The short answer
Yes, some Texas communities accept applications during an open Chapter 13 case. They look at what’s left of your income after the plan payment and hold that up against their income requirement. Talk to your bankruptcy attorney before you sign. The federal courts say not to take on new debt without talking to your trustee first, and a new lease can count.
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
Not every community turns down an open Chapter 13 on sight. Some look at what’s left after your plan payment and compare that to their income requirement.
Bring the court order confirming your plan, your payment history from the trustee, and recent pay stubs.
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 bankruptcy, see our page on bankruptcy 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: bankruptcy · Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 for renting