# Applying for an Apartment With a Criminal Record

> Applying for an apartment with a criminal record in Texas? Gather your court papers, know what risk fees to expect, and let us check which communities may fit.

URL: https://nocreditcheckapartment.com/guide/what-to-expect-applying-with-criminal-record/

Applying for an apartment with a criminal record? We check the screening rules first and tell you which documents each community wants. Before you send any court records, ask how to send them securely. Every property asks for different paperwork, so don’t count on one checklist covering them all.

## The short answer

Expect the property to ask for your court papers and to run a criminal screen apart from credit and rental history. Some communities look at each applicant one by one, and a few kinds of charges get turned down almost everywhere. If there’s a risk fee, it usually runs above what communities charge for credit issues.

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

Risk fees for a criminal record usually run above the fees for credit issues.

Before you spend $50 to $75 on an application, tell us what’s on your record. We’ll point you to communities whose written criteria may fit it.

## 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 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/) · [apartment risk fees](/guide/apartment-risk-fee/)

## FAQ

What documents help most with a criminal record? + 

The court’s final paperwork on your case (the disposition), your probation or parole discharge order, and two or three character references.

What risk fee should I expect? + 

Usually more than for a credit problem. The property sets it based on the charge and how old it is, so ask for the amount in writing before you apply.

Will I be denied outright? + 

Not always. Some communities look at each applicant one by one. A few kinds of charges get turned down almost everywhere, so let us check the rules before you pay to apply.

## 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/)