rental approval guidelines

So you got declined due to records on your background report? If you have just one misdemeanor on your tenant background report, it could be enough to reject your rental application. The sad fact is that if you get any type of criminal record, you are at risk of getting declined. There is nothing you can do about it except deal with the consequences.
Can you really blame the property manager for declining your application? You haven’t exactly mentioned what your “just” misdemeanors were for. I’ve seen many misdemeanors that stem for extremely bad criminal behavior such as theft to non threatening actions such as a failing to pay a ticket. In either case as a landlord we have to review the background report to determine whether the applicant could pose a problem. A criminal record is not a protected class, so landlords can decline you for even the smallest offense, and theres nothing you can do about it, except move on to find another property that is willing to accept your application with misdemeanors and all.
If you could only turn back the clock!

I’m glad you were declined! I’d be madder than H3LL if my manager rented to someone with a criminal history. I don’t know legal stuff but I would think that the landlord is at a bigger legal liability IF they rent to someone with a criminal history, no matter what the offenses were. You could probably sue you landlord if they knowingly rented to a criminal that acted against one of their tenants. Doesn’t sound like a good idea at all!!!
Thank you Mr. Landlord for being responsible and rejecting this guy.

I almost forgot to mention why I’m so hostile against this guy that thinks he should be able to rent an apartment with a criminal record… Why? Did you notice he didn’t say: I only have one small misdemeanor– NOPE! He said: Misdemeanors with an “s” making it plural. Come on Steven, your record has multiple criminal reports– thats why I’m being so negative towards you. I might understand one problem from some mistake in college, but if you have multiple misdemeanors that tells me a bit more about your character.

Sorry Steven– you did the crime now you pay the fine. The manager most likely discovered the criminal record on their own, meaning that you failed to mention it on your rental application, if that’s true, you had two strikes: 1) Criminal Record 2) Dishonest Rental Application
In the future I would tell management about the record and let them know exactly why and how you got it. Being upfront and honest could have landed you that apartment you were hoping to rent.
Now you know for the next one! Be honest. There’s no sense in wasting your time or theirs. Be certain that your landlord or manager will find your criminal history.
(–Marc–)