Background Checks in Rentals

[Tyler O'Malley]

Hello all, I have an agent friend who has a friend who has a client who has a clean record, however they were arrested with 2 pounds of marijuana in their car. He has a felony for this: I am just wondering first, what are the criterion for background checks? Do they only check for violent/sexual crime and threats to other tenant, or is a marijuana felony usually enough to keep a tenant from renting a place to live? He is a really really good guy and I hope My colleague doesn't have to tell him he can't get a place he worked hard for because of his mistake. Anyone who can help, much appreciated! Just taking a shot in the dark for some advice besides "just talk to the landlord".

[Andrew Syrios]

The criteria varies from property management company to property management company and from apartment to apartment. Although, I will say, most don't accept people with recent felonies. The only way to know for sure is to call various PM companies and ask them as all their criteria will be somewhat different.