5 Documents Needed To Rent An Apartment
Finding a place to live is the priority for anyone moving to a new location, be it a new town or a whole new country. Luckily, renting a home is pretty simple in the U.S. We’ll explain if non-citizens can legally rent an apartment, the documents and additional things needed, and how Upwardli can make the process easier.
Non-citizens renting an apartment
You do not have to be a citizen or have any specific immigration status to rent an apartment in the U.S. Legally, landlords cannot deny a renter’s application based on country of origin, religious status, handicap, familial status, race, gender, or age.
What landlords can legally do is ask about residency status. However, they must ask the same question to all applicants and can ask non-citizens to submit a supplemental rental application which is a form used to:
Provide emergency contact information for a person in your home country (this is optional)
Verify if you’re legally in the U.S.
Determine if your right to remain in the U.S. ends before the term of your lease
Enable the landlord to cooperate with government officials in the performance of their duties when requested
Not all landlords require this form or even know it exists. You’re more likely to be asked to fill out the form when renting from a large management company that owns or manages a large number of units. Small landlords are less likely to require this form, and it won’t be necessary if you’re subleasing an apartment, renting a room, or using a service like Airbnb.
5 documents needed to rent an apartment
The documents needed for lease applications will vary from landlord to landlord. As with the supplemental application, smaller landlords may require fewer documents for apartment applications than large management companies. But generally, these are the documents you need to rent an apartment.
It’s best to get your documents together before you even start looking for a place. Make physical copies or digitize them so you can quickly and easily provide them upon request. In some housing markets, competition is fierce, and apartments go fast. Being more organized than the competition can give you an advantage.
1. Bank statements
Most landlords are far more concerned with your financial status than your immigration status. They want to rent to someone who can afford to pay their monthly rent. A good rule of thumb is that your rent should be no more than 30% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income.
So nearly every landlord will want to see bank statements. Bring at least three months' worth of statements; six months is even better. This is one reason it’s so important to open a bank account in the U.S. as soon as possible.
2. Pay stubs
Again, because a landlord’s primary concern is whether or not an applicant can afford the rent, they will often request pay stubs. Pay stubs can also show stability, especially if you’ve been with the same employer long-term, something else landlords like. Again, bring three to six months' worth of pay stubs.
If you have a job offer but have not yet started or been at the job long enough to have pay stubs, an offer letter from the employer can be substituted. The letter should include the amount of your salary and any guaranteed extras like bonuses or commissions.
3. Tax returns
Millions of immigrants pay and file taxes, so will be able to supply tax returns. Generally, two years’ worth is enough.
4. Identification
Like banks, landlords want proof of who you are. Many landlords will require 2 forms of ID for an apartment, one of which should be a photo ID. Forms of legal ID can include:
A passport (it doesn’t have to be a U.S. passport)
Government-issued ID (it doesn’t have to be the U.S. government)
Birth certificate
Driver’s license (U.S., foreign, or international)
Consular ID
Student ID
Military ID
5. References
Hopefully, you had a good relationship with your last landlord! If that was the case, ask if they will write a reference letter that you can give to new potential landlords. The letter doesn’t have to have a lot of detail, just stating that you were a responsible tenant who paid the rent on time, took good care of the property, and left it in good condition.
Additional things needed to get an apartment
Nearly every landlord, even those who own just a single rental property, will request or perform a credit check on potential renters. This can be tough for new immigrants as they likely don’t have much or any American credit history.
That’s where Upwardli can help! Upwardli was created to help those newly arrived build their credit history and credit score and access the financial services they need.
