Guide
Can You Rent With an Unpaid Eviction Balance?
Yes, you can, but your options are limited with an open balance. Here’s which properties may still look at your file and how to make your case stronger.
In this guide
Can you rent with an unpaid eviction balance? It’s possible, but from what we see, an open balance is one of the hardest things to get past in Texas rental screening. We’ve still placed renters who have one. Here’s the straight “yes, but” answer.
The short answer
Yes. You have fewer options than with a paid or dismissed case, but there are real paths:
- Independent and private owners
- Older mid market properties that make their own call
- Applying with a guarantor (OneApp and Liberty Rent especially)
- Class B properties that care most about your income
From what we see, most Class A luxury properties deny an open balance automatically.
What “open balance” means for screening
In the screening results we see, an open balance often counts against you more than the filing itself. Why would that be?
- It shows you still owe a property money
- It suggests the same thing could happen again
- From what we see, it trips automatic denial rules at most Class A properties
An open balance isn't the end of the road. The right guarantor, proof of income and choice of property can often make up for it.
Which properties may approve open balances
Independent and private owners: where we look first. We find a lot of them in Oak Cliff (Dallas), Haltom City (Fort Worth area) and Leon Valley (San Antonio area). Round Rock and East Austin (Austin area) are on our list too, along with Katy and Greenspoint (Houston area).
Class B mid market where the property makes its own call: in our placements, that’s often Willow Bridge, RPM Living and some Venterra properties. They look at each file on its own when the paperwork is strong.
Mid market properties that partner with a guarantor: these work with Liberty Rent or OneApp and can refer you there. If the guarantor backs you, the property can approve you with an open balance.
Class A: mostly no. From what we’ve seen, a few accept it if the balance is under $1,000 and the eviction is over 3 years old. You’d need income of 4x rent too, and a clean rental record since then. That’s rare.
How to make an open balance case stronger
1. Look for properties that work with Liberty Rent or OneApp. You apply at the property first, and if it denies you or approves you with conditions, it can refer you. We often see these products back open balance cases. Once the guarantor approves you, a lot of properties get more comfortable with your file.
2. Show your income on paper. Bring 12 months of bank statements, a letter from your employer, and 2 recent paystubs. Most properties we work with want at least 3x rent, and 4x is stronger.
3. Show your savings. Have 3+ months of rent set aside? Show it. Savings can make you look a lot less risky, even with an open balance.
4. Get a landlord reference from after the eviction. A clean rental history since then is one of the best things you can show a property.
5. Write a strong letter of explanation (LOE). Own the balance, explain it briefly, then move on to how stable you are now. See our LOE template.
6. Think about a payment plan. If you can start paying down the balance under a written agreement, that often helps your odds even before it’s fully paid. Legal aid or a nonprofit credit counselor can look over the terms before you sign.
How we help with an unpaid balance
- We look for Texas properties that may approve open balance cases
- We point you to properties that partner with Liberty Rent or OneApp
- We help you put your documents together so your file looks as strong as it can
- We steer you away from management companies that tend to deny at every property they run
How long it usually takes
In our placements, open balance cases often take 2 to 3 weeks. A typical timeline (not a promise):
- Days 1 to 2: we take your info and look at your file
- Days 3 to 5: we pick the properties and may contact each one
- Days 5 to 10: touring and applications
- Days 10 to 14: approvals with conditions (usually a bigger deposit or a guarantor)
- Days 14 to 21: lease signing and moving in
That’s longer than a paid or dismissed case, which usually takes 1 to 2 weeks.
What moving in really costs with an open balance
Say the unit rents for $1,500 a month and you have an open eviction balance. Average rents in our cities run about $1,260 to $1,650 a month (RentCafe, September 2026).
- Application fees: $150
- Risk fee: $400 to $500
- Deposit: 2x standard ($3,000, if the standard deposit is one month’s rent)
- First month’s rent and admin fee: $1,650
- Guarantor: about $1,500, but check the real fee. OneApp charges one month’s base rent on a standard lease. Liberty Rent charges a $35 application fee (refunded if you’re not approved), then usually one month’s rent. At PrecisePrice properties, it’s 50% to 125% of a month’s rent.
Total: $6,700 to $6,800. With an open balance, expect to pay well above a standard move in cost.
Should you pay off the balance first?
If you have the cash, usually yes. If the debt is old or the amount looks wrong, talk to legal aid before you pay or sign anything. TexasLawHelp.org can point you to the group that serves your county. Paying the balance:
- Opens up a lot more properties, from what we see
- Usually lowers the deposit
- Often gets rid of the risk fee
- Sometimes means you don’t need a guarantor
In our placements, that often cuts $1,500 or more from your move in cash, before you count what you paid toward the balance.
To see how things change once it’s paid, look at how we help with a paid balance. If paying isn’t realistic, we help with an unpaid balance search too. To see specific options, fill out the form on our home page or call 888-846-7541.
