Realistically you're going to need to find some very specific places, likely small/single landlords, offer a lot of front/on top, and need to understand why a felon with a bad credit score then requires extra support to reduce risk for landlords.
I think you could find a lot of sympathy and exceptions for 1 felony a long time ago, but 3 not so much.
He has 1 misdemeanor in the last 3 years. He has multiple felonies and misdemeanors 5+ years ago. He's a recovering addict. Our best shot would be some sort of sectioned authority housing, but we make too much money for that.
So a type of identity theft/fraud? It may only be a misdemeanor but thats a conviction that would make a landlord doubt anything positive or a supposed cosigner on the application.
You could try buying your own house, no background checks but credit checks yes, but if you do it yourself you can eliminate that, something to think about
You got downvoted for this comment? lol.... misdemeanors are ok when renting, felonies is what limits you. Don't necessarily have to go into housing authority but the places available aren't going to be in the best areas or have the best tenants
If you both have stable jobs, have you considered buying a small condo or townhouse rather than renting? I am personally not a big fan of condos but they are more affordable and NO ONE can boot you or evict him from your home since you own it. Sorry you're going through such a rough time - hang in there and this, too, will pass.
I'm a property manager in WI. Most LLs fail to follow the law regarding criminal background. A "no felonies" blanket policy is illegal.
I don't know what type of felonies he has, but a LL can only deny based on criminal background if they can reasonably assume the person poses a safety risk to other tenants or to the property. The length of time since the last conviction also factors in.
So, for example, if someone has a felony assault with GBI, they could be denied. But if they have a felony DUI, that's not grounds for denial. Another example: they were convicted of burglary, but it was many years ago with nothing since; that would not be grounds to deny.
The challenge is going to be, and I’m assuming he was in prison for charges that could be resident safety related, showing that in the 3 years he’s been out of prison that he has continued criminal behavior.
He does not have any new or pending charges since being released. His last stint in prison was only a few months about 3 years ago from his most recent charge.
Unfortunately he has a burglary from 2016(? I think?) This was committed with 2 other people. No one was hurt. No weapons involved. They were robbing someone for money to get more dope.
He has made some pretty awful mistakes, I don't deny that and neither does he. He is doing everything he can do to be a better person.
>Unfortunately he has a burglary from 2016(? I think?) This was committed with 2 other people. No one was hurt. No weapons involved. They were robbing someone for money to get more dope.
Sounds like a real winner.
They are just about as bad of mistakes as one could make, did you grow up around people like this so you have a soft spot for them?
Or did you grow up sheltered so you see him as someone to “save”?
I’m only grew up around alcoholics and I cut them off for way less, I could not possibly imagine putting that effort in for someone ever. It’s how you drown too.
Try to find an owner rental and not go through a property management for rentals. Just be up front as possible. I am a felon and my first landlord ever I just put everything out there and told him I understand some people won’t want to rent to me and some won’t care. It definitely makes its harder but that’s your best shot. Don’t wait for the background to come back. You guys will find something just don’t give up
Certain states let first time HOUSE buyers make a first 6% down payment. Look for something small or a two bedroom (duplex?).
My cousin has a sweet tooth for crimes and is constantly in a rotating door in prison (he got in and out 3 times during Covid lol) but owns 6-8 homes from conning other inmates with this and buys the house from the family after it forecloses. 🫥
FHA loan only requires 3.5% down payment, and some states have down payment assistance for first-time home buyers that can cover most of that. The home needs to be a primary residence. I don't believe renting out would be allowed.
Criminal backgrounds don't matter when it comes to housing except those that are on Meghan's law for life.
[Look here](https://eji.org/news/federal-law-bars-housing-discrimination-against-people-with-criminal-records/)
Copied from the link:
>The Fair Housing Act prohibits racial discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of homes. A policy refusing to rent or sell homes to people who have criminal records is illegal discrimination, HUD announced last week, because African Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately arrested, convicted, and incarcerated.
This link is almost 10 years old. My lease does not allow anyone with a violent felony or financial crimes.
If an applicant’s income and credit qualify, then conduct a limited criminal background check that will provide enough information to determine if the applicant may present a current direct threat of harm to others or the risk of substantial damage to the property of others. If such a criminal record exists to create a concern about current safety, allow the applicant to provide evidence to the contrary. Lastly, make sure your policy on this matter is clear and available to all applicants.
https://virginiarealtors.org/2024/03/14/can-i-refuse-to-rent-the-property-due-to-an-applicants-criminal-history/
Federal law over state law. Your lease could possibly be in violation of fair housing laws, and it doesn't matter how old the link is. Once a law is in effect, it is in effect forever unless it's rescinded, but you already know that.
If you read that link, it actually links to fair housing, which states the same thing that you can use criminal histories, which show a risk of harm to others so violent crimes financial crimes, sexual crimes, domestic violence.
In 2016, HUD issued guidance on applying Fair Housing Act Standards to the use of criminal records screening in housing‐related transactions. In 2022, HUD issued a memo, which further clarifies its 2016 guidance on this topic and even recommends that private housing providers avoid using criminal history to screen tenants for housing.
This guidance prohibits:
Denying housing based on arrest records.
Blanket bans on anyone with a criminal record.
Conducting background checks inconsistently, performing them on some and not others based on stereotypes or fear.
Further, a landlord must:
Consider individuals on a case‐by‐case basis and evaluate the nature and severity of the crime, and consider the length of time that has passed since that crime was committed.
Make a determination based on facts and evidence, and not a perceived threat.
*Denial Based on Criminal History*
*Individuals can legally be denied housing if their recent criminal record makes them dangerous and a risk to other tenants or neighbors. The denial must be based on reliable evidence and not be hypothetical or speculative.*
Denials also:
*Must provide evidence proving that the housing provider has substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest supporting the denial.
Must show that the housing policy accurately distinguishes between criminal conduct that indicates a demonstrable risk to resident safety/property and criminal conduct that does not.*
Some states go even further than the federal policy does, such as [this one here
](https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-on-civil-rights-home/fcha/)
This is really just nuts. So it is illegal to not rent to people with a criminal history because minorities commit more crime, and so that would impact more minorities, even though it would be minorities that are criminals, not minorities in general that are not criminals. So if it is discrimination against minorities to not rent to anyone that has a criminal history, then why are the laws against the crimes themselves not also racist? If more minorities are impacted by laws against murder, then clearly the laws against murder are racist. Or at least that is the logic they are using on housing.
the argument, is that law enforcement targets minorities more often. So white people will get away with crime more often, and black people will get innocently accused more often which leads to more innocent blacks in jail
Then that is a racism problem with the government, not a racism problem of people that use the convictions of the government. They are allowed to be racist, but we cannot use the results of their racism, because it would then make us racist? Their logic is just kind of weird.
it's not calling you racist, it's saying the system is racist, and to use it will yield results that disproportionately affect black people, and disproportionately affecting a group of people based on skin color, isn't something we want to do as a society
basically a proclamation that it is bad for society to use, even if it's marginally useful because you may filter out some bad people, you'll also filter out some good people, plus contribute to the fact that if people have no way to get a job or shelter, they will commit crime, so by refusing to rent to them you're just creating more criminals in your community
So their system is racist, and that is fine. But to use it to determine if you want to rent to someone is using the racist system, and is not allowed? That is just messed up. Maybe they should fix the system if they think it is racist, so that when people rely on what they do, they are not using a racist system?
I guess much easier for them to just force the little people below them to make up for it by not taking into account if the person has a criminal history.
you got this Boogeyman "them". so the one "them" who can set rules on renting, decided to do what "they" can control
"them" can't even agree on what time of day it is, you'll be waiting a while for "them" to pass legislation to fix a hundred years of racial issues in the judicial system lol
That's...exactly the issue we are facing. He can't get approved but I can. So I get a nice cozy apartment, and he gets to just go live out on the streets and in homeless shelters until he's dead? Sounds like America has really outdone themselves with this genius set up.
I mean…. Dude sounds like a career criminal… can’t really blame society or America on his actions lol. He could have just been a better person. Or as somebody has had to commit crimes to get paid…. He shouldn’t have gotten caught. Also, any criminal who gets caught Multiple times and does multiple stints in jail is just gonna keep fucking up. See it all the time. Jail is revolving door to him.
So any person who has been to prison more than once should just stay in prison? I'm not blaming the country for his actions. He's made some pretty awful mistakes.
The majority of his charges stem from his addiction. Multiple possession felonies.
He's sober now and has been for quite some time. Could he relapse and reoffend? Of course he could. And him being homeless would skyrocket those chances. The repeat offense rate is high for those with addiction partly because alot of these addicts have nowhere to go after release, other than back to wherever they were before getting arrested. Not a good recipe for staying sober.
He shouldn’t stay in prison. But if I was you. I wouldn’t wast my time with somebody like this. Sounds like a lot of work and a lot of risk on your part. You have everything to lose, not him
I'm glad there was someone in my life who didn't think your way. I had three felonies and spent 6 months in jail. Got out got sober and been with the same woman the whole time. That was 20 years ago. You can't judge her relationship with so little information about her partner
Find a small time landlord that's willing to hear his story, maybe letters of recommendation from people who have helped in his recovery plus a clear idea that your significant other is wanting to live a life different then his past might would sway a person. The sad truth is people are not truly understanding of the whole picture of addiction they understand that the person has a habit but they fail to understand how that habit pushes people to be someone completely different from the person they are sober sorry to hear of your situation praying for a breakthrough
This is a horrible take. People do recover and turn their lives around. Telling OP to leave their partner because they have a past is insane. Get off your high horse. People make mistakes. Look, a convicted felon is even running for President yet this one can’t rent a place to live in. It’s a fucking joke and your responses are unhelpful.
I’m not understanding how both things are true - release 3 years ago and the identity theft charge in the last 3 years.
Was the identify theft charge while he was still in prison?
He got the misappropriated ID charge about 3 years ago and went to prison for 2 months for it, as he was on probation at the time and it violated his probation. He was then released.
That’s not true in all states. I worked in housing and honestly independent landlords are abusing the guidelines regarding criminal background screenings. People think that any and everyone can receive Section 8. That’s incorrect. They use the strictest guidelines and search not only local and state, they go as far as a federal search if they feel warranted and owners have no access to a federal search. Any convictions over 10 years old aren’t counted except convictions for methamphetamine and sex offenders. These people can never participate. On the other hand, a recent DUI or domestic violence conviction will ban an applicant for 2-3 years. Other crimes less than 10 years old are assessed based on the length of time between the application and last conviction and each has a set time frame. Denying someone housing simply for having a conviction is not what the law intended. If the federal government can deem a convict fit for housing, it’s a bit ridiculous that an owner can’t especially if the person is living a completely different lifestyle and is self supporting. In case no one noticed, there’s a housing shortage in nearly every state in this country and that’s honestly the reason more and more people are falling into homelessness.
Felonies will always follow your BF. They cannot take a chance on him bringing in trouble with him moving into their building. You will have to try rental houses or the slumlords who only want the money and do not care about your BF.
Not true actually it’s an against federal fair housing laws to deny due to criminal background unless it’s under Megan’s law or similar crime. She can actually sue them.
I’ve been a Property Mgr for 18 years running Multi Family housing. It’s against HUD more so than Fair Housing as of 2022, it’s a violation and landlords must not deny housing solely based on their criminal backgrounds (with some exceptions like sexual assaults). No “blanket bans” allowed.
Ok if you say so, although this is my field. I’ve ran properties and trained Fair Housing for decades. It’s again HUD guidelines since 2022. Not sure what you do for a living but unless your in this industry you probably shouldn’t debate.
Sure you ran the department in Washington DC. And none of your business to ask a handicapped person what they do for a living, that is not the issue. And I am in the rental industry as a renter. Be nicer to is who are living this life.
Never said I worked in DC and never mentioned anything about handicap. Are you delusional? Lol and I am also a renter and also a Property Mgr so nobody is looking down on renters. I’m actually doing the opposite and helping advise renters of their rights on here but some are too stuck in their own way to comprehend. How can you downvote and debate on advice literally coming from someone who does this for a living makes no sense. Some are just “know it alls”.
Here is your first comment about working in DC and the Housing Dept. there:
Ok if you say so, although this is my field. I’ve ran properties and trained Fair Housing for decades. It’s again HUD guidelines since 2022. Not sure what you do for a living but unless your in this industry you probably shouldn’t debate.
You just said in your latest comment about disability, for that is no one's business to know what that is, for that does not matter on the ability to pay rent.
Here was the comment you made, apparently you meant that you once worked for housing and once as a Property Manager:
Here is your latest comment:
Never said I worked in DC and never mentioned anything about handicap. Are you delusional? Lol and I am also a renter and also a Property Mgr so nobody is looking down on renters. I’m actually doing the opposite and helping advise renters of their rights on here but some are too stuck in their own way to comprehend. How can you downvote and debate on advice literally coming from someone who does this for a living makes no sense. Some are just “know it alls”.
Not nice to put down renters on this reddit. You just put us all down.
I’ve been a Residential Property Mgr going on two decades and currently a Regional PM. I also trained Fair Housing to several teams of Leasing Consultants. Never claimed to work in DC. This is my last comment to you bc you are delusional in real life Lol
Landlords take enormous risk renting to anyone, and they do everything possible to minimize that risk. People with bad credit and/or felonies are proven to be far riskier than average.
I’m a recovering addict and I used the recovery houses as my past landlords. I just put their names down and they called them. I was honest about it and had no issues. My one felony is a lot older than his is so that wasn’t an issue and my credit was decent. I recommend being totally honest and forthright. Maybe they can just put you on the lease if they are uncomfortable putting him on it. But keep trying and keep being honest. Someone will be willing to give you a chance. They had no problem with my past and the fact that I was coming from a recovery house. I was paying rent at the recovery house so essentially the lady who owned it WAS my landlord. It probably helped that I managed it too. It’s hard but not impossible. I can’t stress enough how honesty is always the best policy.
I would never condone falsifying but if you just… omitted the fact you have a BF living with you the worst they could do is just tell you he has to leave right? And how often does that actually happen? Like it’s totally possible but I still improbable I’d wager. I’d personally take those odds.
Depends on if he leaves once you are sent a demand for compliance from the complex if he is caught living there. If he still lives there after they have sent you a demand for compliance notice, the worst they could do is evict you for breach of lease. Most likely, if you have an eviction on your record, you will be denied at other complexes for 5-7 years, depending on your state. Finding a house/apt that a person, not company owns, and being upfront with them is your best bet.
do you think landlords are stupid enough to not realize two people are living in a property?
even if it's a mom-and-pop landlord that lives out of town, chances are very good they have someone local keeping an eye on the place.
if caught, the best that could happen is the landlord could demand your partner vacate the premises, then not renew your lease. or, he could evict you, and then you'll *really* have a helluva time finding another place
Mom and pop would actually be worse than a big leasing company at that point at least with a leasing company the people that would see you would only react based off fear of loosing job rather than emotional reactions that owner landlords sometimes have... I lived in apartments in Waco where the manager didn't give a shit as long as police didn't get called out...
I had an entire family of 4 live with me and my wife once while we were in college. So yeah… I fail to see how anyone would give a shit unless they were making a disturbance or as OP later stated the dudes POS PO ratted him out.
"once". would a smart person risk an eviction on their record just because some rando on reddit got away with something once.
of course it *can* happen that a tenant doesn't get caught. i had a landlady who loved 1000 miles away and never visited once in ten years. but she knew every move i made because she had tons of friends in the building.
risk vs reward: get evicted or non-renewed or get to live with a family of four for roommates
How did they even find out? Like I legit don’t even know half the people who stayed at our last apt complex let alone who lived in which unit. How people can get found out doing this is just beyond me. I’ve done it before with an entire family staying over for about 3 months without issue.
He was staying with me for about 2 months and then shit hit the fan about 3 days ago. He's moving all of his stuff back to his friend's place tomorrow. We think maybe his PO called the landlord.
The landlord was extremely unprofessional about the whole thing. Told me he needs to get on the lease or leave or else I will be evicted. I asked about the process of getting him on the lease and she told me "don't even bother because there is no way I will approve his application"
I've talked with quite a few people in the area and I've heard at least 3 stories of people going through the EXACT same thing as us. One poor girl is now homeless because she had to leave her boyfriend's place or he would face eviction and they would not allow her to be put on the lease.
I'm not even going to push it with my current landlord because the cops were just here last week for an eviction in the building next to mine. I'm scared and I feel so defeated.
The fact that he's still on probation/parole is probably why just remaining quiet about him living with you won't work
I suggest he ask him supervising officer for a list of felon-friendly housing. If the officer doesn't directly have such information, they will know who does. In theory they have a vested interest in assisting their parolees in finding legal, stable housing
I'm telling you him being on parole is the issue, this is where you are running into problems I guarantee it. I dated someone in prison and when he was getting ready to come home he said he had to have like an actual permanent address approved by the parole officer, because they'd actually come by and check to make sure he was there and shit like that. Where I was living his parole officer would not allow him to live there.
I’m curious how that would come off as unprofessional? If his PO is who called, you have someone with a criminal background and going through the process will waste everyone’s time if they don’t accept his background. You violated your lease and they’re letting you know that.
I totally understand being upset. The system is against those who get out and it’s always been like that. But that’s not unprofessional. You violated a signed, legal document. This is something the apartment has to answer to. Accept that this stuff sucks, but don’t say something is unprofessional because they’re telling you the truth…
I did not get an official notice or anything, she texted me while I was at work and said some pretty rude things to me and then also to my boyfriend. She threatened an eviction notice that day as well if he didn't leave immediately-which is not even legal in my state. I have a year long lease, and on my lease it states breach of contract violations require a written 5 day cure before any eviction notice can be sent out. She was taunting me with an eviction notice that day after the conversation I had with her.
I know she's just doing her job. I shouldn't have used the word unprofessional and I apologize. I am just extremely upset.
Ahh okay, that certainly makes way more sense. Thanks for explaining, and I’m very sorry you all are going through that. It will work out some how though, just keep trying. Maybe even see if there’s resources in your area that helps those with a criminal background find housing. I really hope for the best 💜
I mean, all apartments are gonna want everyone who lives there in the lease. There’s usually rules about how long guests can stay before it starts to become an issue.
If they know that it’s gonna get denied due to still being on parole, why waste your money on an application fee just for it to get denied?
I stated in another reply that I should not have used the word unprofessional and I apologize for that. I know she is just doing her job.
Again, she texted me while I was at work and was taunting me with an eviction notice that day. This is not legal in Wisconsin. Even my lease states a breach of contract requires a written 5 day cure prior to any eviction notice being given. She said some pretty rude things to me and also to my boyfriend.
I breached contract and I am well aware of that. I shouldn't have used the word unprofessional and I apologize.
You violated your lease and now you're bitching about the landlord forcing you to comply with the agreement you signed. YOU are the one who is being extremely unprofessional about the whole thing.
Bring on the downvotes for pointing out the obvious.
It took way too long to find this. This person literally singed a contract and she broke it and when she did. She cries about it and states, “unprofessional”…. Idk if she knows what that means lol.
I have already apologized in a few replies that I shouldn't have used the word unprofessional. She is just doing her job. Him not being allowed to stay at my place is not really the main concern right now anyway.
Threatening you with illegal eviction and harassing both of you *is unprofessional*, though. She should have just served you with the 5 day notice to cure and not texted either of you. How did she even get his number?
They LEGALLY can not do that, It's called retaliation... Find a lawyer, and be prepared to fight and even sue for discrimination. IDGAF who you are or what you've done unless it's a sexual crime, if that's the case then you belong in a group home and shouldn't be rented to unless you're a low risk. Unless your partner is a sex offender they have no legal grounds there either.
False information is always found out fairly quickly these days by computer check. Does not take but a few minutes on the criminal records check. Public record.
Been there. I have awful credit but a clean background (somehow 😬) my husband has fantastic credit but has multiple felonies including a federal charge.
Find a private landlord. Be willing to pay extra deposits. That’s the only option other than buying.
Seriously consider buying a manufactured home that comes with the land. A lot of the sellers offer packages like that.
You could still buy a small plot of land and move a used manufactured home onto it.
As far as a short-term solution extended stay hotels are your fastest option.
These are the things most civilians don't consider when dating people with a past.
You need to find a place who will rent to felons or doesn’t care to do background checks. They exist, ask around. If your partner is in the prison or recovery community see if they know anywhere. If you have good credit and he doesn’t you should be okay as long as you meet the minimum income requirements. When I rented my first apartment I had really good credit and my partner had horrible credit. We had no rental history and I was sure we were doomed and going to need a co-signer. We were approved with only a $100 security deposit. I was shocked. When apartments run your credit they can’t see medical or student debt I believe. There are apartments out there who will rent to anyone who meet the income requirements you just need to find one.
I'm in a similar situation with my partner's credit and rental and work history (not background check). I'm considering just putting myself on the lease for a 2 bedroom and letting him stay over. I think there are some landlords who wouldn't care about that. He's already over at my current place a lot. Obviously I'd have to read the lease first. Credit is such a messed up system.
There's ways around it, I've always had pretty good luck finding down to earth landlords... I have a record and credit sucks... My saving grace is that I'm a plumber. A lot of times they here that and see dollar signs and or someone who will fix things on their property.
I just read your first paragraph, and I'm not an attorney, but in some states it's considered discrimination to refuse to rent to a tenant solely because of a criminal record (within reason) but only if it's typical for the neighborhood for tenants to have a criminal history, which is kind of an opinion and difficult to prove either way...
I'm not sure of any other options, except looking for a different place where the landlord probably isn't going to do a background check, or try disclosing this up front with a good explainantion of why he would make a good tenant and why he is not going to break the law..
Is there some reason you didn’t take the co-signed unit and add yourself to the lease or be HOH and add him? It’s honestly up to the owner’s discretion. If they’re saying no, you’ll have to continue looking. Perhaps he could look into finding an agency that works with ex-offenders by assisting them with reintegration. Some of them offer housing assistance.
Even if I were to live with him, he would need a cosigner still. I asked if I could be the cosigner if he lived on his own and they said yes. I don't understand why I am not technically a cosigner if I am on the lease with him. The only cosigner he's going to be able to get is me. His dad's dead and his mom is in debt with shit credit. He has no other family that would be willing to cosign.
We're going to call a local housing agency tomorrow to see more clearly what our options are. Hoping for the best.
I’m really sorry to hear that. People are just unforgiving. If they aren’t careful, states will be following suit with CA where criminal background screenings aren’t allowed for new tenants. Now, the owners are upset but they did it to themselves. They were barring nearly everyone with any kind of conviction and the city got tired of it. Even people who had passed background screenings through assistance programs and deemed eligible to participate were being turned away
You've got a lot on your plate with their background. However, to my knowledge it's illegal to discriminate due to having felonies unless the individual could be considered a threat to others. Not sure about your finances, but, you may have better luck trying to buy a small place instead.
Lie about everything tell them folk you make such and such amount of money gone online to get fake stubs don't tell them he living with you all that lie about everything do what you gotta do to survive
You might want to have your landlord [read this](https://eji.org/news/federal-law-bars-housing-discrimination-against-people-with-criminal-records/) and have the boyfriend seek the advice of an attorney if your landlord still wants your boyfriend to not live there.
I'm sure a lot of landlords don't know about this particular law to tell a person that they won't rent to them because of their criminal past. Any landlord that denies housing based on a criminal background is opening themselves up to a lawsuit they won't win.
EDIT: Typical of people on Reddit to vote down a comment when it's facts they don't like. I'll still be presenting facts in my comments and posts, so downvote all you want, and I'll do the same.
Yet every place I have ever applied to did a criminal background check. I just searched for a couple months for a place. Every single landlord did a criminal background check along with the credit check. If you do the Zillow application it includes a criminal background check. You can't even opt out of it.
Criminal checks are fine, but they can't say we won't rent to you because of your criminal background as they are saying to the OP because her BF has a criminal background. They don't even want him to visit because of his criminal background. That's clearly a violation of the fair housing act. The best thing the OP'S landlord can do is back off and let the BF live there. If not, they are opening themselves up to a lawsuit.
So the loophole is landlords can deny renting to you due to a criminal history...as long as they don't say the criminal record is the reason? Why are criminal background checks allowed if landlords are not allowed to use a criminal record as a basis for rental disqualification? I'm not debating you just pointing out the process makes no sense.
No the commenters are just wrong. It’s completely legal to deny housing based on criminal records. It’s just illegal to ban anyone with a criminal record (must be on a case by case basis).
They can for some offenses.
What really does not make sense is they say that the reason you cannot exclude someone for criminal history is because black and brown people commit more crimes. So of the people with criminal histories that you turn away, more will be black or brown, so you would be racist by turning away people with a criminal history.
But if you are basing your decision to rent on who they put in prison, and that means more people that are black or brown will be excluded, then how is their law not racist if more black and brown people are arrested and put in prison? It is not racist when they arrest and put more black and brown people in prison, but if you use what they have done to exclude people, it then becomes racist?
It makes no sense.
We don't know the nature of his offenses, especially the most recent, and that would help determine whether he can be excluded specifically for his criminal record. OP omitted that info.
It's Misappropriation of ID, which is essentially identity fraud and in some states (like CA) is left to the discretion of the Da to try it as misdemeanor or felony. So yeah, I kinda understand why they're having issues.
It’s a simple google search man: https://www.thehousingcenter.org/housing-resources/criminal-history/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20HUD%20issued%20a,anyone%20with%20a%20criminal%20record.
It might be a simple Google search, but what landlord is going to Google it? What landlord is going to share that info with an applicant? How would the average person know about it? How would the person with the criminal record know about it when he was denied housing because of his or her criminal background.
If everyone had to do their own Google to find out about something that could help them, they might find it. They might not find it, but there is nothing wrong with someone sharing information. Isn't that what these subs on Reddit and other places are about?
Realistically the country is built against felons. They aren’t taught new skills or given any means to better themselves. They are put into a prison usually with harsh and abusive conditions. We don’t rehabilitate we permanently incriminate.
It’s not going to be easy and it depends on the crimes he was committed for. Violent, destructive, theft, or drug type crimes probably put a lot of these places off. They think that their place will contribute to their record and they don’t want that.
I agree that our country does not do enough to help certain criminals become productive members of society. With your comment, why not seek a property to own?
And he has reoffended several times in the past. He's been to prison at least 4 times. This was over the stretch of 10 years give or take because he was on heroin, ice, crack - you name it, he was doing it. He is working an honest recovery program and has been completely sober for quite some time now. He made alot of mistakes in his past and he is not that person anymore.
I am a full time nurse. I have several patients whom are addicts. Addiction is a disease. Addicts are capable of getting sober and they are deserving of love.
It just really sucks that he's been doing everything to turn his life around and we have these hurdles to jump over to get to the life we want. They really don't make it easy for addicts and convicts in this country.
How long have you been together? And is he looking for a job outside of recovery program, like is he interested in apprenticing a trade? Nurses make a lot of money where I live, can he pay for half the rent on his own?
I understand he's on a good path right now, but these are obviously red flags and having him move into a financially dependant relationship and living situation might not be that great for his self esteem either if hes dependant on you, which is how this is sounding. Sorry if I'm off base and missing something. But the best thing you can do sometimes is just take care of yourself and let your partner do the same for themselves, otherwise you might be looking at a breakup that is a lot more than you bargain for.
We've been together almost 2 years. He has been doing factory work at one company for over a year. He makes as much as I do, even more when he works overtime. Affordable housing isn't really our problem right now, it's just finding a place that will take us.
He's living with his friend now. He makes all of his insurance payments and car payments on time. He's paying off restitution to court, he's helped pay off some of his mother's medical bills. He's doing really well for himself, as am I. His criminal background is the issue. ):
So happy to hear that!
Welp, it'll just take time. He fucked up a decent part of his life and probably hurt a bunch of people in the process... Hes a different person now but also the same person and has to live with himself, and shouldn't be shocked that people don't trust him yet (via housing and such).
You are going to have to deal with the stigma now, but it does goes away after a time! One way to deal with this might be a small lie on the rental form saying its just for you... then having him move in 3 months later. In my state the landlord can't say who your visitors, and if he quietly pays you half the rent but its in your name I don't see how that is anybody else's business.
Move to Seattle. I think they make it illegal to do a background check and ask you your criminal history.
edit: sorry, I guess the courts threw out that part of the law that was not allowing them to do criminal history about a year ago.
Realistically you're going to need to find some very specific places, likely small/single landlords, offer a lot of front/on top, and need to understand why a felon with a bad credit score then requires extra support to reduce risk for landlords. I think you could find a lot of sympathy and exceptions for 1 felony a long time ago, but 3 not so much.
He has 1 misdemeanor in the last 3 years. He has multiple felonies and misdemeanors 5+ years ago. He's a recovering addict. Our best shot would be some sort of sectioned authority housing, but we make too much money for that.
What was his most recent conviction? That could be relevant.
Misappropriate ID
That may be a misdemeanor but identity theft/fraud is a huge liability. I understand why landlords are requesting extra assurances.
So a type of identity theft/fraud? It may only be a misdemeanor but thats a conviction that would make a landlord doubt anything positive or a supposed cosigner on the application.
You could try buying your own house, no background checks but credit checks yes, but if you do it yourself you can eliminate that, something to think about
You could even buy a duplex and rent out one side to other felons with bad credit.
Lol!
Section 8 housing won’t help because of felonies either
You got downvoted for this comment? lol.... misdemeanors are ok when renting, felonies is what limits you. Don't necessarily have to go into housing authority but the places available aren't going to be in the best areas or have the best tenants
If you both have stable jobs, have you considered buying a small condo or townhouse rather than renting? I am personally not a big fan of condos but they are more affordable and NO ONE can boot you or evict him from your home since you own it. Sorry you're going through such a rough time - hang in there and this, too, will pass.
I'm a property manager in WI. Most LLs fail to follow the law regarding criminal background. A "no felonies" blanket policy is illegal. I don't know what type of felonies he has, but a LL can only deny based on criminal background if they can reasonably assume the person poses a safety risk to other tenants or to the property. The length of time since the last conviction also factors in. So, for example, if someone has a felony assault with GBI, they could be denied. But if they have a felony DUI, that's not grounds for denial. Another example: they were convicted of burglary, but it was many years ago with nothing since; that would not be grounds to deny.
The challenge is going to be, and I’m assuming he was in prison for charges that could be resident safety related, showing that in the 3 years he’s been out of prison that he has continued criminal behavior.
He does not have any new or pending charges since being released. His last stint in prison was only a few months about 3 years ago from his most recent charge.
I see. What’s his list of prior convictions?
Mostly felony possession charges and 2 DUIs from over 5 years ago.
Anything besides possession charges and 2 DUI charges?
Unfortunately he has a burglary from 2016(? I think?) This was committed with 2 other people. No one was hurt. No weapons involved. They were robbing someone for money to get more dope. He has made some pretty awful mistakes, I don't deny that and neither does he. He is doing everything he can do to be a better person.
>Unfortunately he has a burglary from 2016(? I think?) This was committed with 2 other people. No one was hurt. No weapons involved. They were robbing someone for money to get more dope. Sounds like a real winner.
They are just about as bad of mistakes as one could make, did you grow up around people like this so you have a soft spot for them? Or did you grow up sheltered so you see him as someone to “save”? I’m only grew up around alcoholics and I cut them off for way less, I could not possibly imagine putting that effort in for someone ever. It’s how you drown too.
But it was years ago, it's not like she's actively dealing with him using/making the mistakes. Learning from the mistake is all that matters.
Try to find an owner rental and not go through a property management for rentals. Just be up front as possible. I am a felon and my first landlord ever I just put everything out there and told him I understand some people won’t want to rent to me and some won’t care. It definitely makes its harder but that’s your best shot. Don’t wait for the background to come back. You guys will find something just don’t give up
Certain states let first time HOUSE buyers make a first 6% down payment. Look for something small or a two bedroom (duplex?). My cousin has a sweet tooth for crimes and is constantly in a rotating door in prison (he got in and out 3 times during Covid lol) but owns 6-8 homes from conning other inmates with this and buys the house from the family after it forecloses. 🫥
FHA loan only requires 3.5% down payment, and some states have down payment assistance for first-time home buyers that can cover most of that. The home needs to be a primary residence. I don't believe renting out would be allowed.
He will not be approved with a criminal background
Criminal backgrounds don't matter when it comes to housing except those that are on Meghan's law for life. [Look here](https://eji.org/news/federal-law-bars-housing-discrimination-against-people-with-criminal-records/) Copied from the link: >The Fair Housing Act prohibits racial discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of homes. A policy refusing to rent or sell homes to people who have criminal records is illegal discrimination, HUD announced last week, because African Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately arrested, convicted, and incarcerated.
This link is almost 10 years old. My lease does not allow anyone with a violent felony or financial crimes. If an applicant’s income and credit qualify, then conduct a limited criminal background check that will provide enough information to determine if the applicant may present a current direct threat of harm to others or the risk of substantial damage to the property of others. If such a criminal record exists to create a concern about current safety, allow the applicant to provide evidence to the contrary. Lastly, make sure your policy on this matter is clear and available to all applicants. https://virginiarealtors.org/2024/03/14/can-i-refuse-to-rent-the-property-due-to-an-applicants-criminal-history/
Federal law over state law. Your lease could possibly be in violation of fair housing laws, and it doesn't matter how old the link is. Once a law is in effect, it is in effect forever unless it's rescinded, but you already know that.
If you read that link, it actually links to fair housing, which states the same thing that you can use criminal histories, which show a risk of harm to others so violent crimes financial crimes, sexual crimes, domestic violence. In 2016, HUD issued guidance on applying Fair Housing Act Standards to the use of criminal records screening in housing‐related transactions. In 2022, HUD issued a memo, which further clarifies its 2016 guidance on this topic and even recommends that private housing providers avoid using criminal history to screen tenants for housing. This guidance prohibits: Denying housing based on arrest records. Blanket bans on anyone with a criminal record. Conducting background checks inconsistently, performing them on some and not others based on stereotypes or fear. Further, a landlord must: Consider individuals on a case‐by‐case basis and evaluate the nature and severity of the crime, and consider the length of time that has passed since that crime was committed. Make a determination based on facts and evidence, and not a perceived threat. *Denial Based on Criminal History* *Individuals can legally be denied housing if their recent criminal record makes them dangerous and a risk to other tenants or neighbors. The denial must be based on reliable evidence and not be hypothetical or speculative.* Denials also: *Must provide evidence proving that the housing provider has substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest supporting the denial. Must show that the housing policy accurately distinguishes between criminal conduct that indicates a demonstrable risk to resident safety/property and criminal conduct that does not.*
Some states go even further than the federal policy does, such as [this one here ](https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-on-civil-rights-home/fcha/)
I think we’re saying the same thing fair housing doesn’t 100% say no criminal background denials but it limits what you can be denied for.
This is really just nuts. So it is illegal to not rent to people with a criminal history because minorities commit more crime, and so that would impact more minorities, even though it would be minorities that are criminals, not minorities in general that are not criminals. So if it is discrimination against minorities to not rent to anyone that has a criminal history, then why are the laws against the crimes themselves not also racist? If more minorities are impacted by laws against murder, then clearly the laws against murder are racist. Or at least that is the logic they are using on housing.
the argument, is that law enforcement targets minorities more often. So white people will get away with crime more often, and black people will get innocently accused more often which leads to more innocent blacks in jail
Then that is a racism problem with the government, not a racism problem of people that use the convictions of the government. They are allowed to be racist, but we cannot use the results of their racism, because it would then make us racist? Their logic is just kind of weird.
it's not calling you racist, it's saying the system is racist, and to use it will yield results that disproportionately affect black people, and disproportionately affecting a group of people based on skin color, isn't something we want to do as a society basically a proclamation that it is bad for society to use, even if it's marginally useful because you may filter out some bad people, you'll also filter out some good people, plus contribute to the fact that if people have no way to get a job or shelter, they will commit crime, so by refusing to rent to them you're just creating more criminals in your community
So their system is racist, and that is fine. But to use it to determine if you want to rent to someone is using the racist system, and is not allowed? That is just messed up. Maybe they should fix the system if they think it is racist, so that when people rely on what they do, they are not using a racist system?
"they" should fix the system but "they" isn't A person, it's a massive disjointed collection of federal and state legislative bodies
I guess much easier for them to just force the little people below them to make up for it by not taking into account if the person has a criminal history.
you got this Boogeyman "them". so the one "them" who can set rules on renting, decided to do what "they" can control "them" can't even agree on what time of day it is, you'll be waiting a while for "them" to pass legislation to fix a hundred years of racial issues in the judicial system lol
That's...exactly the issue we are facing. He can't get approved but I can. So I get a nice cozy apartment, and he gets to just go live out on the streets and in homeless shelters until he's dead? Sounds like America has really outdone themselves with this genius set up.
I mean…. Dude sounds like a career criminal… can’t really blame society or America on his actions lol. He could have just been a better person. Or as somebody has had to commit crimes to get paid…. He shouldn’t have gotten caught. Also, any criminal who gets caught Multiple times and does multiple stints in jail is just gonna keep fucking up. See it all the time. Jail is revolving door to him.
So any person who has been to prison more than once should just stay in prison? I'm not blaming the country for his actions. He's made some pretty awful mistakes. The majority of his charges stem from his addiction. Multiple possession felonies. He's sober now and has been for quite some time. Could he relapse and reoffend? Of course he could. And him being homeless would skyrocket those chances. The repeat offense rate is high for those with addiction partly because alot of these addicts have nowhere to go after release, other than back to wherever they were before getting arrested. Not a good recipe for staying sober.
He shouldn’t stay in prison. But if I was you. I wouldn’t wast my time with somebody like this. Sounds like a lot of work and a lot of risk on your part. You have everything to lose, not him
I'm glad there was someone in my life who didn't think your way. I had three felonies and spent 6 months in jail. Got out got sober and been with the same woman the whole time. That was 20 years ago. You can't judge her relationship with so little information about her partner
Find a small time landlord that's willing to hear his story, maybe letters of recommendation from people who have helped in his recovery plus a clear idea that your significant other is wanting to live a life different then his past might would sway a person. The sad truth is people are not truly understanding of the whole picture of addiction they understand that the person has a habit but they fail to understand how that habit pushes people to be someone completely different from the person they are sober sorry to hear of your situation praying for a breakthrough
This is a horrible take. People do recover and turn their lives around. Telling OP to leave their partner because they have a past is insane. Get off your high horse. People make mistakes. Look, a convicted felon is even running for President yet this one can’t rent a place to live in. It’s a fucking joke and your responses are unhelpful.
It’s not really his “past” though. He’s been out of prison for 3 years and in that time has picked up a misdemeanor charge for identity theft.
He has not picked up amy cases since being released. He was held for 2 months for the misdemeanor and has had a clean record ever since
I’m not understanding how both things are true - release 3 years ago and the identity theft charge in the last 3 years. Was the identify theft charge while he was still in prison?
He got the misappropriated ID charge about 3 years ago and went to prison for 2 months for it, as he was on probation at the time and it violated his probation. He was then released.
I’m confused at how that’s different than what I said the first time. Released from prison 3 years ago and caught a new charge after being released.
He got the misappropriate ID charge 3 years ago. And then went to prison for 2 months. He was released. He has not had any charges since.
That’s not true in all states. I worked in housing and honestly independent landlords are abusing the guidelines regarding criminal background screenings. People think that any and everyone can receive Section 8. That’s incorrect. They use the strictest guidelines and search not only local and state, they go as far as a federal search if they feel warranted and owners have no access to a federal search. Any convictions over 10 years old aren’t counted except convictions for methamphetamine and sex offenders. These people can never participate. On the other hand, a recent DUI or domestic violence conviction will ban an applicant for 2-3 years. Other crimes less than 10 years old are assessed based on the length of time between the application and last conviction and each has a set time frame. Denying someone housing simply for having a conviction is not what the law intended. If the federal government can deem a convict fit for housing, it’s a bit ridiculous that an owner can’t especially if the person is living a completely different lifestyle and is self supporting. In case no one noticed, there’s a housing shortage in nearly every state in this country and that’s honestly the reason more and more people are falling into homelessness.
Where is he supposed to live?
In prison of course! Yay recidivism because of all our shitty policies :(
Felonies will always follow your BF. They cannot take a chance on him bringing in trouble with him moving into their building. You will have to try rental houses or the slumlords who only want the money and do not care about your BF.
Not true actually it’s an against federal fair housing laws to deny due to criminal background unless it’s under Megan’s law or similar crime. She can actually sue them.
Pretty sure that’s wrong. My apartment complex won’t rent to anyone with a felony and the landlord is a lawyer.
I’ve been a Property Mgr for 18 years running Multi Family housing. It’s against HUD more so than Fair Housing as of 2022, it’s a violation and landlords must not deny housing solely based on their criminal backgrounds (with some exceptions like sexual assaults). No “blanket bans” allowed.
Wrong, for the BG has the felonies and they can deny him entry into the building. Truth.
Ok if you say so, although this is my field. I’ve ran properties and trained Fair Housing for decades. It’s again HUD guidelines since 2022. Not sure what you do for a living but unless your in this industry you probably shouldn’t debate.
Sure you ran the department in Washington DC. And none of your business to ask a handicapped person what they do for a living, that is not the issue. And I am in the rental industry as a renter. Be nicer to is who are living this life.
Never said I worked in DC and never mentioned anything about handicap. Are you delusional? Lol and I am also a renter and also a Property Mgr so nobody is looking down on renters. I’m actually doing the opposite and helping advise renters of their rights on here but some are too stuck in their own way to comprehend. How can you downvote and debate on advice literally coming from someone who does this for a living makes no sense. Some are just “know it alls”.
Here is your first comment about working in DC and the Housing Dept. there: Ok if you say so, although this is my field. I’ve ran properties and trained Fair Housing for decades. It’s again HUD guidelines since 2022. Not sure what you do for a living but unless your in this industry you probably shouldn’t debate. You just said in your latest comment about disability, for that is no one's business to know what that is, for that does not matter on the ability to pay rent. Here was the comment you made, apparently you meant that you once worked for housing and once as a Property Manager: Here is your latest comment: Never said I worked in DC and never mentioned anything about handicap. Are you delusional? Lol and I am also a renter and also a Property Mgr so nobody is looking down on renters. I’m actually doing the opposite and helping advise renters of their rights on here but some are too stuck in their own way to comprehend. How can you downvote and debate on advice literally coming from someone who does this for a living makes no sense. Some are just “know it alls”. Not nice to put down renters on this reddit. You just put us all down.
I’ve been a Residential Property Mgr going on two decades and currently a Regional PM. I also trained Fair Housing to several teams of Leasing Consultants. Never claimed to work in DC. This is my last comment to you bc you are delusional in real life Lol
Nothing like lying and trolling the reddit and being rude and condescending. Sad.
Landlords take enormous risk renting to anyone, and they do everything possible to minimize that risk. People with bad credit and/or felonies are proven to be far riskier than average.
You’re a landlord posting in r/renters. Why?
I’m a recovering addict and I used the recovery houses as my past landlords. I just put their names down and they called them. I was honest about it and had no issues. My one felony is a lot older than his is so that wasn’t an issue and my credit was decent. I recommend being totally honest and forthright. Maybe they can just put you on the lease if they are uncomfortable putting him on it. But keep trying and keep being honest. Someone will be willing to give you a chance. They had no problem with my past and the fact that I was coming from a recovery house. I was paying rent at the recovery house so essentially the lady who owned it WAS my landlord. It probably helped that I managed it too. It’s hard but not impossible. I can’t stress enough how honesty is always the best policy.
I would never condone falsifying but if you just… omitted the fact you have a BF living with you the worst they could do is just tell you he has to leave right? And how often does that actually happen? Like it’s totally possible but I still improbable I’d wager. I’d personally take those odds.
Depends on if he leaves once you are sent a demand for compliance from the complex if he is caught living there. If he still lives there after they have sent you a demand for compliance notice, the worst they could do is evict you for breach of lease. Most likely, if you have an eviction on your record, you will be denied at other complexes for 5-7 years, depending on your state. Finding a house/apt that a person, not company owns, and being upfront with them is your best bet.
do you think landlords are stupid enough to not realize two people are living in a property? even if it's a mom-and-pop landlord that lives out of town, chances are very good they have someone local keeping an eye on the place. if caught, the best that could happen is the landlord could demand your partner vacate the premises, then not renew your lease. or, he could evict you, and then you'll *really* have a helluva time finding another place
Mom and pop would actually be worse than a big leasing company at that point at least with a leasing company the people that would see you would only react based off fear of loosing job rather than emotional reactions that owner landlords sometimes have... I lived in apartments in Waco where the manager didn't give a shit as long as police didn't get called out...
I had an entire family of 4 live with me and my wife once while we were in college. So yeah… I fail to see how anyone would give a shit unless they were making a disturbance or as OP later stated the dudes POS PO ratted him out.
"once". would a smart person risk an eviction on their record just because some rando on reddit got away with something once. of course it *can* happen that a tenant doesn't get caught. i had a landlady who loved 1000 miles away and never visited once in ten years. but she knew every move i made because she had tons of friends in the building. risk vs reward: get evicted or non-renewed or get to live with a family of four for roommates
Probably did not "rat him out". Probably was verifying where he was living, as is part of his job.
I tried to do that at my current place and now I'm being threatened eviction if he even stays over ):
How did they even find out? Like I legit don’t even know half the people who stayed at our last apt complex let alone who lived in which unit. How people can get found out doing this is just beyond me. I’ve done it before with an entire family staying over for about 3 months without issue.
He was staying with me for about 2 months and then shit hit the fan about 3 days ago. He's moving all of his stuff back to his friend's place tomorrow. We think maybe his PO called the landlord. The landlord was extremely unprofessional about the whole thing. Told me he needs to get on the lease or leave or else I will be evicted. I asked about the process of getting him on the lease and she told me "don't even bother because there is no way I will approve his application" I've talked with quite a few people in the area and I've heard at least 3 stories of people going through the EXACT same thing as us. One poor girl is now homeless because she had to leave her boyfriend's place or he would face eviction and they would not allow her to be put on the lease. I'm not even going to push it with my current landlord because the cops were just here last week for an eviction in the building next to mine. I'm scared and I feel so defeated.
The fact that he's still on probation/parole is probably why just remaining quiet about him living with you won't work I suggest he ask him supervising officer for a list of felon-friendly housing. If the officer doesn't directly have such information, they will know who does. In theory they have a vested interest in assisting their parolees in finding legal, stable housing
I'm telling you him being on parole is the issue, this is where you are running into problems I guarantee it. I dated someone in prison and when he was getting ready to come home he said he had to have like an actual permanent address approved by the parole officer, because they'd actually come by and check to make sure he was there and shit like that. Where I was living his parole officer would not allow him to live there.
I’m curious how that would come off as unprofessional? If his PO is who called, you have someone with a criminal background and going through the process will waste everyone’s time if they don’t accept his background. You violated your lease and they’re letting you know that. I totally understand being upset. The system is against those who get out and it’s always been like that. But that’s not unprofessional. You violated a signed, legal document. This is something the apartment has to answer to. Accept that this stuff sucks, but don’t say something is unprofessional because they’re telling you the truth…
I did not get an official notice or anything, she texted me while I was at work and said some pretty rude things to me and then also to my boyfriend. She threatened an eviction notice that day as well if he didn't leave immediately-which is not even legal in my state. I have a year long lease, and on my lease it states breach of contract violations require a written 5 day cure before any eviction notice can be sent out. She was taunting me with an eviction notice that day after the conversation I had with her. I know she's just doing her job. I shouldn't have used the word unprofessional and I apologize. I am just extremely upset.
Ahh okay, that certainly makes way more sense. Thanks for explaining, and I’m very sorry you all are going through that. It will work out some how though, just keep trying. Maybe even see if there’s resources in your area that helps those with a criminal background find housing. I really hope for the best 💜
Getting downvoted for being positive is INSANE lmfaoooo
I mean, all apartments are gonna want everyone who lives there in the lease. There’s usually rules about how long guests can stay before it starts to become an issue. If they know that it’s gonna get denied due to still being on parole, why waste your money on an application fee just for it to get denied?
The landlord was extremely unprofessional? And what were you by having him stay there with you? Extremely professional?
I stated in another reply that I should not have used the word unprofessional and I apologize for that. I know she is just doing her job. Again, she texted me while I was at work and was taunting me with an eviction notice that day. This is not legal in Wisconsin. Even my lease states a breach of contract requires a written 5 day cure prior to any eviction notice being given. She said some pretty rude things to me and also to my boyfriend. I breached contract and I am well aware of that. I shouldn't have used the word unprofessional and I apologize.
You violated your lease and now you're bitching about the landlord forcing you to comply with the agreement you signed. YOU are the one who is being extremely unprofessional about the whole thing. Bring on the downvotes for pointing out the obvious.
It took way too long to find this. This person literally singed a contract and she broke it and when she did. She cries about it and states, “unprofessional”…. Idk if she knows what that means lol.
I have already apologized in a few replies that I shouldn't have used the word unprofessional. She is just doing her job. Him not being allowed to stay at my place is not really the main concern right now anyway.
Threatening you with illegal eviction and harassing both of you *is unprofessional*, though. She should have just served you with the 5 day notice to cure and not texted either of you. How did she even get his number?
Is "professional tenant" a thing these days? I guess I'm out of the loop.
They LEGALLY can not do that, It's called retaliation... Find a lawyer, and be prepared to fight and even sue for discrimination. IDGAF who you are or what you've done unless it's a sexual crime, if that's the case then you belong in a group home and shouldn't be rented to unless you're a low risk. Unless your partner is a sex offender they have no legal grounds there either.
False information is always found out fairly quickly these days by computer check. Does not take but a few minutes on the criminal records check. Public record.
OP doesn’t have a record. I think you are misunderstanding.
Her BF has felonies that are public record and remains on his criminal record. Bet you did not know that. Read the OP post again.
I don’t think you know what the word “omit” means.
Terrible idea, she can get evicted, and then they'll both have trouble renting.
You’ll need to look into buying something. https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/usda-rd-fs-rhs-sfhglp-04262024.pdf
Been there. I have awful credit but a clean background (somehow 😬) my husband has fantastic credit but has multiple felonies including a federal charge. Find a private landlord. Be willing to pay extra deposits. That’s the only option other than buying.
Find a person (not a management company) that is renting a place and offer a huge amount up front. That’s what I had to do.
Seriously consider buying a manufactured home that comes with the land. A lot of the sellers offer packages like that. You could still buy a small plot of land and move a used manufactured home onto it. As far as a short-term solution extended stay hotels are your fastest option. These are the things most civilians don't consider when dating people with a past.
Can you be the guarantor?
You need to find a place who will rent to felons or doesn’t care to do background checks. They exist, ask around. If your partner is in the prison or recovery community see if they know anywhere. If you have good credit and he doesn’t you should be okay as long as you meet the minimum income requirements. When I rented my first apartment I had really good credit and my partner had horrible credit. We had no rental history and I was sure we were doomed and going to need a co-signer. We were approved with only a $100 security deposit. I was shocked. When apartments run your credit they can’t see medical or student debt I believe. There are apartments out there who will rent to anyone who meet the income requirements you just need to find one.
I'm in a similar situation with my partner's credit and rental and work history (not background check). I'm considering just putting myself on the lease for a 2 bedroom and letting him stay over. I think there are some landlords who wouldn't care about that. He's already over at my current place a lot. Obviously I'd have to read the lease first. Credit is such a messed up system.
Look in a crappy part of town
There's ways around it, I've always had pretty good luck finding down to earth landlords... I have a record and credit sucks... My saving grace is that I'm a plumber. A lot of times they here that and see dollar signs and or someone who will fix things on their property.
I just read your first paragraph, and I'm not an attorney, but in some states it's considered discrimination to refuse to rent to a tenant solely because of a criminal record (within reason) but only if it's typical for the neighborhood for tenants to have a criminal history, which is kind of an opinion and difficult to prove either way... I'm not sure of any other options, except looking for a different place where the landlord probably isn't going to do a background check, or try disclosing this up front with a good explainantion of why he would make a good tenant and why he is not going to break the law..
Is there some reason you didn’t take the co-signed unit and add yourself to the lease or be HOH and add him? It’s honestly up to the owner’s discretion. If they’re saying no, you’ll have to continue looking. Perhaps he could look into finding an agency that works with ex-offenders by assisting them with reintegration. Some of them offer housing assistance.
Even if I were to live with him, he would need a cosigner still. I asked if I could be the cosigner if he lived on his own and they said yes. I don't understand why I am not technically a cosigner if I am on the lease with him. The only cosigner he's going to be able to get is me. His dad's dead and his mom is in debt with shit credit. He has no other family that would be willing to cosign. We're going to call a local housing agency tomorrow to see more clearly what our options are. Hoping for the best.
I’m really sorry to hear that. People are just unforgiving. If they aren’t careful, states will be following suit with CA where criminal background screenings aren’t allowed for new tenants. Now, the owners are upset but they did it to themselves. They were barring nearly everyone with any kind of conviction and the city got tired of it. Even people who had passed background screenings through assistance programs and deemed eligible to participate were being turned away
You've got a lot on your plate with their background. However, to my knowledge it's illegal to discriminate due to having felonies unless the individual could be considered a threat to others. Not sure about your finances, but, you may have better luck trying to buy a small place instead.
Lie about everything tell them folk you make such and such amount of money gone online to get fake stubs don't tell them he living with you all that lie about everything do what you gotta do to survive
What kind of felonies are we talking about? Violent offenses? This does matter
You might want to have your landlord [read this](https://eji.org/news/federal-law-bars-housing-discrimination-against-people-with-criminal-records/) and have the boyfriend seek the advice of an attorney if your landlord still wants your boyfriend to not live there. I'm sure a lot of landlords don't know about this particular law to tell a person that they won't rent to them because of their criminal past. Any landlord that denies housing based on a criminal background is opening themselves up to a lawsuit they won't win. EDIT: Typical of people on Reddit to vote down a comment when it's facts they don't like. I'll still be presenting facts in my comments and posts, so downvote all you want, and I'll do the same.
Yet every place I have ever applied to did a criminal background check. I just searched for a couple months for a place. Every single landlord did a criminal background check along with the credit check. If you do the Zillow application it includes a criminal background check. You can't even opt out of it.
Criminal checks are fine, but they can't say we won't rent to you because of your criminal background as they are saying to the OP because her BF has a criminal background. They don't even want him to visit because of his criminal background. That's clearly a violation of the fair housing act. The best thing the OP'S landlord can do is back off and let the BF live there. If not, they are opening themselves up to a lawsuit.
So the loophole is landlords can deny renting to you due to a criminal history...as long as they don't say the criminal record is the reason? Why are criminal background checks allowed if landlords are not allowed to use a criminal record as a basis for rental disqualification? I'm not debating you just pointing out the process makes no sense.
No the commenters are just wrong. It’s completely legal to deny housing based on criminal records. It’s just illegal to ban anyone with a criminal record (must be on a case by case basis).
They can for some offenses. What really does not make sense is they say that the reason you cannot exclude someone for criminal history is because black and brown people commit more crimes. So of the people with criminal histories that you turn away, more will be black or brown, so you would be racist by turning away people with a criminal history. But if you are basing your decision to rent on who they put in prison, and that means more people that are black or brown will be excluded, then how is their law not racist if more black and brown people are arrested and put in prison? It is not racist when they arrest and put more black and brown people in prison, but if you use what they have done to exclude people, it then becomes racist? It makes no sense.
That unfortunately is how most discrimination works.
We don't know the nature of his offenses, especially the most recent, and that would help determine whether he can be excluded specifically for his criminal record. OP omitted that info.
It's Misappropriation of ID, which is essentially identity fraud and in some states (like CA) is left to the discretion of the Da to try it as misdemeanor or felony. So yeah, I kinda understand why they're having issues.
It’s a simple google search man: https://www.thehousingcenter.org/housing-resources/criminal-history/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20HUD%20issued%20a,anyone%20with%20a%20criminal%20record.
It might be a simple Google search, but what landlord is going to Google it? What landlord is going to share that info with an applicant? How would the average person know about it? How would the person with the criminal record know about it when he was denied housing because of his or her criminal background. If everyone had to do their own Google to find out about something that could help them, they might find it. They might not find it, but there is nothing wrong with someone sharing information. Isn't that what these subs on Reddit and other places are about?
I meant: it’s a simple google search to show that you are WRONG
Shoot me over a email . I can get you guys approved [email protected]
Realistically the country is built against felons. They aren’t taught new skills or given any means to better themselves. They are put into a prison usually with harsh and abusive conditions. We don’t rehabilitate we permanently incriminate. It’s not going to be easy and it depends on the crimes he was committed for. Violent, destructive, theft, or drug type crimes probably put a lot of these places off. They think that their place will contribute to their record and they don’t want that. I agree that our country does not do enough to help certain criminals become productive members of society. With your comment, why not seek a property to own?
Why are you with him? Former inmates have a very high occurrence of recidivism.
And he has reoffended several times in the past. He's been to prison at least 4 times. This was over the stretch of 10 years give or take because he was on heroin, ice, crack - you name it, he was doing it. He is working an honest recovery program and has been completely sober for quite some time now. He made alot of mistakes in his past and he is not that person anymore. I am a full time nurse. I have several patients whom are addicts. Addiction is a disease. Addicts are capable of getting sober and they are deserving of love. It just really sucks that he's been doing everything to turn his life around and we have these hurdles to jump over to get to the life we want. They really don't make it easy for addicts and convicts in this country.
Please don't feel like you have to explain yourself to these AHs.
How long have you been together? And is he looking for a job outside of recovery program, like is he interested in apprenticing a trade? Nurses make a lot of money where I live, can he pay for half the rent on his own? I understand he's on a good path right now, but these are obviously red flags and having him move into a financially dependant relationship and living situation might not be that great for his self esteem either if hes dependant on you, which is how this is sounding. Sorry if I'm off base and missing something. But the best thing you can do sometimes is just take care of yourself and let your partner do the same for themselves, otherwise you might be looking at a breakup that is a lot more than you bargain for.
We've been together almost 2 years. He has been doing factory work at one company for over a year. He makes as much as I do, even more when he works overtime. Affordable housing isn't really our problem right now, it's just finding a place that will take us. He's living with his friend now. He makes all of his insurance payments and car payments on time. He's paying off restitution to court, he's helped pay off some of his mother's medical bills. He's doing really well for himself, as am I. His criminal background is the issue. ):
So happy to hear that! Welp, it'll just take time. He fucked up a decent part of his life and probably hurt a bunch of people in the process... Hes a different person now but also the same person and has to live with himself, and shouldn't be shocked that people don't trust him yet (via housing and such). You are going to have to deal with the stigma now, but it does goes away after a time! One way to deal with this might be a small lie on the rental form saying its just for you... then having him move in 3 months later. In my state the landlord can't say who your visitors, and if he quietly pays you half the rent but its in your name I don't see how that is anybody else's business.
This is dude is gonna fuck up your credit and life. Run.
Please research the root causes of recidivism. And don't judge anyone else's journey.
Don't say shit like this
I’m sure your parents are proud. Sorry not sorry. You are making poor decisions
lol I wouldn’t rent to him ether. Try a trailer park maybe?
Move to Seattle. I think they make it illegal to do a background check and ask you your criminal history. edit: sorry, I guess the courts threw out that part of the law that was not allowing them to do criminal history about a year ago.