GUIDE
Apartments That Consider Drug Convictions: What We Check
An apartment's answer on a drug conviction comes down to your exact offense, how the case ended and the dates. We check each community's rules against those facts for you. This guide isn't a list of named properties or a promise of approval.
What this guide covers
- How a policy treats possession and distribution
- What we track for each property
- Checking rent and costs separately
We start with the community's criteria
We look at whether the policy treats possession differently from delivery or distribution offenses. Next question: does the rule go by your final disposition or just the original charge? A property may lump drug cases into a wider category, so we find out what that category covers.
What we track for each property
- Property name and address.
- Date we checked the criteria.
- Which offense and outcome the answer covers.
- What starts the lookback clock, and any completion requirement.
- Who handles review, what documents they want and when fees are due.
If a question goes unanswered, we treat it as still open. We don't turn “we'll ask management” into “this property accepts my record.” An answer about someone else's application or an old policy doesn't count either.
Check rent and costs separately
Once a review looks possible, confirm rent, all move-in costs and open units with the community. A move-in special doesn't mean the criminal history rule is waived.
Our drug conviction locating service covers apartments in the five metros we serve. If you're applying through a housing assistance program, ask the program office for its current rules on criminal history. A private apartment's answer won't tell you.
What to do next
- Get a copy of your own screening report so you see what a landlord sees. Our guide on checking your own background walks you through it.
- Keep your disposition handy so we can compare the final outcome, not the first charge.
- Tell us your offense, outcome and dates. We check each community's drug offense rule.
- Once a review looks possible, confirm rent, move-in costs and open units with the community.
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 Drug Offenses
We check how each community treats possession versus delivery cases and which dates count. Then we send you places worth a look.
See how our drug offense search works →Common Questions
Do apartments accept drug convictions?
Some do and some don't. It comes down to each community's rule for your offense, outcome and dates.
Does possession count the same as distribution?
Not at every property. Some policies treat possession differently from delivery or distribution offenses. We check how each one does it.
Do you post a list of apartments that accept drug convictions?
No. A list that sits on a page can't tell you today's policy. We check each community's current rules when you start a search.
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.
More renter help
Use renter checklists and budget tools · Browse the guide library