Tips To Convince Landlords To Accept You As A Felon

Can a landlord reject your application if they see a felony on your record? The answer is yes, and they can do so legally without it being deemed as discrimination.

It’s unfortunate, but felons are not a protected class under the Fair Housing Act. This can limit your options when it comes to finding an apartment, but you can find housing as long as you know what tips to follow and where to look.

Why Landlords Sometimes Reject Felons

It’s important not to be hard on yourself or fret over your situation too much. Even though certain landlords may not accept you after a background check, don’t take it personally. It merely means that they are doing everything they can to protect their investment, which is why they may reject an application if they feel any of the following apply:

• Lack of a steady job or income.
• Possible property damage.
• The potential for illegal activity on the property.
• Late payments.
• Character issues.

Can you overcome any initial objections or fears that a landlord may have? Sure, and here are some ways to accomplish that goal.

Tips for Convincing Landlords to Overlook a Felony

1. Provide strong references.

Even if your felony was a one-time mistake that was entirely out of character, a landlord will likely judge you for it. Call it human nature, being cautious, etc. Luckily, you can reduce any fears by securing references from others who will portray you as a high-character person. Maybe that felony was just a one-time event, and strong references can show a landlord that you’re deserving of a second chance.

Where can you look for references? Besides friends and family, contact former employers, a rehab facility you attended, or, best of all, past landlords you had a solid relationship with.

2. Display a steady income.

While your references may show you’re trustworthy despite your felony, a landlord will also be concerned about your ability to pay.

Finding employment with a criminal record can be as tough as securing housing. You can win the favor of your landlord if you can show that you not only have steady employment, but income that should ensure the rent gets paid every month on time.

To display a steady income, provide pay stubs and bank statements or anything else that shows you have cash coming in.

3. Pay a larger security deposit.

There may be several applicants vying for that one apartment. To stand out from the crowd, you may have to work a bit harder, especially if you have a strike against you due to a felony.

A great way to do this is by offering to pay a higher security deposit. This can give the landlord added peace of mind, and if they need the cash, they may be willing to fork over the apartment quickly.

4. Don’t take on any new debt.

Part of your application will take a look at your debt to income ratio. This is to ensure that you’re not overloaded with debt to the point that you won’t be able to pay your rent.

Landlords typically look for a debt to income ratio below 35 percent. You can keep yours low by avoiding taking out any loans before you apply for housing. In other words, wait to get that new car until after you secure an apartment.

5. Get personal.

You don’t want your prospective landlord to see you as a piece of paper.
The more you can connect with them, the better your chances of being accepted, felony, or not. To make that connection, write a letter detailing the following:

• Why you need the apartment.
• The type of person you are.
• How you’ve changed.
• What you hope to do in the future.
• Promises to be a trustworthy tenant.

Include a picture with your letter to make it even more personal.

6. Start your felon-friendly apartment search.

With the tips above at your disposal, it’s time to start searching for felon-friendly housing. Keep an eye out for listings that say “felony friendly” or “no background check.” Here are some sites that may lead to success:

• Apartment Guide
• Apartments.com
• Craigslist
• Rent Jungle
• Rent.com
• Sublet.com
• Trulia
• Zillow
• Zumper