GUIDE
Multiple Convictions: Organize Your Apartment Review
When a report lists several convictions, sort out each case on its own before you compare apartment criteria. A total count can hide duplicates, different outcomes and different completion dates.
What this guide covers
- How to list each case on its own line
- How to spot one case counted twice
- What we check in each property's policy
Build one row per case
For each case, note the court, case number, offense, final outcome, disposition date and completion date. Group charges from the same case. Then we check what each property is counting: incidents, charge counts or convictions. Those aren't always the same thing.
Check for double counting
If the report shows an arrest entry and a court entry for the same case, check if they're listed as two cases. If one case shows up twice with different spellings or dates, mark both entries and ask the screening company to look into it. Two offenses that only sound alike may still be two real cases. Don't ask to have a real case removed.
What we check in each policy
- Does the policy have a rule based on the number of cases?
- How does it group multiple counts from one event?
- Does it apply different date rules to different offenses?
- What paperwork clears up an unclear or duplicate entry?
The newest case isn't always the only one that matters, and a count alone can't tell you your approval odds. See the multiple record checklist for what we look at. If the file is wrong, start with the background report dispute steps before you keep paying for new reports.
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.
RELATED SERVICE
Apartments With Multiple Convictions
We check how each community counts several cases, outcomes and dates. A count alone doesn't decide it.
See how we help with this record →Common Questions
Do more convictions mean a lower chance of approval?
A count alone can't tell you your odds. Policies differ on what they count: incidents, charges or convictions. We check that at each property.
What if one case shows up twice on my report?
Dispute it with the screening company and send the court papers that show it's one case. Only flag a true duplicate, since two similar offenses can be two real cases.
Does only the newest case matter?
Not always. A property can apply different date rules to different offenses. That's why we list each case on its own line.
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