How Long Does an Apartment Application Take? (2023)

FAQs

What's the longest an apartment application can take? ›

Getting approved for an apartment takes between 1 to 3 business days. One of the best ways to speed up the process and impress your new landlord is to come prepared so you can quickly submit a completed rental application with all the supporting documents.

In general, it will take one to three days for a potential landlord or property manager to approve your rental application—but you can speed things up by being extra prepared.

It is always a good idea to end the showing on a positive note. So after you have filled out the application, given the copies of pay stubs, your photo ID and credit report if you have it, to the landlord. Then it's a great idea so follow-up with a little note or text message about an hour or two after the showing.

While there's no universally required credit score needed to rent an apartment, having a solid credit score can certainly help your chances of a landlord handing you a set of keys. In general, a landlord will look for a credit score that is at least “good,” which is generally in the range of 670 to 739.

Most New York City landlords are looking for a minimum credit score in the 650 to 700 range. If you don't have established credit or have a low score, you can provide a guarantor on your application. This individual agrees to pay your rent if you are unable to do so.

or call (833) 223-Rent (7368). The federal government gave money to the State, Los Angeles County and individual cities for rental assistance.

My name is and I am very interested in renting the apartment you have available at . I currently live at and have lived there for years. I am looking for a new place to live because . I really like your apartment because .

There's no set minimum credit score to rent an apartment, but you'll have the best luck with a score approaching 670. This score is considered “good” according to FICO scoring models. A score lower than 620 could make renting more difficult.

When you apply to rent an apartment, you can expect nearly all landlords to run a credit check. As a general rule, you'll want a credit score of 620 or higher to secure a rental.

If you regularly pay your rent on time and in full, you can have your good payment history reported to credit bureaus to help raise your credit score through a rent-reporting service.

Why is apartment hunting so difficult? ›

Lower Supply, Higher Demand

A lower supply of new properties and increased demand for rental units also results in increased rental costs. This means that fewer people can afford the monthly apartment rent, making it hard for average earners to find an apartment.

In NYC, your ideal credit score will be at least 700 if you're seeking a rental property. However, times are tough for everyone, and there are many people whose credit score absolutely doesn't look like that. You can check your credit score for free at annualcreditreport.com and go from there.

1-O, New York, NY 10038, Attn: Section 8 Portability Unit. Once you have completed the Portability Request form, HPD will conduct a review to determine if you are eligible to move. The process can take up to 14 calendar days.

The Emergency Housing Vouchers are administered through a direct referral process. Local Housing Authorities are working with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to obtain referrals. If you think you are eligible for the program, please contact a Coordinated Entry System Access Center in your region.

Rent Control Laws

According to the AB-1482 from the California Tenant Protection Act), any rent increase is capped at 5% plus inflation or 10% of the lowest price paid in the last 12 months. These laws started in January 2020, and it's expected to last until January 2030. You can read more about this measure here.

The LAPD has a new perk to help them recruit officers — help with paying the rent. The "Housing for Hires" program is offering subsidies of up to $24,000 for housing in the City of Los Angeles for up to two years for new LAPD hires.

It's perfectly normal for a landlord or property manager to ask for your bank account number on a rental application. This helps them verify that you actually have a bank account and you're able to cover the rent. They may also use your bank account to extract missing rent payments.

The simple answer is yes. You can rent an apartment even if you have bad credit, but you may need to do some extra work to convince the landlord to accept you as a tenant. Another option is to look for apartment rentals that do not require a credit check at all.

Is a 500 credit score bad for apartment? ›

A credit score of 500 is low, but it's not insurmountable. It would be best if you planned some extra time for your apartment hunt with scores this low, but you can still rent an apartment. It will take some extra planning, though.

A bad credit score is a FICO credit score below 670 and a VantageScore lower than 661. If your credit isn't where you would like it to be, remember that a bad credit score doesn't have to weigh you down. Fortunately, you can take simple steps to improve your credit, and you might even see results quickly.

Here's the short answer: The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma come directly from TransUnion and Equifax, two of the three major consumer credit bureaus. The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus.

Landlords use credit reports, credit scores or a combination of the two when making rental decisions. Credit card debt can drag down your score if you're using more than 30 percent of your available credit, and landlords may investigate your credit report to find out how you're using credit.

It usually takes a minimum of six months to generate your first credit score. Establishing good or excellent credit takes longer. If you follow the tips above for building good credit and avoid the potential pitfalls, your score should continue to improve.

With rent, phone bills, electric bills, and other utilities, on-time payments or one late payment won't make any difference to your credit score, because they're not considered credit accounts by the three major credit bureaus.

Unlike your mortgage or car payments, paying your cell phone bill regularly each month alone will not help increase your credit score. Typically, cellphone providers don't report your payments to the bureaus—though newer services like Experian Boost can help you manually add it.

You should hear back about the status of your application within 3 business days. Regardless of the outcome of your application process, the landlord should contact you with their decision. If you do not hear back, you should follow up by calling or emailing the landlord or property manager.

The best thing you can do is while you are showing the rental, talk to them about the best time to follow up. You'll have way more success if you do it on their timeline. If you haven't established a timeline, you should follow up right away Then if you do not hear back wait a few 3-5 business days and follow up again.

How do you tell an applicant they didn't get the apartment? ›

However, if you haven't yet rented the unit, you can say: “We're sorry, but we've decided not to move forward with your application. Thank you for your interest.” Many landlords wonder if they have to provide their prospective tenants a reason for the rejection.

Respectful Behavior

Pay rent on time. Follow lease terms. Refrain from causing problems with other tenants or neighbors. Keep from damaging your property beyond normal wear and tear.