Finding housing after a conviction can be difficult. You still have options.
Apartments for Felons

Felon Friendly Apartments in Detroit, MI

Searching for felon friendly apartments in Detroit? Explore apartment communities, houses, and other housing options. “Felon friendly” is a search term, not a verified designation. Confirm each property's screening rules; approval is never guaranteed.

Screening records in Detroit

5733 Lakewood Street

5733 Lakewood Street # 2

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Algonquin Apartments

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Brewster Homes

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Charles Terrace / Sojourner Truth

4801 E. Nevada

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Diggs / Forest Park Place

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Greenbrooke Manor

19805 Greenfield

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Harriet Tubman Apartments

2450 W. Grand Blvd.

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Riverbend Towers

4386 Conner

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Sheridan Place I & II

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Smith Homes

14313 Crescent Drive

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State Fair Apartments

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Warren West Apartments

4100 West Warren

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Woodbridge Senior Village

3521 John C. Lodge

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Can someone with a felony record rent in Detroit?

Screening practices and applicable requirements can vary by property and location. Ask each housing provider about its current criteria and verify reported policy details directly. For questions about your rights, consider consulting a qualified local housing or legal resource. Approval is never guaranteed.

Detroit is the largest city in Michigan and the center of Wayne County, with a housing landscape shaped by decades of change, a lot of older stock, and neighborhoods at very different stages of investment. For applicants with a felony record, this variety means options can differ dramatically block by block, and landlords range from large managers to many small owners who screen case by case. A record can add friction anywhere, and approval is never guaranteed. In Detroit, being flexible about neighborhood and property type, while preparing solid documentation and honest explanations, tends to help. This page walks through what local landlords commonly consider and how to prepare.

Local housing information for Detroit

Local rental overview

Detroit's rental market varies widely by neighborhood, with some areas seeing renewed investment and others remaining very affordable, and a lot of older housing stock throughout; conditions change over time. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: confirm current rent ranges and vacancy for target Detroit neighborhoods before quoting numbers.] Wayne County and the City of Detroit are served by public housing authorities and by federal rental assistance programs. Some applicants with records may qualify depending on the offense and timing, but eligibility follows federal and local rules that change, so verify directly.

Criminal screening overview

Michigan does not have a statewide law capping how far back tenant criminal background checks may reach, so landlords and screening companies in Detroit largely set their own criteria. Policies therefore vary across the market. Federal fair housing guidance discourages blanket bans on everyone with any record, but it does not require a private landlord to approve you. Many landlords weigh the offense type, its recency, and your income and rental history together, and small owners in particular may review case by case. Checking your own record first helps you prepare. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: confirm whether any City of Detroit or Wayne County ordinance affects tenant screening before citing one.]

Application tips

- Stay flexible about neighborhood, since options differ sharply across the city. - Order your own background report so you know exactly what will appear. - With older housing, inspect the unit and ask about maintenance before committing. - Provide proof of steady income and gather references from a landlord, employer, or reentry contact. - Ask each property about its screening criteria before paying application fees.

Local housing resources

DETROIT HOUSING COMMISSION TWELVE-PROPERTY REVIEW — DHC's two-page https://www.dhcmi.org/properties directory, reviewed September 30, 2026, identifies 12 cards: Woodbridge Senior Village (3521 John C. Lodge, Detroit MI 48201; DHC-listed HUD-assisted senior high-rise; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/woodbridge-senior-village); Warren West Apartments (4100 West Warren, Detroit MI 48210; DHC-listed senior high-rise; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/warren-west-apartments); Harriet Tubman Apartments (2450 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit MI 48208; DHC-listed general-occupancy housing community; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/harriet-tubman-apartments); State Fair Apartments (1231 W. State Fair, Detroit MI 48203 (printed); map link says 48208; DHC-listed general-occupancy housing community; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/state-fair-apartments); Smith Homes (14313 Crescent Drive, Detroit MI 48223; DHC-listed family housing; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/smith-homes); Sheridan Place I & II (7501 and 7601 E. Jefferson, Detroit MI 48214; DHC-listed elderly and near-elderly two-building community; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/sheridan-place-i-ii); Charles Terrace / Sojourner Truth (4801 E. Nevada, Detroit MI 48234; DHC-listed combined family developments; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/charles-terrace-sojourner-truth); Algonquin Apartments (4711 Trumbull and 1520 W. Forest, Detroit MI 48208; DHC-listed two-address apartment community; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/algonquin-apartments); Greenbrooke Manor (19805 Greenfield, Detroit MI 48235 (map link adds #30); DHC-listed one- and two-bedroom apartments; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/greenbrooke-manor); Diggs / Forest Park Place (Forest Park: 1331 E. Canfield, Detroit; Diggs: bounded by I-75, Russell, E. Canfield and E. Forest; DHC-listed combined senior-building and family development; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/diggs-forest-park-place); Brewster Homes (3526 St. Antione, Detroit MI 48201 (as printed; verify spelling/location); DHC-listed two- and three-bedroom homes; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/brewster-homes); Riverbend Towers (4386 Conner, Detroit MI 48215; DHC-listed elderly and near-elderly high-rise; https://www.dhcmi.org/properties/riverbend-towers). All 12 detail pages display “Waiting List: Closed” without a dated effective period. Warren West also says in its undated prose that office applications are accepted; ask DHC which statement applies now. Sheridan I & II, Algonquin and Diggs/Forest Park are grouped/multi-address records, and State Fair and Brewster have disputed printed address information, so five records are unpinned. DHC's 1301 E Jefferson administrative office is not an apartment. Public-housing lists are property-specific (https://www.dhcmi.org/departments/real-estate-management/liph-applicant-faq); the HCV/PBV notice (https://www.dhcmi.org/departments/rental-assistance/applicant-faq) concerns different program intake. Criminal histories are examined (https://www.dhcmi.org/departments/real-estate-management/liph-eligibility-requirements) but felony outcomes and current vacancies are not verified. Call the property-specific phone on each record to confirm live status, residence entrance and screening.

How we verify this information

Reported screening policies come from properties, management companies, and renter-submitted experiences, and each record shows when it was last verified. Policies can change at any time—always confirm directly with the property.

Our data methodologyReport outdated info

Nearby areas

Dearborn→Flint→Fremont→Georgetown Township→Grand Rapids→Kentwood→

Frequently asked questions

Do rental options really vary that much across Detroit?

Yes. Neighborhoods are at very different stages, so prices, condition, and landlord type can differ dramatically. Staying flexible about area and property type widens your options, though you should still inspect units carefully.

How far back can background checks go in Detroit?

Michigan has no statewide limit on tenant screening lookback periods, so it depends on the landlord or screening company. Ask about the specific policy before applying.

Are small landlords in Detroit more open to applicants with records?

Some small owners review applications individually rather than using strict automated screening, which can help. There's no guarantee, so ask each landlord about its criteria and lead with proof of your stability.

Request Housing Help

Tell us where you want to live and we will review your request and point you toward relevant housing resources. This is not a rental application, and approval is never guaranteed.

This page is informational only and is not a rental application. Reported policies can change at any time and approval is never guaranteed. Contact the property directly to verify. Last updated October 7, 2026.

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