Most major apartment complexes today are conducting background checks on the possible criminal records of people who want to rent a unit.  Technically, no one has the right to deny your application if you already served your sentence. But some apartment management firms can arbitrarily deny your application if they discovered that you have previous misdemeanours of felony conviction.    The best thing that you can do is to be honest when answering the background checks of the apartment management firms.  It may help also if you can prepare a statement explaining the circumstances of your conviction.  But there is still a good chance that your application will be disapproved by these firms.   In case you get instant disapproval, the best that you can do is to take your application directly to the owners of the apartment.  In most cases, this approach works 100 percent of the time.  Apartment owners can understand your situation better than those who are simply hired to manage the application procedures.    If you still get a denial, it is best to demand a written explanation from the apartment owners.  If the basis for denying your application is unfounded, then it is probably time to talk to your lawyer to seek legal redress.