Renting With a Non-Violent Felony in Austin

A non-violent felony is the most common type of record we work with, and the most workable one in Austin’s flexible-screening market. The two main scenarios — over 7 years and under 7 years — call for different strategies. Here’s both, with what’s realistic at each.

What counts as non-violent

Non-violent felonies generally include:

• Drug offenses — possession, distribution (most categories), manufacturing
• Property offenses — theft, burglary (non-violent variants), criminal mischief, trespass
• Financial offenses — fraud, forgery, embezzlement, identity theft
• Other offenses — DWI/DUI (varies by state), failure to identify, certain weapons charges

Specifically excluded from “non-violent” for screening purposes:

• Aggravated assault, robbery, kidnapping, murder, manslaughter
• Most sex offenses (handled separately)
• Domestic violence (sometimes treated as a special category)

If your specific charge sits at the edge of this distinction, your screening outcome may vary. We’re upfront about that during intake.

The over-7-years scenario

If your non-violent felony is outside the Texas 7-year background lookback, most apartment screening won’t see it at all. Your effective applicant profile is close to “clean record” — the only constraint is whether your other factors (credit, income, rental history) clear the property’s bar.

What to do:

1. Apply across the credit-flexible Austin mid-tier as a standard applicant. Most properties will never see the older record.
2. Lead with your income and employment in the application — that’s what they’ll be reviewing.
3. Be aware that stricter properties may have longer lookbacks (10+ years for felonies); skip those.
4. You don’t need to volunteer the older offense if it’s outside the property’s lookback. Their screening configuration is the controlling rule.

This scenario is by far the easier one. Most over-7-years renters get placed at the same pace as standard applicants.

The under-7-years scenario

Inside the 7-year lookback, your felony surfaces in apartment screening. The path to approval shifts from “standard application” to “targeted application with case-by-case communities”:

1. Target case-by-case communities that do individualized review — these properties often follow HUD criminal history guidance and review records in context rather than automatically denying.
2. Lead with the offense on the phone before paying any application fee. A short, factual disclosure (“Drug possession felony from 2021, completed probation in 2023. Stable employment since 2023, $4,500/month income”) gives the property a chance to tell you whether their case-by-case review will consider you.
3. Prepare a rehabilitation letter and documentation package. This shifts borderline decisions.
4. Plan for a guarantor program. For recent felonies, many communities require a guarantor to offset perceived risk.
5. Expect a higher security deposit at some communities.

The pool of properties that work in this scenario is real but narrower than the over-7-years case. Pre-screening matters most here.

What goes in a rehabilitation letter

A rehabilitation letter is a short, factual letter you provide alongside your application. It does not ask for sympathy. It provides context that automated screening can’t capture. A solid template:

[Date]

To the Leasing Office at [Property Name]:

I’m submitting this letter in support of my apartment application. I want to give context for the record that appears in my background check.

The offense: [Type and date, e.g., “Drug possession (Class B felony), 2021”]

The disposition: [What happened — conviction, deferred adjudication, probation completion, etc., with dates]

What’s changed since: [Employment, stability, family situation. Specific, factual. e.g., “I completed probation in March 2023 and have been employed at [Employer] since June 2023, currently earning $4,500/month gross.”]

I’m including [proof of income / employer letter / completion letter from probation] alongside this letter. I’m available by phone at [phone] if you have any questions.

Sincerely, [Your name]

Keep it under one page. Avoid excuses. Focus on facts and current stability.

Other documents that help

Beyond the rehabilitation letter:

• Court disposition documents — show the official outcome (conviction, deferred adjudication, completion of probation, dismissal)
• Probation completion certificate if applicable
• Employment verification letter from your current supervisor
• Reference letters from a current employer or non-conflicting prior landlord
• Standard income documentation at 3x rent or higher

For the broader screening process and how communities make case-by-case decisions, see how case-by-case criminal screening works.

What about violent or sex offenses?

We’re upfront: we specialize in non-violent records. Violent felonies, sex offenses, and certain federal offenses face much stricter screening with much fewer flexible options. If your record falls into these categories, we’ll have an honest conversation about what’s realistic rather than promising results we can’t deliver.

For non-violent records — under or over 7 years — request your free list and we’ll send you the properties most likely to approve your specific case. Request your free list →

Frequently asked questions