# When Does an Old Misdemeanor Stop Affecting a Rental? > No single date makes every misdemeanor stop mattering to every landlord. We check each property's cutoff, what starts the clock and any exceptions. URL: https://felonfriendlyapartments.com/guide/when-a-misdemeanor-stops-mattering-to-a-landlord/ - [Home](/) - › - [Guides](/guide/) - › - [Apartments That Accept a Misdemeanor History](/misdemeanor-history/) - › - When Does an Old Misdemeanor Stop Affecting a Rental? GUIDE # When Does an Old Misdemeanor Stop Affecting a Rental? There’s no single date when a misdemeanor stops mattering to every landlord. The real question is whether this property’s current rule still counts your case. ![Wall calendar with dates marked in an apartment kitchen](/images/misc/wall-calendar-with-dates-marked-in-an-apartment-ki.webp) ## What this guide covers - Why “how many years?” isn't enough - Checking if the outcome changed - What happens when there's no clear cutoff ![Person looking over a timeline on paper](/images/misc/person-reviewing-a-timeline-on-paper-everyday-sett.webp) ## We ask more than “how many years?” We check each community's rule against your offense and how your case ended. Is there a lookback period? What starts the clock? Are there exceptions? “Five years” on its own doesn't tell you much. Five years from what: the offense, the conviction, your release or the end of your sentence? ## Check if the outcome changed An old arrest that got dismissed isn't the same as an old conviction. Check the report against the court disposition before you work out any time rule. If the report leaves out how the case ended, ask the screening company for a correction. Don't count on time fixing it. ## When the property gives no clear cutoff We find out if they offer a review and what it takes. Not every record becomes OK with time. And if a property won't give you an answer ahead of time, that doesn't tell you how your application will go. Reporting laws are a separate issue. A conviction that can legally be reported may stay on your report, even after a property stops holding it against you. [The lookback guide](/guide/criminal-background-lookback-periods-explained/) explains the difference. For a search in Austin, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth or San Antonio, use [our free locating service](/misdemeanor-history/). We check how your case fits each property's rules, but the property decides if you meet them. ## What to do next - Find the dates on your disposition: offense, conviction, release and completion. - Get a copy of your own screening report so you see what a landlord sees. Our guide on [checking your own background](/guide/how-to-check-your-own-background-before-you-apply/) walks you through it. - If your case is several years back, read [renting with an old misdemeanor in Texas](/guide/renting-with-an-old-misdemeanor-in-texas/). - Send us your case details. We check each property's lookback rule against your dates. 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 That Accept a Misdemeanor History Lookback rules differ by property. We check what each one counts and from which date, then point you to places where your case may get a look. [See how our misdemeanor search works →](/misdemeanor-history/) ## Common Questions ### How long does a misdemeanor affect an apartment application? There's no single date for every landlord. It's set property by property: the rule, what starts its clock and any exceptions. ### Do some misdemeanors count longer than others? They can. Some policies give certain offense types a longer lookback or no cutoff. We check the rule that fits your offense. ### Does a dismissed case count the same as a conviction? No. An old arrest that got dismissed isn't the same as an old conviction. Check the report against the court disposition. ## 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/)