# Renting an Apartment With a Misdemeanor: What to Prepare

> Renting an apartment with a misdemeanor in Texas? Bring your court papers, see which charges still cause trouble, and let us check each property's rules.

URL: https://nocreditcheckapartment.com/guide/renting-with-a-misdemeanor/

Looking for an apartment with a misdemeanor on your record? We check each property’s screening rules for you, including which court papers it wants to see. How the case ended and how long ago it happened matter more than the name of the charge.

## The short answer

A misdemeanor usually gets a lighter look than a felony, and an old, nonviolent one gets the lightest. The charges that still lead to denials are recent cases, violent charges like assault, and theft or fraud. The outcome and the date carry the most weight.

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

Three kinds of charges still get people turned down: recent ones, assault or other violent charges, and theft or fraud.

Bring the court’s final paperwork on the case (the disposition) and proof you finished probation or paid your fines. An old, nonviolent charge usually gets a lighter look, but each property still makes its own call.

## 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 any kind of record, see our page on [criminal background](/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](/criminal-background/) · [how long after a conviction you can rent](/guide/how-long-after-conviction-can-you-rent/)

## FAQ

Are misdemeanors easier to rent with than felonies? + 

Usually. The screening policies we see treat an old, nonviolent misdemeanor like a DWI more lightly than a felony.

Will a misdemeanor still show on screening? + 

It can. Texas law keeps screening companies from reporting a conviction more than seven years after the case ended or you were released. But court records stay public, and a landlord can look them up. Plenty of communities give an old, nonviolent misdemeanor little weight.

Do I need to explain a misdemeanor? + 

It helps. Write a short letter on what happened and what has changed since, and attach the court’s disposition.

## 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/)[### HUD 2016 Guidance and Criminal Background Rental Screening

In 2016 HUD said blanket criminal denials could break the Fair Housing Act. HUD withdrew that guidance in 2025. The Fair Housing Act itself still applies.](/guide/hud-2016-criminal-background-guidance/)

## 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/)