Finding an apartment to rent when you have a criminal history

by | Mar 9, 2018 | Theft & Property Crimes

Landlords can be very picky about who they rent to. With the exception of specific exclusions, they have every right to be this way. Unfortunately, this means that a person who has a felony might have great difficulties finding a place to live when he or she needs one. There are some ways that you might be able to increase the chance that you will find a suitable apartment.

One way that you can help yourself here is to find a landlord that doesn’t do a background check. Without a background check, you might not have to deal with explaining the charges or situations that you faced. It can be hard to find this, especially if you need an apartment because some of the bigger complexes might use a property management company that does these checks.

You might be able to get a landlord to give you a chance even if you do have to go through a background check. To do this, you will have to show that you are stable and productive now. Showing references and letting the landlord contact people who can attest to your character might be beneficial. Longevity at the job might also have a positive impact.

Sometimes, agencies and programs that assist felons with re-entry to society might be able to help you find a place to rent. You should be willing to remain flexible about your housing requirements since you have the criminal record to contend with. If you are on probation or parole, make sure that you are keeping your supervision officer in the loop about what is going on with your housing.

Source: ForRent.com, “Renting an Apartment After a Felony Conviction,” Pamela Rosara Jones, accessed March 09, 2018

FindLaw Network

Categories

Archives