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 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 · how long after a conviction you can rent