Question | Answer |
What are the local laws about conditional approval in my area? | The local laws about whether your application may be approved on a conditional basis depend on the address of the property for which you’re applying. You can review local laws on conditional approval here. |
As a renter, what are my rights if my application is declined? |
If your application status changes from conditionally approved to declined, you may have the right to:
You can review your local requirements here. For legal advice, please consult with a local attorney. |
What happens once I’m conditionally approved? | If a landlord marks your application as “conditionally approved,” they’ll then be able to review the criminal history section of your background report. This should be the final step in their decision-making process before approving you to move into the property. |
What is conditional approval? |
Some parts of the country require landlords to follow a process called conditional approval. In these areas, landlords can see all parts of your application, except the criminal history section. If they decide they want to rent to you based on the rest of your application, they can choose to either approve you right away, or “conditionally approve” you until they review your criminal history section. After reviewing your criminal history, they may decide to move forward with either a formal approval or withdraw their conditional approval. This applies to you and any co-applicants. Other state and local laws may impose additional limitations on the use of criminal history in tenant screening. Review your local laws or contact a local attorney to learn more. |