How to Write a Letter of Explanation for an Eviction

Sometimes a leasing office reviews your file by hand. When it does, a well written letter of explanation for an eviction (an LOE) can tip it into an approval. A long, defensive, dramatic, or dishonest one can turn that same review into a denial. Here’s our template, plus the rules we follow.

What a leasing office wants to see

When a leasing agent reads your letter, they’re asking three questions:

1. What happened? Keep it brief, specific, and honest
2. What’s changed since? Show that things are steady now, what you earn, and how the case ended
3. Am I taking on risk today? The letter should put their mind at ease

Your whole LOE should answer those three questions. Anything else is filler.

What to leave out

• Blaming the former landlord (even when they deserve it)
• A long backstory about relationships, jobs, or family drama
• Apologizing too much or beating yourself up
• Legal arguments about whether the eviction was valid
• Trying to hide facts that are on the screening report
• Threats, complaints, or demands

Leasing agents read a lot of these, and they can usually tell when you’re exaggerating or getting defensive.

The two paragraph template

Paragraph 1: What happened (2 to 4 sentences)

• Roughly when the eviction was filed
• One sentence on what caused it (a job loss, a cut in hours, a dispute). You don’t need to share health or family details
• Where it stands now (paid, unpaid, dismissed, on a payment plan)
• If there was a balance, how you’re handling it

Paragraph 2: Why now is different (3 to 5 sentences)

• Where you work now, your job title, and your monthly income
• How long you’ve been in that job
• Clean rental history since then (if you have one)
• How your credit or income has gotten better, if it has
• A line that tells them your situation is stable now

A sample LOE you can change to fit your situation

To the Leasing Office at [Property Name],

I want to explain the eviction that shows up on my screening report. In August 2023, my landlord filed an eviction against me in a Harris County justice of the peace court. I had fallen behind on rent after losing my job. I paid the $2,400 balance in full by March 2025, and I’ve attached the zero balance letter from my former landlord.

For the past 18 months, I’ve worked as a warehouse manager at [Company]. I earn $4,200 a month, which is 3x the rent at your community. My current landlord has given a reference saying I’ve paid on time for the past 20 months. I’m looking for a stable long term home, and I hope you’ll consider my application.

Sincerely, [Your Name] [Phone] · [Email]

That’s the whole letter. Two paragraphs, under 200 words, honest, and focused on where you are now. Swap in your own facts, and only write what’s true and matches your screening report.

What to attach

Send these with the LOE (not pasted into it):

• Zero balance letter or release of judgment
• Your two most recent paystubs
• A recent letter from your employer, on company letterhead
• Landlord reference from your current or most recent clean rental
• Guarantor approval letter (if you already have one)
• The court’s dismissal order (if your case was dismissed)

Our documentation guide covers each item.

How the letter changes for each kind of eviction

Dismissed eviction: lead with the dismissal in paragraph 1, and attach the court order.

Paid balance: focus on the payment and where things stand now. Attach the zero balance letter.

Older eviction (3+ years): point to how long ago it was and your clean rental history since then. A reference from your current landlord can back that up.

Multiple evictions: be honest about the pattern in paragraph 1. For example: “I had two evictions between 2018 and 2020 during a stretch of unstable work.” Then show the change: “Since 2021 I’ve had steady work and rented from [landlord] without a late payment.”

Unpaid balance you can’t pay yet: be honest about where the balance stands, and describe any payment plan or steps you’re taking. Attach a guarantor approval letter if you have one.

How the letter should sound

• Keep it polite and plain, not corporate (“I want to explain,” not “It is with regret that I must inform”)
• Own the eviction (“My landlord filed an eviction after I fell behind,” not “The landlord unjustly evicted me”)
• Keep the focus on now (paragraph 2 should be longer than paragraph 1)
• No excuses, no drama
• Address it to a person by name if you can (“To Sarah at [Property]”). It shows the leasing office you paid attention.

How the letter should look

• Lay it out like a normal business letter
• A clean font (Arial, Calibri, Times, nothing fancy)
• One page, no more
• Your name, phone, and email at the top
• Sign it by hand, or type your name and add “Sent electronically”

Where to send it

Turn in the LOE with your application, not after. Applying online? Upload it with the other documents they ask for, or email it straight to the leasing office. In person, hand it to the leasing agent with the rest of your paperwork.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing a novel: one page is a hard limit
• Blaming the former landlord, whether or not they were wrong
• Contradicting what’s on the screening report: leasing offices check
• Making excuses instead of owning what happened
• Skipping details about where you are now: that’s what the leasing agent actually cares about

The right letter is worth the effort

In our files, clients who send a well written letter tend to get approved more often than those who skip it. Two paragraphs can be the difference between approval and denial.

Want help writing yours? We’ll work on it with you at no cost to you. Fill out the form on our home page.