Renting An Apartment With A Felony

Not everybody has a clean background and some even more dubious than others but what if you have a felony record that of course you cannot hide but you need to rent an apartment at the same time?
The fact is that most landlords conduct extensive background checks on their potential renters so if you have a record, chances are you will face a rather difficult circumstances in looking for a rental but with careful research and tactics, you might just be able to secure a rental.
Here are some tips to help you.

Do Your Research

Some apartment owners don't do background checks so it's best if you consult with a real estate agent regarding this matter or you can find an agent who knows specific rentals for felons.


Management By Company Or Managed By Owner

It's common practice for property management to do background check unlike property owners with minimal units and your chances of getting approved are also raised when you talk directly to the owner.

It Pays To Be Honest

Having a criminal record limits many things for you but don't be disheartened and choose to rise above the situation. Since you already have a record, the best thing to do is be honest about your status. Tell the owner upfront in case he asks you if you have a felony conviction although in some instances, there is no need to disclose a conviction so it always depend which state you're tryng to live in.
You can also state that whatever you have done in the past, you have paid for it and you are slowly building up yourself again and working towards the goal of being a law abiding citizen.
Resources In The Community

You'd be happy to know that there are community groups which assist felons transition into society again and this include finding an apartment that is right for you.

Request For Your Record To Be Sealed Or Expunged

When you have your records sealed, it won't be publicly accessible under court order so you won't need to worry that it will pop up during background check. Sealed records are oftentimes used in birth records, juvenile criminal records, witness protection and or trade cases or state secrets.
Record Expunging is the process of completely wiping out your criminal record and it is only made available to law enforcements or courts. This process is harder to apply for than sealing a record but you can always take the chance of applying for your benefit.
Character Reference

If you have friends, family or people who know you from rehab facility, ask them to give you reference or have it in writing about your character. Ask them if they can answer calls pertaining to the background checks done by private owners.
The letter must contain proof about your renewed character behavior, details about how you overcame your weaknesses and your strengths.
There should also be a contact no. and the letter should state their relationship to you.
Ask a favor from someone you know will build you up and focus on your strengths and not someone who will backbite you.

Prove You've Changed

Nothing works better than seeing you have certainly cleaned up. Prove that you're going to be better this time, join local non profit programs and assist in any way you can this way people especially private owners will see that you are doing what you can to become a better person this time.

Re-entry Programs

There are certain re-entry programs that you can join that will help you blend in with society again. These include topics like employment, social, skills, technology and computer training, financial literacy, housing, counseling and mentoring, education, health and mental care and life skills.