How to Get Approved for an Apartment

Finding a new apartment can be exciting unless you’re having difficulty getting approved for an apartment. There can be various reasons for this — like a competitive market or not meeting the landlord’s requirements — but the good news is there are ways to increase your chances of getting approved for your dream apartment.

Keep reading to learn what information to prepare as a renter and how to get your application in front of landlords in minutes.

Is It Hard to Get Approved for an Apartment?

Getting approved for an apartment can be easier than for a mortgage, but this also depends on the landlord’s requirements. If the landlord requires a credit score over 600 and three times the rent in income to qualify for the apartment, it can be harder to get approved if you don’t meet the criteria. On the other hand, other landlords may only require proof of income and a background check authorization.

If this is your first time applying for an apartment, it’s best to look for apartments within your budget and practice great credit habits to improve your credit score.

New to renting? Here are 10 first-time renter tips to keep in mind as you search for your next apartment.

5 Ways to Improve Your Chances of Getting Approved for an Apartment

Increase your chances of getting approved for an apartment with these five tips.

1. Check Your Credit Score

Many landlords check for credit scores during the screening process, so it’s important to know where yours currently stands and the factors contributing to it. Landlords generally require a minimum credit score of 629, but this can vary. If you discover your credit score is below 600, your credit report can let you know what to focus on to continue increasing your score. This can be making on-time payments for a set time, reducing utilized credit, or limiting hard inquiries.

To check your credit, you can visit sites like annualcreditreport.com for a free copy of your credit report from the three nationwide credit bureaus you’re entitled to every 12 months. You can also visit sites that offer your VantageScore and FICO® for free. However, not as many landlords may check those scores, so make sure to know what your actual credit score is.

2. Prepare Important Documents

Applying for an apartment often requires gathering important documents on your finances and rental history. Here are some examples of documents you’ll need to provide:

• Work history: Prepare to provide up to five years of employment history and the contact information of your employer for verification. If your previous employers require landlords to complete a certain process to verify your time there, communicate this to the landlord beforehand.
• Credit references (if required): Providing a credit reference may be beneficial if you have a credit score of less than 629. Credit references can be a great way to show your trustworthiness and your ability to make on-time rent payments.
• Pay stubs or tax forms: To verify your income, landlords may ask for two recent pay stubs that list your employer, how much you’re paid, and your position at the company. If you’re self-employed, they generally require tax forms like a W2 or 1040 instead.
• Bank Statements: While landlords don’t request bank statements as often, it’s best to have two recent statements on hand in case they do. This shows a holistic view of your monthly income, which could be helpful if when self-employed or a freelancer.
• Pet resume (if applicable): If you own a pet, landlords may request a pet resume that outlines the pet’s breed, age, and vaccination history.
• Photo ID: Requesting a photo ID is standard to prove who you are.
• Social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN): As a renter, you may need to authorize tenant screening reports with an SSN or ITIN. If you don’t currently have either, talk with the landlord to know what to provide to still apply for the rental.
• Landlord or personal references: Landlords may request your previous landlord’s contact information to ask them about their rental experience with you, so make sure to gather this information in advance. It’s also important to know if they have a certain process for landlord reference checks to tell the new landlord.
• Offer letter or a university acceptance letter: If you cannot provide financial statements like pay stubs or a bank statement as a student, provide an offer letter of a new job to prove your employment or a university acceptance letter.

3. Create a Renter Profile to Share With Landlords

When apartment searching, you may have to apply for more than one place to find your next home. This process can quickly become tedious considering it takes time to fill out the same information multiple times.

To save time, you can create an Avail Renter Profile that allows you to provide the information often required on applications with important documents and tenant screening reports for a one-time fee. Renter profiles can also help limit credit checks by landlords, which can negatively impact your score with too many hard inquiries.

The great news is that some states require landlords to accept renter profiles if presented with one. In that case, having one can be a great way to get your application in front of the competition, limit credit checks, and have control over your information during your apartment search.