Like a job application, an apartment rental application requires you to attach additional documents to conduct a residence history and tenant screening. Simply filling out the form with your information and a list of past apartments you've rented isn't enough. There are a lot of upfront costs, move-in fees, requested documents, background check and credit checks that you must pass to prove your financial responsibility before your first rent payments.
Your potential landlord needs this information as part of the apartment application process to evaluate prospective tenants and find the right one for their rental property.
Gather the documents listed below to kickstart the apartment application process, beyond the apartment application fee, before you head out to your next apartment tour and need to fill out a rental application. You'll want to be ready to nab the perfect apartment and win over other applicants.
And, if you're going to rent along with some roommates, they, too will need to have these items on hand. Just make sure you agree beforehand on the budget and fair monthly rent payments for everyone based on room size. Some landlords will ask for everything through the application process, and others will only ask for a couple, so preparing for any situation is your best bet.
Landlords ask to see your pay stubs to confirm your employment status and proof of monthly income through recent pay stubs. (Remember, the landlord's first concern is whether you'll pay rent.)
If you don't earn enough money, letting you move in is a terrible financial decision on their part: Landlords typically only accept tenants for whom the rental price is 30% or less of their income, even if you've paid rent higher than that in the past.
You may have heard this 30 percent rule before, as in, you don't want to spend more than 30 percent of your gross income on rent. It's not a hard and fast rule — developed way before crushing student loan debt or past medical bills came into the picture for many people. Do the math before you start your search and determine what is going to work for your budget to not affect your good credit, or find a co-signer for your lease agreement.
Most of the time, landlords will ask for your two most recent pay stubs to confirm employment history in the rental application process. If you have direct deposit, you can likely still find your pay stub online or ask your boss for a copy of proof of income. If you do get a physical stub with your paycheck, only provide a copy, not the original.
With so many gig workers and independent contractors, a lot of people don't have a steady paycheck. If this is you, be prepared with client contracts, 1099s, tax returns to show you can pay rent on time at your new apartment with your monthly income.
Whether or not you've got a traditional pay stub, you can show bank statements. Both are the way that you show that you actually will have the money to pay your rent and satisfy the requested information. It can also signal to the leasing office if you need a co-signer like a family member.
Bring along two months' worth of bank statements, showing how much money you have and how much you get paid. It can help to highlight the entries showing your pay; this saves the landlord the trouble of having to process everything on a long list of transactions and protect your privacy.
You will need a photo ID of some sort as part of a list of items that can prove your identity during the rental application process. Bring your driver's license number or other identification with you when you tour apartments or when you go to fill out an apartment rental application.
Some landlords are stricter than others about needing this documentation to rent an apartment. If you don't have a driver's license, a state ID, passport or green card can show you are who you say you are and can legally live there.
But even if you are not a U.S. citizen, you can still rent a new apartment. You may have to bring other forms of documentation. When it comes to renting out living space, landlords can set their conditions for tenancy, but they cannot violate anti-discrimination laws.
A recommendation from a previous landlord shows that you were a good tenant in a previous apartment community. You don't usually have to get an actual letter. Most landlords will accept basic information about your last apartment, such as the property manager's contact information so they can get the landlord references they need. Still, having a letter ahead of time can save them the work.
It's a good idea to get one of these letters before moving from your current apartment building. A referral letter from past landlords that you were confident enough to ask for — and received — says a lot to a manager. Of course, personal references can work together with landlord references for a rental application.
If you're bringing a car with you, the future landlord needs to know what cars to expect on the property full time so bring your vehicle information.
Some buildings have an assigned parking space per unit, so the property manager wants to make sure only the approved vehicles are in the lot. It can also help to tell if a car seems abandoned — they can check with you to make sure you're just out of town for a while, not leaving your car abandoned.
You know not to give out this precious nine-digit identification code to just anyone, but you do have to provide your social security number to a potential landlord. Property managers use this number to perform credit and background checks to help determine whether you'll be a good tenant. You shouldn't have to provide a copy of your social security card, so memorize your number instead.
As long as you've been paying your bills on time and keeping your debt low, your credit check will be in good shape.
Don't fret, though, there are ways to rent an apartment even if your credit is less than impeccable. If this is your very first apartment and you're new to the credit game, or you know our credit is low, you might bring a co-signer application with you and personal references. This lets a prospective landlord know that if you need help, you have a safety net to cover the rent.
As for the background check, landlords and property managers have seen their share of scammers and criminals through the application process. They need to protect their property and the other tenants and are only doing their due diligence by checking you out.
You'll need to provide your rental history, listing all apartments you've lived in and previous landlords. This should include addresses, the phone number of the property manager, how long you lived there, how much you paid, and why you left.
If you've rented in several locations, it might be a good idea to go ahead and create a file of this information for yourself, so that you can take it with you when you apply.
Most applications have a section for references other than previous landlords. You should have a mental list of both professional and personal references, in case the landlord wants both. Just make sure to ask the people you plan to use as references, including your co-signer and emergency contact, for their permission since they'll be receiving a phone call.
These references can come from businesses where you've worked, non-profits where you've volunteered, even your church. Choose established and responsible adults as your references.
Someone who can hold a job is more likely able to pay the rent. Keep your job information on hand so you can reference it when you apply for apartments.
More than just the salary, this shows how stable the money coming in is. If you leave every three months, your income isn't stable and thus isn't reliable. If, however, you've had a job for five or more years, the 12 months you'll be at this apartment will likely be a financially stable time.
If you're looking at apartments that allow pets, the property manager or landlord may ask for information about them on the rental application. The lease agreement and related application fees will likely outline rules regarding the number and type of pets allowed, their weight and size.
Be prepared to show that your pet is a good animal citizen through a pet resume and that it would fit into the apartment community's restrictions. Bring along references as well as proof of vaccinations. The complex may even do a pet screening so you can get the landlord's permission.
Know that a pet security deposit usually requires upfront or possibly annual payments. If you have a service or emotional support animal, you should not have any pet security fees according to the Fair Housing Act.
Finally, bring your checkbook when applying for apartments. You may have to pay an application fee to apply or to take the unit off the market until you sign the lease. Or you may have already paid it if you went through online rental applications.
Rental application fees typically run from $35 to $75 per person and they go to a credit and background check. This is where it's important to see if you have bad credit or good credit before reaching the property owner. You may need to have a co-signer ready to go.
There may also be a separate processing fee during the application process. Find out with the leasing office beforehand if any fees are refundable if you don't get the apartment.
Once you jump these hurdles and you settle on an apartment, keep the checkbook handy. You also must put down a security deposit, which is usually the first month's rent. And you will need to pay the first — and possibly — the last month's rent in advance. Just remember that the rental application process time can be very quick.
You may not be able to afford the monthly rent by yourself due to bad credit or proof of income isn't quite enough to cover rent. Between the apartment application process and the background checks, you realized that you may need a co-signer. While you're a reliable person, the landlord may still need you to find a co-signer to work as a safety net.
This safety net will help your future rental history and credit check. Once your next landlord looks at your credit and background check, they can see you paid on time and had no issues.
The rental market is hot, so you don't want to lose out while you're running around gathering documents for rental applications. Figure out what you need to rent an apartment, and put everything in a folder as soon as you start the search process. If possible, go online and fill out the apartment application and pay the application fee to rent an apartment before you even get off your couch.
Carry the folder when you tour a place in case you want to fill out an apartment rental application on the spot. It's better to have it and not need it than to wish you had everything with you and have to wait to fill out the apartment application.
Wesley is a Charlotte-based writer with a degree in Mass Communication from the University of South Carolina. Her background includes 6 years in non-profit communication and 4 years in editorial writing. She's passionate about traveling, volunteering, cooking and drinking her morning iced coffee. When she's not writing, you can find her relaxing with family or exploring Charlotte with her friends.