The rental application process can seem overwhelming if you’re a first-time renter. It’s nothing to be worried about! As long as you take care and follow all the steps in this guide, you’ll be able to do the rental application process without a problem.
With forms to fill out and documents to submit, the rental application process takes patience and a lot of effort. Here’s all you need to know about the steps and process of signing a lease.
Related: Guide To Renting An Apartment After School: The Pandemic Edition
5 Key Steps in the Rental Application Process
Before you proceed, be sure to look up information specific to your city. These are steps that you’ll need to complete as a part of the rental application process in general.
Step 1: Fill out your rental application.
A rental application is a form and a set of supporting documents. This includes some personal information about you like residence history, income, references, pets, and anything relevant to renting a property.
Source: iStock
A rental application is used by landlords to screen potential tenants and decide who will be a good fit for the property. This process varies for each building or residence, some forms can be filled up online or collected from the landlord when you visit the place.
Step 2: Submit the required documents.
You’ll need to submit certain documents as a part of the rental application process to help the landlord establish your identity and screen you. Be sure to submit all the required documents to ensure that there aren’t any hiccups in the process.
Here’s a list of things that you will need to submit as a part of your rental application:
- Contact information: Your email ID, phone number, and address.
- Cover Letter: Make an impression and introduce yourself.
- Proof of Income: Submit proof of your employment if you’re a working professional.
- Social Security number: This is needed for background and credit checks.
- Documents: Identification cards or documents to prove your identity.
- References: Have a past landlord or supervisor vouch for you.
- Pets: Breed, size, and weight of your pet if applicable.
- Vehicle information: The make, model, and registration of your vehicle if applicable.
- Emergency contacts
It’s good practice to write a cover letter along with your application. Much like a job application, it lets you tell the landlord about yourself and make an impression. A cover letter also allows you to explain any issues with your history. You can explain prior convictions, failures to pay rent, evictions, or any other problems. A cover letter is an important part of the rental application process and shows you’re interested.
Step 3: Pay the rental application fee.
Generally, there will be a fee for you to pay as a part of the rental application process. This fee is usually between $30-$50 and varies based on location or the landlord. Usually, this fee is taken to fund background checks on potential tenants.
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In some cases, there may also be processing fees that may or may not be refundable. Be sure to ask the landlord for a breakdown of the fees and whether they’re refundable.
Step 4: Provide references.
Landlords will want to know if you had or caused any issues in the past. Proving that you have a good history is important. Landlords will not give an apartment on rent if you have caused property damage or broken the terms of your lease in the past.
If you’re a first-time renter and don’t have any rental history, get personal references! Personal references can make or break an application in these cases. A figure of authority or supervisor can vouch for your character and dependability.
Step 5: Sign the dotted line!
Provided all has gone well and you’ve been accepted, you’ll now have to sign your lease. Congratulations! This is the final step of the rental application process. Make sure you go over all the terms carefully.
Also, take one final look at the premises and ensure everything is in order. This is also when you’ll need to discuss and pay upfront costs. It’s standard to pay the first month’s rent and move-in fees or security deposits as required.
Related: Things You Should Know Before Renting A Furnished Apartment In NYC
How long does it take to process a rental application?
You can expect background and credit scores, references, residence history, other documents you’ve submitted to be checked as a part of the rental application process.
The time it takes can vary from one landlord to the other, but on average is around 24-72 hours. Some properties may take longer than this, but you’ll usually be informed in that case. If you haven’t heard back in 72 hours, you can contact the landlord and ask for an update.
Related: 5 Of The Most Common Questions About Renters’ Rights
Rental Application Process: Finding a New Home
Now that you’re familiar with the rental application process, it’s time to find a new home! And to help you out, Roomi is the tool for you. It’s a room and roommate finder with listings available worldwide.
Source: Roomi
The tool works to connect its users with verified renters and landlords and has various filters to narrow down your search. For apartments, Roomi can filter according to the amount of monthly rent, duration, apartment layout, type of property, number of bedrooms, and popular amenities. While for roommates, applied filters can be age, gender, maximum budget, and lifestyle. Plus, when searching, you have the option to only show ID-verified listings and users.
Aside from its extensive features, Roomi protects its users by having a secure in-app messaging feature to avoid scams, a thorough background checking feature by Garbo™, and ID verification to fight fraud. All of its users go through a thorough screening to ensure the safety of the app.
