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If you have a criminal record, you’re probably aware that landlords are well able to dig up dirt on you. You will likely encounter difficulties finding a top-tier home, because of how easily accessible court records are to anyone who’s willing to take the time to look. What you might not know is the extent to which landlords factor this information when making decisions. 

According to a 2017 TransUnion survey which included 669 landlords across the US, 90% of the landlords say they run credit checks and criminal background checks on applicants. Additionally, 85% said they run eviction reports on applicants. The survey found that these are the top five factors landlords consider in tenant screening: 

  1. Income/Employment History
  2. Eviction History
  3. Criminal Background
  4. Credit History
  5. References

It may seem ludicrous that criminal background information is more important to them then references from actual human beings who personally know you. But in this survey, out of the seven biggest concerns involving renters, the highest concern was labeled simply as “troublesome tenants.” When asked how many properties they manage, the highest percentage of landlords stated they manage more than 10 properties, so many simply don’t have the time or the ability to get to know who you truly are as a person. They’ll judge you on impersonal court records because it’s the safest course for them to protect their assets. 

96% of these landlords agreed that tenant screening is beneficial in order to find the types of tenants they want living in their homes. 82% expect their use of technology services to screen tenants will increase as they continue working. In short: If you have a criminal record, it’s likely that the landlord of your dream house or apartment will find it. It’s also likely they’ll offer the lease to someone who doesn’t have any criminal history. 

Don’t let an old or bogus charge stop you from putting a roof over your head. Get in touch with Easy Expunctions to see if there’s something we can scrub from your record—we’ll get you started with a background check and work to identify qualifying charges that you can kiss goodbye.

Stable housing can help prevent young adults from becoming repeat offenders. Housing instability puts young adults at a higher risk of incarceration and homelessness. Homelessness can lead young adults to commit crimes in order to survive, which keeps this unfortunate cycle in motion. For instance, people without a home must find a place to sleep, which can result in an arrest for trespassing. In many cases, young adults cannot find housing post-incarceration because of a lack of educational and employment opportunities.

Due to family discord, many families do not allow their children to move back in after their arrest, and some families may have lost stable housing themselves. Housing authorities and landlords typically refuse to allow people with a criminal record to rent a space because they want to prevent criminal activity from taking place on the property. Even if a landlord were to allow a young adult with a criminal record to rent property, their options would likely be limited because of employment and financial issues.

A criminal record can prevent young adults from finding employment because many companies do not hire those with a record. Companies who do choose to hire former offenders usually don’t present them with opportunities for upward advancement. Typically, these young adults are left either underemployed or unemployed.

The ability to finish school can be extremely limited depending on their age at incarceration. Education has a direct effect on employment opportunities. Young adults who didn’t finish their education usually have lower paying jobs, leaving them unable to pay for stable housing. Again, this keeps the cycle in motion. To lower the rate at which young adults become repeat offenders, those with a criminal record must be provided with greater opportunities to obtain a stable place to live.

If you think your criminal record is holding you back from adequate housing, reach out to Easy Expunctions today to see if a clear record could be in your future: 1-866-899-0266