How long does an apartment complaint stay with you?

An apartment complaint effectively has no limit in terms of how long it stays with an individual. A complaint may be published in local newspapers and can be a factor when landlords are evaluating the tenant in the future.

It is best to avoid complaints entirely, because even one that has been dismissed by a judge can become part of the public record in many states. In such situations, prospective tenants should tell their prospective landlords to examine the details of the case to verify that it was either dismissed or that the tenant and the former landlords reached an agreement.