Felon Friendly Rentals

[Bernadine Holloway]

Does anyone know of any properties in the San Antonio area that are felon friendly? I ran into a financially stable family, facing the challenges of finding a house due to the background of a family member. They are looking to rent instead of buy, due to their desire to relocate in about 4 years, after retirement of active duty. Thanks in advance!

[Marcia Maynard]

@Bernadine Holloway  I can't answer your question directly, because we are in a different market. But I do know it can be difficult for people with negative legal history to find housing. I used to volunteer teaching classes to people who were facing challenges in finding housing due to their past history.

My advice to a person with negative history is to re-frame it in their mind, boost their self-esteem, and present themselves as renters who have learned from their mistakes and have reinvented themselves as responsible and law-abiding.  Landlords need good renters as much as renters need good landlords.   Great renters follow the terms of the rental agreement, pay rent on time and take care of the place. They also are cooperative, honest and congenial.

There are many landlords who will not accept a person because of a felony. Then there are others, like my husband and me, who will consider renting to a person with negative legal history on a case by case basis. 

I cringe when I hear someone say "felon friendly". I would advise a person to put forth their positive attributes ahead of their negative history. Also, it's important not to wear the term "felon" like a scarlet letter.  The felony does not define who they are. What they have done since the felony is most important. Have they made retribution to those they have wronged in the past? Are they likely to not re-offend? What are they doing to re-establish themselves as worthy and contributing members of the community? One should never lie about their legal history, but instead embrace it as something that unfortunately happened, but they have been able to overcome and put behind them.  Have they bettered themselves and made amends for their past mistakes? What have they learned and who have they become?

Here is an excerpt from our rental criteria, so you can get an idea of what landlords who would consider renting to someone with legal history might examine. Note, there are some felonies that are so serious it would be too high a risk for us to consider.

LEGAL/CRIMINAL HISTORY

1. Criminal offenses of a violent nature against either person or property will result in denial.

2. Applicants with a non-violent criminal misdemeanor that occurred more than two years ago or a non-violent criminal felony that occurred more than five years ago may be considered if restitution for their crime was made in full and all time was served.  Also, we may require an additional security deposit and demonstration of good employment history, credit history, and rental history since the time of the crime.  Multiple offenses may result in denial regardless of what the employment, credit and rental history shows.