GUIDE
Check Your Records Before an Apartment Application
Checking your own records can help you catch mistakes before you apply. A court search, a criminal history check and a tenant screening report each do a different job. None of them shows you exactly what every apartment’s report will say.
Start with the records you know about
List the case numbers, courts and outcomes you know. Ask the clerk of the court that handled each case how to get the disposition, the paper that shows how the case ended. Not every misdemeanor goes through a county clerk. The Harris County District Clerk, for example, keeps the records for felony and Class A/B misdemeanor courts. Municipal and justice courts are separate.
Then find out which screening company the property uses
The property can tell you which company it uses. Request your file through that company's official process, or look up the company in the CFPB company directory. Some companies won't have a file on you until they screen an application. Your right to a free copy depends on the company and your situation, so don't assume it's free.
Compare facts, not just search results
- Right person and identifying details.
- Case number and final disposition.
- Duplicate entries or missing outcomes.
- Anything covered by an expunction or nondisclosure order.
Send ID documents only through the court's or the screening company's official process. Our locating team doesn't need your Social Security number or court file.
Sources: Harris County District Clerk and FTC: tenant background checks and your rights. If you find an error, use the background report dispute steps. Before you pay the property anything, read its fee terms. We'll check its screening criteria for you.
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
How do I check my own criminal record in Texas?
Start with the court that handled each case. Its clerk can tell you how to get the disposition. For what a landlord might see, request your file from the screening company the property uses.
Is it worth checking before I apply?
Yes. You can catch a missing outcome, a duplicate entry or someone else's case before it costs you an application fee. No check you run yourself will match every landlord's report.
Is my screening company file free?
Sometimes. After a denial based on the report, you can get a free copy if you ask within 60 days. Some screening companies have to give you one free copy every 12 months. Others set their own rules, so use the company's official request process.
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.
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