# HUD’s 2016 Criminal Screening Guidance: Withdrawn in 2025 > HUD withdrew its 2016 criminal screening guidance in September 2025. Here's what it said, what the Fair Housing Act still covers, and what it means for renters. URL: https://nocreditcheckapartment.com/guide/hud-2016-criminal-background-guidance/ Reading HUD’s 2016 criminal background screening guidance? HUD withdrew it in September 2025, so it’s no longer in effect. The Fair Housing Act itself still applies. For a specific denial, talk with a local fair housing group or a lawyer. ## The short answer HUD’s 2016 guidance warned landlords against blanket bans on criminal records, but it never stopped them from denying for a record. HUD [withdrew it on September 25, 2025](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-17/html/2026-14432.htm), so each Texas community now decides for itself how it handles a record. We’re the No Credit Check Apartment Team, a licensed real estate team brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC (TREC #562021). Between us we have more than 20 years in real estate, working with property managers across Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. We point renters with credit, eviction and record problems to communities whose criteria may fit them, and each property makes its own rental decision. ## What that means for you Some communities still review each record on its own. Others never did. The guidance is gone, but the Fair Housing Act isn't. ## How Texas communities handle it Texas property managers screen through a handful of companies, including TransUnion SmartMove, RealPage LeasingDesk, and AppFolio. Some check rent payment data from Experian RentBureau, and old apartment balances often show up through collection agencies like NCAC. Each one pulls up different information, and each management company reads it differently. A denied application usually costs $50 to $75, and those fees stack up fast when you apply without knowing how a property screens. For more on renting with a criminal record in Texas, see our [criminal background page](/criminal-background/) or the related guides below. ## What to do next Don't know where to apply, or tired of paying fees just to get turned down? Don’t guess. Send us your situation and we’ll point you to Texas communities worth a look. It’s free to you; communities pay our referral fee out of their advertising budgets. Related reading: [criminal background page](/criminal-background/) · [can you rent with a felony in Texas?](/guide/can-you-rent-with-a-felony-in-texas/) ## FAQ Does HUD guidance mean communities can't deny for a record? + No. Even before HUD withdrew it in September 2025, the guidance let communities deny for a record. It warned against blanket bans. The [Fair Housing Act](https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans/fair-housing-act-overview) still applies, and courts can still hear disparate impact claims under it. How does this help me rent? + It pushed a lot of management companies to look at the charge itself, how long ago it was, and what you'd done since. Plenty of the communities we work with still screen that way. Do Texas communities still follow it? + Some kept individual review after HUD pulled the guidance. Others never adopted it and still deny on the record alone. ## Related guides [### Can You Rent an Apartment With a Felony in Texas? Some Texas communities rent to people with a felony. The charge and how long ago it was shape how they look at it, and good credit alone won't undo a denial.](/guide/can-you-rent-with-a-felony-in-texas/)[### Deferred Adjudication in Texas and Apartment Screening Deferred adjudication isn't a formal conviction, but some reports still show it. Here's how managers treat it and what paperwork helps you explain it.](/guide/deferred-adjudication-apartment-screening/)[### How Long After a Conviction Can You Rent an Apartment? Most communities we work with count 5 to 7 years from the end of your sentence, probation and parole included. Some count from the conviction date, and the type of charge can stretch the wait.](/guide/how-long-after-conviction-can-you-rent/)[### Renting With a Misdemeanor: Which Charges Cause Trouble? An old misdemeanor, like a DWI or marijuana possession, is usually easier to rent with than a felony. Recent, violent and theft charges still cause problems, and court paperwork helps.](/guide/renting-with-a-misdemeanor/) ## Want us to look at your situation? Send us your screening issue and target city. We typically get back to you the same day to go over your form, and your community list usually takes 24 to 48 weekday hours. Weekend requests most likely hear from us Monday. Free. [Start Your Free Search](/find-apartments/) ## Put this advice into practice - [Prepare your application checklist](/calculators/application-readiness-checklist/) - [Plan your move-in budget](/calculators/move-in-budget-planner/) - [See renter resources](/renter-resources/)