or dismiss the eviction because you are trying to get help; and servicemembers and their dependents can ask to pause the eviction for up to 90 days and should talk with their local Legal Assistance Office.

   Sources 1 · What to do if you’re facing eviction: 'You have the right to file a written answer explaining to the court why you should not be evicted'; 'Describe what your landlord has or hasn’t done to get rental assistance funds'; 'The judge may delay or dismiss the eviction because you are trying to get help'; 'you and your dependents can pause the eviction for up to 90 days upon request'; 'If you’re a servicemember, talk with your local Legal Assistance Office' · Checked October 17, 2026

6. The CFPB says too many renters give up before they have a chance to go to court; that when you respond to the lawsuit you could share information that might help you avoid eviction and object to what is not true; it suggests calling the court clerk to ask how long you have to file an answer from the date you received the summons, whether there is a court date yet, whether the court offers mediation or referrals to housing counselors, and whether you have the right to a lawyer; it says that if you do not have a lawyer yet, you can file an answer on your own; and it points to LawHelp.org to learn how to file one in your state.

   Sources 1 · What to do if you’re facing eviction: 'Too many renters give up before they have a chance to go to court'; 'you could share information that might help you avoid eviction, and you can object to information or accusations that are not true'; 'How long do I have to file an answer from the date I received the summons?'; 'Is there a court date yet?'; 'Does the court offer mediation or provide referrals to housing counselors?'; 'Do I have the right to have a lawyer?'; 'If you don’t have a lawyer yet, you can file an answer on your own'; 'Visit LawHelp.org to learn how to file an answer to the eviction lawsuit in your state' · Checked October 17, 2026

7. If a court has already ruled that you can be evicted, the CFPB says to ask the judge or the court clerk whether the eviction order can be placed on hold while your rental assistance application is processed.

   Sources 1 · What to do if you’re facing eviction: 'Ask the judge or the court clerk if the eviction order can be placed on hold while your application for emergency rental assistance is being processed' · Checked October 17, 2026

8. The CFPB explains that emergency rental assistance is not just for back rent: if a court has ruled that you can be evicted, you can apply for help to cover moving costs, a security deposit and application fees, and find out whether your local program helps people seeking a new home.

   Sources 1 · What to do if you’re facing eviction: 'Apply for help to cover the cost of moving, a security deposit, and application fees'; 'Emergency rental assistance isn’t just for back rent'; 'Find out if your local rental assistance program is offering help to people seeking a new home' · Checked October 17, 2026

9. The CFPB recommends talking to a lawyer if your landlord is threatening to evict you or you need help understanding your rights; you may qualify for free legal aid based on your income, through your local bar association or a legal aid office; and to reach a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, call 800-569-4287.

   Sources 1 · What to do if you’re facing eviction: 'If your landlord is threatening to evict you, or you need help understanding your rights, talk to a lawyer'; 'You may qualify for free legal aid, based on your income'; 'Contact your local bar association or legal aid office'; 'Call 800-569-4287 or find a housing counselor' · Checked October 17, 2026

10. The CFPB says that if you are having trouble making rent payments, you are not alone; that as a renter you have local, state and federal rights, and some may help you stay in your home and postpone eviction; and it warns that scammers are targeting people who are looking for rental assistance.

    Sources 2 · Help for renters (modified December 12, 2024): 'If you’re having trouble making rent payments, you’re not alone'; 'As a renter, you have local, state and federal rights'; 'Some may help you stay in your home and postpone eviction'; 'Scammers are targeting people who are looking for rental assistance' · Checked October 17, 2026

11. According to the CFPB, your landlord cannot force you out by changing your locks without a court order; some state and local governments have protections to help you avoid being evicted; many landlords are represented by a lawyer in court, and you can get legal help too and could qualify for free legal aid; and federal law may protect you from being evicted, losing your housing subsidy or having your housing application denied because of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking committed against you, although it does not stop landlords from evicting abusers.

    Sources 4 · Your tenant and debt collection rights (modified February 20, 2026): 'Force you out by changing your locks without a court order'; 'Some state and local governments have protections in place to help you avoid being evicted'; 'Many landlords are represented by a lawyer in court. You can get legal help too, and you could qualify for free legal aid'; 'Federal law may protect you from being evicted, losing your housing subsidy, or having your application for housing denied because of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking committed against you'; 'federal laws don’t stop landlords from evicting abusers' · Checked October 17, 2026

12. The CFPB explains that when you owe money to your landlord and someone else is trying to collect it, such as a lawyer or law firm representing the landlord or a collection agency, that person may be a debt collector under federal law; debt collectors cannot use unfair, deceptive or abusive practices, and if you believe one is, you can submit a complaint or call (855) 411-2372.

    Sources 4 · Your tenant and debt collection rights: 'When you owe money to your landlord or utility company and someone else is trying to collect the money, that person could be a debt collector'; 'Maybe a lawyer or law firm is representing your landlord, or maybe a collection agency is trying to collect the back rent you owe'; 'debt collectors can’t use unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices to try and collect a debt'; 'you can submit a complaint or call (855) 411-2372' · Checked October 17, 2026

13. The New York Attorney General's tenant guide says a tenant can be legally evicted only after the landlord has brought a court proceeding and obtained a judgment of possession, and only a sheriff, marshal or constable can carry out a court-ordered warrant to evict; the landlord cannot use threats, remove the tenant's possessions, lock the tenant out or willfully discontinue essential services such as water or heat; a tenant should never ignore legal papers, because an eviction notice can still be sent if the tenant did not appear in court; in a non-payment case, until the warrant is executed you can have the case dismissed if you pay all rent owed, and you cannot be evicted for non-payment of other fees such as late fees; and if you lose, you can ask the court for up to one year to move if you show you cannot find a similar apartment in the same neighborhood, at the judge's discretion.

    Sources 5 · Residential Tenants Rights Guide, 'Eviction' and 'Tenant Protections During Eviction' sections: 'A tenant can be legally evicted only after the landlord has brought a court proceeding and has obtained a judgment of possession'; 'only a sheriff, marshal, or constable can carry out a court ordered warrant to evict a tenant'; 'lock the tenant out of the apartment, or willfully discontinue essential services such as water or heat'; 'A tenant should never ignore legal papers'; 'an eviction notice can still be sent if a tenant did not appear in court'; 'you can have your non-payment case dismissed if you pay all rent that is owed'; 'You cannot be evicted for non-payment of other fees (such as late fees, legal fees, or any other “added” fee)'; 'you can ask the court for up to one year to move if you can show that you cannot find a similar apartment in the same neighborhood'; 'It is up to the judge’s discretion' · Checked October 17, 2026

14. Under the federal CARES Act, the lessor of a 'covered dwelling' may not require the tenant to vacate before the date that is 30 days after the lessor provides the notice to vacate; a covered dwelling is one occupied by a tenant on a property that participates in a covered federal housing program or the rural housing voucher program, or that has a federally backed mortgage loan or federally backed multifamily mortgage loan.

    Sources 6 · 15 U.S.C. §9058(c)(1): 'may not require the tenant to vacate the covered dwelling unit before the date that is 30 days after the date on which the lessor provides the tenant with a notice to vacate'; §9058(a)(1)–(2), 'covered dwelling' and 'covered property' · Checked October 17, 2026

15. Covered federal housing programs include, among others, public housing and Section 8 (42 U.S.C. §1437d and §1437f), the low-income housing tax credit (26 U.S.C. §42), the HOME program, the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance programs, housing for the elderly (Section 202) and for persons with disabilities (Section 811), housing opportunities for persons with AIDS, USDA rural housing programs, the Housing Trust Fund, several veterans' housing programs and any other federal affordable housing program identified by the appropriate agency.

    Sources 7 · 34 U.S.C. §12491(a)(3), 'covered housing program', subparagraphs (A)–(P) · Checked October 17, 2026

16. According to the CFPB, eviction court cases can appear on your tenant screening report for up to seven years, and many landlords will not rent to an applicant whose screening report shows an eviction filing; under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, lawsuit and judgment information can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer; some states allow sealing or expungement of eviction records or prohibit using them; if the information is wrong or outdated, dispute it with the screening company and with the company that provided it, and you can submit a complaint to the CFPB online or at (855) 411-2372.

    Sources 8 · How long can information, like eviction actions and lawsuits, stay on my tenant screening record? (last reviewed July 1, 2021): 'Eviction court cases could be on your tenant screening record for up to seven years'; 'Many landlords will not rent to a tenant applicant if the screening report shows an eviction filing'; 'seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer'; 'Your state may allow the “sealing” or “expungement” of certain court records'; 'Some states prohibit the use of eviction lawsuit information'; 'Dispute the information with the company that generated the report' · Checked October 17, 2026

17. The Legal Services Corporation, established by Congress in 1974, funds civil legal aid for low-income Americans; on its site you find the nearest LSC-funded legal aid organization by entering an address or city.

    Sources 9 · Get Legal Help: 'civil legal aid to low-income Americans'; 'enter an address or city below to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization' · Checked October 17, 2026

18. The LSC Eviction Laws Database, built with the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University, lets you explore the entire legal process of eviction, from pre-filing to post-judgment, for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other territories, with the laws in effect as of January 1, 2021.

    Sources 10 · LSC Eviction Laws Database: 'explore the entire legal process of eviction'; 'covers state/territory-level eviction laws for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico' and territories; 'in effect as of January 1, 2021' · Checked October 17, 2026

19. The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in the terms, conditions or privileges of the rental of a dwelling, or in related services, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status or national origin, and also because of disability.

    Sources 11 · 42 U.S.C. §3604(b) and (f)(2): 'To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling' · Checked October 17, 2026

20. HUD-approved housing counselors provide independent advice on buying a home, renting, defaults and credit issues, often free or at low cost.

    Sources 12 · Find a Housing Counselor: 'advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, forbearances, foreclosures, and credit issues'; 'often at little or no cost to you' · Checked October 17, 2026