After you find the perfect apartment, it’s time to apply! Rental applications determine whether you get approved for an apartment. Based on your credit information, background check, rental history, and other criteria, landlords and property managers decide whether you would be a qualified fit for your desired apartment. Rental applications can feel stressful, but preparation helps. Understanding how to approach the process can improve your approval odds and help you glide through the application process with confidence.
What Is a Rental Application?
A rental application is a form landlords and property managers use to determine if a prospective tenant can lease from their community based on financial, personal, and employment history. Information typically requested includes credit history, rental history, employment history, proof of income, references, and a background check. These requirements can differ from community to community, but landlords request this information to determine if a tenant can reliably pay rent on time and adhere to lease terms.
What Do You Need to Apply for an Apartment?
Personal information
When you apply for an apartment, you have to provide a government-issued ID along with contact information like your full legal name, phone number, email, and address, and in most cases, your Social Security number (SSN). Most properties use your SSN to verify your identity and run a background check. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing this personal information, reach out to the property manager and see if there is a different way they can run a background check. Most properties are willing to accommodate alternative verification methods.
Proof of income
Providing proof of income is important for a landlord when determining if you can pay rent each month. In most cases, you have to provide your most recent pay stubs and bank statements. If you are starting a new job, most properties want to see an offer letter or see the previous year’s tax return to validate employment or income history.
Rental history
Rental history consists of your past addresses, other rental spaces you may have leased in the past, and landlord references. This information is used to determine if you have historically paid your rent on time, followed past lease terms, or ever been evicted from a unit. If you don’t have any rental history, that’s okay. Property managers often evaluate your application based on your references, proof of employment, and pay stubs instead.
Additional documents
Additional documents that properties may require during your application process include vehicle information, pet records, and emergency contacts. Vehicle information is stored in case you end up moving into the apartment community and the property needs to verify your parking. Pet records usually mean vaccination records and are only applicable if you are moving into the unit with a pet. Emergency contacts are required if the apartment needs to get in contact with you because you are unavailable or unable to access your phone or laptop.
What Landlords Look for on a Rental Application
Income requirements
The most important part of a rental application involves your income and spending habits. Most properties require a tenant to make three times the monthly rent and use this baseline to determine if a prospective tenant has enough income to qualify. Most property managers and apartment communities use this guideline, but providing proof of income, like pay stubs and bank statements, can be especially helpful if you don’t meet the standard income requirement.
Credit checks
When you apply for an apartment, the property may run a credit check. Your credit check consists of your credit score and history and is usually included with your background check. Most apartments look for a credit score above 650, though requirements can vary by property. If you make payments on time and have a clean credit history, landlords can see this on your credit report and consider this information when evaluating your application.
If you have a bad or limited credit history, consider getting a cosigner or a guarantor to sign the lease with you. Cosigners and guarantors can make you a more reliable applicant, especially if you don’t have the credit history to support your application.
Background checks
Background checks usually include credit checks, criminal background screening, and eviction history checks. Federal fair housing laws state that landlords cannot deny a potential tenant based on the existence of a criminal history alone and that the decision must be “tailored to serve the housing provider’s substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest.” If you do have a criminal record, the time since conviction and strong references can help strengthen your rental application.
If you have been evicted from a rental unit, this may show up on your background check. Apartment communities often take this into consideration when evaluating applicants, but having a cosigner or guarantor may improve your chances of approval.
Overall, being open and honest with the property and property manager before, during, and after the rental application process is important when determining your eligibility for an apartment.
Rental history and references
Property managers and apartment communities also look at your past rental history, including prior payments, lease violations, and communication with pervious landlords. During the background check process, your previous addresses may be shared with your prospective apartment community. If you list a past landlord as a reference, the property manager may contact them to ask about your history as a tenant, including any lease violations.
Your rental history is important because it shows your new property manager that you can pay rent on time, maintain good communication, and follow lease terms responsibly.
How Long Does Apartment Application Approval Take?
A typical apartment approval process can take anywhere from three to five business days depending on the property size and how many people are applying for the same unit. Some applications may take longer because of missing documents, background check timing, or applications submitted on weekends or holidays.
If you haven’t received a decision in three business days or think there may be delays, reach out to the property to check on your application status.
What Happens After You Submit a Rental Application?
After you submit a rental application, the property begins reviewing your information. Your application must go through an initial screening review conducted by the apartment community and a verification process that may include a background check.
After reviewing your application and screening results, the apartment community should have a better idea of whether they want to move forward with a lease agreement. Until you receive an approval or denial decision, you can still reach out to the landlord with any outstanding questions. Keeping communication open with the property manager can help the process feel smoother while you wait for a decision.
Why Rental Applications Get Denied
There are several reasons why a rental application can be denied. Insufficient income, poor credit history, negative rental history, failed background checks, or unverifiable employment are some common reasons an application may be denied.
If your rental application is denied, the property is generally required to provide a notice explaining why the decision was made. Besides this, you can ask the property manager questions, review your credit report, or continue applying for other apartments.
If you think your denial was unfair, you can write an appeal letter disputing the denial. Offering additional documentation or applying again with a guarantor may improve your chances of acceptance the second time around. Even though some apartments allow multiple applications, if you don’t meet the apartment’s income criteria or screening standards, it may be best to continue your apartment search elsewhere. Just because you receive a denial from one community, doesn’t mean your apartment search journey is over!
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After you fill out your application, Apartments.com stores your information for future applications, saving you time and stress. Complete your application today and find your perfect place faster with Apartments.com.
FAQs
What is a rental application?
A rental application is a form landlords use to screen prospective tenants before approving them for an apartment. It usually asks for personal information, income details, rental history, employment history, references, and permission to run credit, background, and eviction checks.
What do you need to apply for an apartment?
To apply for an apartment, you usually need a government-issued ID, contact information, proof of income, employment details, rental history, landlord references, and authorization for a credit and background check. Some properties may also ask for pet records, vehicle information, or emergency contacts.
How much income do you need to rent an apartment?
Many apartments require renters to earn about three times the monthly rent, but requirements vary by property. Some landlords may also consider savings, employment history, a cosigner, or a guarantor.
How long does a rental application take to be approved?
A rental application usually takes three to five business days to process. Approval may take longer if documents are missing, references are slow to respond, background checks are delayed, or the application is submitted on a weekend or holiday.
