When you fill out an application to rent an apartment, there is a good chance you will have to consent to allow the landlord to look into your criminal history. If you have a felony on your record, the landlord will see it, and this could affect your ability to get approved for the apartment. Whether you're looking for a luxury condo or a garage apartment, here are some tips to help you find an apartment to rent if you have a felony on your record:

Be honest up front

The first thing you should understand is that you should never lie or try to hide this fact about yourself. If you have a felony in your past, it will show up on a criminal history report. You can ask the landlord if he or she views these reports, and if so, you can tell him or her about your record. If it was a long time ago, the landlord might not hold it against you. If it was recent, however, the landlord might take this factor into consideration when determining whether to rent to you or not.

Provide character letters

A second thing you could do if you have a felony is get a few character letters from reputable people in the area, if you have anyone close to you that would do this for you. Character letters are designed to help people like you with various things, such as getting approved for an apartment. A character letter helps build credibility for a person with a less-than-perfect history, and it can make a difference when trying to rent an apartment if you have a felony in your past.

Try to get the crime expunged from your record

If you really want to make it easier to rent an apartment with a felony on your record, you could go through the work of getting the felony expunged. When you get a crime like this expunged, it is hidden from your record. While it is still something in your past, it will no longer appear on your criminal history report. Not all felonies and crimes can be expunged, but you could always talk to a lawyer to determine if yours could be or not.

It can be difficult to rent an apartment if you have a criminal record, but it is not impossible. If you are interested in finding a unit to rent, contact a landlord or property management firm in your city.