# Texas Selection Criteria Notice Explained | FFA | Felon Friendly Apartments

> The disclosure Texas landlords must provide before you pay a fee: what the Property Code requires, what must be disclosed, and how to request it.

URL: https://felonfriendlyapartments.com/guide/texas-selection-criteria-notice-explained/
Last-Modified: 2026-07-20

GUIDE

# Texas Selection Criteria Notice Explained

The disclosure Texas landlords must provide before you pay a fee: what the Property Code requires, what must be disclosed, and how to request it.

![Renter reading a rental criteria disclosure at a leasing counter, candid](/images/misc/renter-reading-a-rental-criteria-disclosure-at-a-l.webp)

The disclosure Texas landlords must provide before you pay a fee: what the Property Code requires, what must be disclosed, and how to request it.

## What this guide covers

-   Texas Property Code selection criteria requirement
-   What criteria must be disclosed
-   How to request it before paying a fee

![Printed selection criteria document on a clipboard](/images/misc/printed-selection-criteria-document-on-a-clipboard.webp)

## Background

Explain the disclosure Texas landlords must provide before a fee. (Renter wants a property’s criteria before paying a non-refundable fee.)

## What matters most

-   **Texas Property Code selection criteria requirement.** Understanding this piece typically has the largest single effect on approval odds.
-   **What criteria must be disclosed.** Two identical applicants can get different answers at different properties for this reason.
-   **How to request it before paying a fee.** Preparation cuts down on repeated applications and burned fees.

## Honest expectations

We are direct with renters about what this record type does and does not open. Where a situation is a near-universal hard stop, we say so up front rather than collect an application fee. Where a property will genuinely review, we identify it so you spend your one application well.

## What to do next

1.  Pull your own screening report so you know what a landlord will see. See 
    
    how to check your own background before you apply
    
    [/guide/how-to-check-your-own-background-before-you-apply/ →](/guide/how-to-check-your-own-background-before-you-apply/)
    
    .
2.  Line up certified dispositions from the county clerk and any completion documentation.
3.  Have income verification ready — most Texas apartments want gross monthly income at 3x rent.
4.  Get a pre-screened shortlist before you apply blind.

## Related

-   Auto Decline Vs Case By Case Review
    
    [/guide/auto-decline-vs-case-by-case-review/ →](/guide/auto-decline-vs-case-by-case-review/)
    
-   Your Rights When Denied Housing Over A Criminal Record
    
    [/guide/your-rights-when-denied-housing-over-a-criminal-record/ →](/guide/your-rights-when-denied-housing-over-a-criminal-record/)
    

## Common Questions

Can I see an apartment's screening criteria before applying?

Yes; Texas landlords must make it available. Request it before paying.

Why does the selection criteria notice matter?

It helps you avoid fees at properties that will auto-decline your record.

Is the notice legally required in Texas?

Texas Property Code requires selection criteria be disclosed to applicants.

## Related Guides

### Arrest vs. Conviction on a Background Check

How screening treats an arrest vs. a conviction, why arrests can still surface, disposition status, and FCRA limits on old arrest records.

Read guide →

[Arrest vs. Conviction on a Background Check →](/guide/arrest-vs-conviction-on-a-background-check/)

### Auto-Decline vs. Case-by-Case Review

What 'case by case review' really means: genuine individualized assessment vs. a fee-collection line, and how to tell them apart.

Read guide →

[Auto-Decline vs. Case-by-Case Review →](/guide/auto-decline-vs-case-by-case-review/)

### Criminal Background Lookback Periods Explained

How apartment lookback windows work: 5, 7, and 10-year policies, blanket vs. offense-type rules, and why conviction age shifts your odds.

Read guide →

[Criminal Background Lookback Periods Explained →](/guide/criminal-background-lookback-periods-explained/)

### DWI Non-Disclosure in Texas (Section 411.072)

The DWI sealing path under 411.072 (H.B. 3016): who qualifies for a first-time DWI, waiting periods, and screening effect. Not legal advice.

Read guide →

[DWI Non-Disclosure in Texas (Section 411.072) →](/guide/dwi-non-disclosure-in-texas-411-072/)

![](/images/misc/garden-style-texas-apartment-courtyard-at-dusk-wit.webp)

## Ready to Find Apartments That Accept Your Record?

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[/contact/ →](/contact/)