What Do Landlords Look For In An Application?

Applying for an apartment can be a lot like applying for a job, but there’s much less coaching available on what to expect from the process. We’ve compiled the five most important factors landlords look for in an application to arm you with the details you need to make a strong first impression.

Key Insights

• Income Matters: Landlords prefer tenants earning 3x the monthly rent or less than 30% of income spent on housing.
• Rental History Counts: A record of on-time payments and positive references builds trust.
• Background Checks Apply: Evictions, bankruptcies, or criminal history can raise red flags, but explanations help.
• Lifestyle Fit: Pets, smoking, or frequent guests may affect approval depending on lease rules.
• Application Quality: A complete, honest, and thoughtful application with supporting documents improves your chances.

5 Things Landlords Look For In An Apartment Application

Throughout your apartment search, you’ll likely submit dozens of applications. Keep the following criteria in mind to ensure your rental applications include all the key factors landlords look for, so nothing stands in the way of your dream apartment.

1. Financial Stability

Typically, landlords have income benchmarks for tenants to avoid missed payments, such as making at least three times the rent. Said differently, your rent should be less than or equal to 30% of your income.

Here’s a simple formula for setting your rental budget, using an annual salary of $109,000 as an example:

$109,000/12 months = $9,083.33 gross monthly income (before taxes)

$9,083.33 x 0.30 = $2,725

With this formula in mind, the maximum we’d recommend spending on an apartment each month is about $2,700, but you’ll need to consider your precise income, financial goals, and local taxes to confirm your budget works for you. Use our rent calculator to set your budget.

Landlords will also want to see verifiable proof of income via tax documents, bank statements, or paystubs. You can submit a strong application by organizing all these details into a digital or hard-copy folder for the landlord’s easy reference.

2. Rental History

From a landlord’s perspective, renting a property is a financial risk like all investments. As such, they’ll want to make decisions that minimize the risk and maximize the return. Risk-averse landlords and management groups may be less likely to rent to you if you don’t have a rental history or if it’s checkered with complaints.

Compile your rental history, including past addresses, roommates, and landlord contact information. Highlight your on-time payments and explain any areas of financial difficulty or inconsistency to preempt potential issues.

3. Background and Personal Information

While fair housing laws provide a lot of protections preventing landlords from discriminating against tenants for race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability, there are some gray areas. Your application can still be denied if you have a history of evictions or convictions for certain types of crimes.

To avoid issues with your background check, provide up-to-date identification and consider writing an explanation for anything your landlord may look twice at. For example, if you were evicted during a hostile divorce or separation, these details may encourage compassion from the humans reviewing your application. Similarly, if you have a history of criminal behavior or untimely payments, but have gotten back on the right track, it can be helpful to demonstrate your improved history since the original red flags.

4. Lifestyle Factors

Landlords are within their rights to ask about your personal habits, such as work schedule, hobbies, visitor frequency, and pets. While they can’t necessarily dictate your habits in the apartment, they may have lease terms, such as no smoking or pets, that may be incongruent with your lifestyle, so it’s important to be transparent from the outset to avoid potential violations later.

That said, fair housing laws protect any lifestyle factors associated with its protected classes.

5. Application Quality

Even if you’ve technically filled out all parts of the application, you risk denial if you sped through it, provided incomplete answers, or otherwise didn’t put a lot of thought into it. We know that applications can get tedious, especially if you’re filling out multiple every week, but it’s important to fill out each one with care. Remember, home is where the heart is, so as much as you can, put your heart into every application.

Let landlords see your personality and bring your professionalism to every interaction. Submit your application quickly after viewing the apartment, send courtesy emails, like “thank you for your time today!”, and follow up as needed to show your interest.

Be Cautious About These Red Flags When Applying for An Apartment

We spoke to Chad D. Cummings, CPA, Esq., a double-threat CPA and attorney specializing in Fair Housing Act compliance. He shared that the most common red flags include “unverifiable or inconsistent income, prior evictions, open bankruptcies, history of nonpayment or lease violations, unverifiable references, or missing information.”

To avoid these issues, complete your application honestly and in full, providing additional documentation or letters of explanation where it’s needed.

If you expect to look for an apartment in the near future, we recommend getting your ducks in a row. Even if you have sizable savings, you may want to secure reliable employment before applying for an apartment, especially if you’re relocating.

We’d also suggest compiling your employment information, especially if you’re a gig worker or independent contractor who may need to rely on bank statements or tax documents for verification. Similarly, you should use this time to pull your credit report, identify inconsistencies, pay down debt, and take other steps to improve your credit score.

How to Submit A Strong Application for Prospective Apartments

Sometimes life happens, and with it, a slew of red flags that may alert potential landlords. However, a red flag or two shouldn’t stand in the way of your shelter. Here’s our advice for submitting a strong rental application:

• Answer every question truthfully: Be honest and provide additional documentation wherever it may clarify your responses.
• Add a co-signer: If you don’t meet the income or rental history requirements, a co-signer can be a great signal to a landlord.
• Provide references: Organize references from landlords, past roommates, or employers that demonstrate your reliability.
• Secure documentation for pets: If you have pets, make sure you have all their paperwork, including vaccine records, emotional-support status, or Canine Good Citizenship certification.
• Respond promptly: As you arrange to see the apartment and submit your application, show you’re motivated by responding quickly.

Cummings continued, “where a deficiency exists (such as a low credit score) renters should offer mitigating evidence (such as an explanatory letter), a larger security deposit, a co-signer, or proof of recent debt resolution.”

Find Your Perfect Place with Apartment List

Now that you know what landlords are looking for in an apartment application, you can get to work searching for the right place. Take Apartment List’s personalized quiz to get started. With us, you’ll spend 5 minutes and save 50 hours of searching.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Landlords Look for in an Apartment Application

What makes you stand out on a rental application?

You can stand out on a rental application by going the extra mile with extra references from past landlords and a written resume of your rental history. This step streamlines the landlord’s screening process, allowing them to easily verify references and view you in the best light. You can also add a cover letter to further introduce yourself.

What can deny a rental application?

There are many legal reasons landlords might deny a rental application:

• Too little or unverifiable income
• History of evictions
• Smoking (for smoke-free apartments)
• Pets
• No previous rental history
• Inaccurate, false, or incomplete information on application

Renter protections vary tremendously from city to city, so you’ll always want to research your city’s tenant-landlord rules and regulations to stay up-to-date.

Is there anything I can do in a competitive rental market?

In competitive rental markets, there are a few things you can do to improve your application:

• Work with a real estate agent
• Offer a higher deposit or advanced payment
• Proactively address any potential red flags with a written explanation
• Follow up on communications with professional courtesy
• Consider a longer lease term
• Have a flexible move-in schedule
• Demonstrate a strong credit score (670+)