# Automatic Denial or Individual Apartment Review? > See who reviews an application, which criteria apply and what documents can count. When a property says it reviews case by case, we check how that works. URL: https://felonfriendlyapartments.com/guide/auto-decline-vs-case-by-case-review/ - [Home](/) - › - [Guides](/guide/) - › - Automatic Denial or Individual Apartment Review? GUIDE # Automatic Denial or Individual Apartment Review? “Individual review” only helps if you know who does the review, what they look at and when it happens. We find out those details for you before you pay for screening. ![Two apartment brochures side by side on a desk](/images/misc/two-apartment-brochures-compared-on-a-desk-candid-.webp) ## What this guide covers - What an automatic decline and individual review each mean - What we look for in each community's criteria and review process - How to keep track of what an office tells you - Where the Texas rules on selection criteria live ![Person on the phone with a leasing office taking notes](/images/misc/person-on-the-phone-with-a-leasing-office-taking-n.webp) ## Turn a vague answer into clear steps An automatic decline usually means your record hit one of the property's written rules, and the screening system turned you down. Individual review means a person looks at more of your information, not just that first result. Neither label tells you if the policy is legal or if you'll be approved. We can't answer those questions, but we find out how the review works at each community. That includes who makes the call, what you can send and if the review covers your kind of record. When an office says management reviews applications, that doesn't mean it reviews cases like yours. ## What we look for in each community's criteria - The current selection criteria and the rule that fits your situation. - When review happens: before or after you pay to apply. - Which documents they accept, where to send them and any deadline. - If an appeal or a second look costs another fee. ## Write down what each office tells you If you talk with an office yourself, write down the property, who you talked to and the date. “I'll ask the manager” is still an open question, not an approval. And if a staff member can't promise an outcome, that alone doesn't mean the property is taking your fee in bad faith. Texas rules on selection criteria are in [Texas Property Code Chapter 92](https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/PR/htm/PR.92.htm), Section 92.3515. Use the [selection criteria notice guide](/guide/texas-selection-criteria-notice-explained/) to see what a property's written criteria notice covers. We check each community's criteria for you, but we can't override the property's decision. Published by the Felon Friendly Apartment Team. This is general renter information. Each property makes its own decisions, and questions about your own case belong with a lawyer or legal aid. ## Common Questions ### Does "case by case review" mean I'll be approved? No. It means a person may look at more than the first screening result. The community still makes the decision, and a review isn't a promise of approval. ### How can I tell if a property really reviews records like mine? We check and keep notes on communities' screening criteria, including how each review works. Then we tell you where your record fits before you pay to apply. ### Does a second look cost another fee? It can at some properties. We check for it when we look at each community's criteria. Confirm any fee with the property before you pay. ## Ready to Start Your Apartment Search? Our help is free to renters. Participating communities may pay our brokerage a referral fee. Tell us what you need, and we'll check each community's criteria against your record. [Start My Free Search](/find-apartments/) ## More renter help [Use renter checklists and budget tools](/renter-resources/) · [Browse the guide library](/guide/)