The short answer
Deferred adjudication isn’t a conviction, but the case can still show up on apartment screening. It stays in county court records and the Texas Department of Public Safety database until a court grants an Order of Nondisclosure. Until then, bring a certified copy of the court’s order of discharge and dismissal so the property can see how your case ended.
We're the No Credit Check Apartment Team, a licensed real estate team brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC (TREC #562021). We’ve got more than 20 years in real estate between us. We work with property managers across Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. That's how we keep track of which communities’ criteria may fit renters with a record.
Let us find out how a community screens before you pay another nonrefundable application fee.
What that means for you
Deferred adjudication means you pleaded guilty or no contest. The judge held off on a finding of guilt and put you on community supervision (probation). Finish it and the case is dismissed with no conviction. A lot of applicants think that keeps the charge off their record. But the case still shows up in county court records and in the public criminal history database run by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Why these charges show up on screening reports
Automated background checks pull from national and state databases and county court records. Some reports we see still list a finished case as pending. The database never picked up the dismissal. Finishing probation doesn't erase anything online.
For some first time misdemeanors, the judge issues an Order of Nondisclosure on its own when you finish. In most other cases you have to ask the court for one. Once it's granted, the record is hidden from the public, including landlords and screening companies. We see a lot of renters who qualify but never filed, and it costs them at the leasing office.
The documentation you need
Property managers need clear proof of where your case stands before they'll overturn an automated denial. Before you apply anywhere, get a certified copy of the court's order of discharge and dismissal. That's the order the judge signs when you finish deferred probation. It proves you did everything the court asked and weren't convicted. A letter from your probation officer can help too.
How long you have to wait for nondisclosure
Getting an Order of Nondisclosure takes time and a filing fee. Many misdemeanors have no wait once the court discharges you. Some, like assault, carry a two year wait, and felonies that qualify carry five. A few charges never qualify, including any family violence offense and anything that requires sex offender registration.
Here are mistakes we see people make with deferred adjudication:
- Assuming the record clears on its own once you finish probation.
- Leaving the charge off an application that asks about “pending” cases when you're still on deferred probation.
- Applying to communities whose written criteria deny any felony charge, convicted or not.
- Paying application fees before anyone checks the property’s criminal screening rules.
How Texas communities handle it
Every Texas management company has its own rules for deferred adjudication. A charge that gets approved at one building might get you denied right next door. That comes down to which screening company the property uses and what its written criteria say. Texas property managers use a mix of screening companies, including TransUnion SmartMove, RealPage LeasingDesk, and AppFolio. Some check Experian RentBureau rent data too.
Each one pulls up different information, and each management company reads it differently. From what we see, automated systems often flag any court case involving drugs or violence, even without a final conviction. Properties set those filters strictly to limit their liability.
HUD's 2016 guidance warned landlords against blanket bans on criminal records. HUD withdrew it in 2025, so each property now has more say, though the Fair Housing Act still applies.
What guessing costs you
People burn $50 to $75 per rejected application. Generic searches for “no credit check apartments” turn up vague pages that never explain how tenant screening actually works.
Guess wrong a few times and that's hundreds of dollars, more at communities that collect an admin fee with the application.
Here's how the screening tools we see most often handle these cases.
| Screening Company | What It Usually Pulls Up | How It Affects Approval |
|---|---|---|
| TransUnion SmartMove | National and state criminal databases | Shows any record that a nondisclosure order hasn't sealed. |
| RealPage / AppFolio | Detailed county court records | The property sets the rules for what gets flagged. |
| Experian RentBureau (rent data) | Rent payment history | Doesn't run criminal checks, so it won't show the charge. |
For more on renting with a record, see our criminal background guide or the related links below.
What to do next
Tell us the charge, when your deferred probation ended, and whether you've filed for nondisclosure. That's enough for us to compare your case with the deferred adjudication rules we track.
We'll usually reach out the same day with a few questions, and within 24 to 48 weekday hours we'll tell you which Texas communities may be worth a look for your situation. This service costs you nothing. Communities pay us the referral fee out of their advertising budgets.
If you may qualify for nondisclosure and haven't filed yet, ask a lawyer or legal aid about it, whether or not you call us.
Related reading: criminal background · renting with a misdemeanor