Renting an apartment can be a difficult and stressful process. This is especially true when you are unsure of the qualifications owners and property managers are looking for while doing background check. The last thing anyone wants is to be disqualified from apartments for rent due to a mistake or lack of understanding during the application process.

By understanding what can disqualify you rent an apartment, you will be better equipped to improve your chances of being approved for a rental. Whether you are a first-time tenant or an experienced tenant, being aware of valuable information can help you navigate the rental process with confidence.

What can prevent you from renting an apartment?

To help you avoid any surprises or disappointments, we’ll help you explore what can prevent you from renting an apartment. That way, your potential landlord will be more likely to approve your rental application. Let’s look at each of the factors.

Criminal record

A Criminal record can significantly affect a person’s ability to rent an apartment. Landlords and property managers can conduct a criminal background check on potential tenants to determine if they have a criminal record. If a potential tenant has a criminal history, this may prevent them from renting an apartment.

Types of crimes

Certain types of crimes (such as violent offenses or drug-related crimes) are considered more serious and may result in automatic disqualification from renting an apartment.

Other types of crimes, such as minor offenses or non-violent offenses may be considered less serious. These might not automatically prevent a person from renting an apartment. However, landlords and property managers can always take any criminal record into consideration when evaluating a potential tenant’s rental application.

The Criteria of a Property Manager or Landlord

Some landlords and property managers have their own policies and criteria for accepting tenants with criminal records. For example, some landlords have a “one-strike” policy where a single criminal conviction is enough to prevent a person from renting an apartment. Others might have a more lenient policy that takes into account the type of crime, how long ago it happened, and whether the person has demonstrated rehabilitation.

Policies differ in some countries

In some countries, the law prohibits landlords and property managers from discriminating against potential tenants on the basis of their criminal record, unless there is a direct correlation between the past criminal behavior of the tenant and the potential for harm or damage to the landlord’s property or to other tenants.

Income and employment history

Landlords and property managers may be hesitant to rent to someone who has recently lost their job or is used to changing jobs frequently. This is why they prefer to take a security deposit from their potential tenants.

Several types of income and employment issues prevent a person from renting an apartment after the background check:

Insufficient income

If a potential tenant’s income is not high enough to meet the landlord’s or property manager’s income requirements, they may be disqualified from renting. This is usually determined by comparing the tenant’s income to the rent. Most landlords require the tenant’s income to be at least three times the rent amount.

Best to play it safe. Therefore, it is wise to know if selling your house and renting an apartment is a valid decision.

Job instability

Landlords and property managers may be hesitant to rent to someone who has recently lost their job or is used to changing jobs frequently. They might consider a tenant who has been in their current job for a long time to be more financially stable and reliable.

Self-employment

Some landlords and property managers prefer tenants who have stable, traditional employment to those who are self-employed. This is because they would find it difficult to verify self-employment income and might view it as more risky.

The same goes for unverifiable income. Some landlords require documents, such as pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements, to verify a potential tenant’s income. If the tenant is unable to provide this documentation, the landlord can exclude him from the rental.

However, these issues may vary depending on the policies and criteria of the property owner or manager. It also depends on the local laws and regulations of the area you are in. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check with local authorities to find out more about these requirements.

Rental history

A rental history of evictions or tenancy violations can be seen as a red flag and may prevent a person from renting an apartment. Some of the types of rental history issues that prevent someone from renting include:

Evictions

An eviction can significantly affect a person’s ability to rent an apartment. Evictions occur when the previous landlord takes legal action to evict a tenant from a rental property for non-payment of rent or violation of the terms of the rental agreement.

If a potential tenant has a history of evictions, previous landlords might see this as a sign that they are having trouble keeping tenancy agreements. A potential landlord would be hesitant to rent to someone with a history of evictions.

unpaid rent

A history of unpaid rent or NSF checks can indicate that a potential tenant doesn’t have enough money to pay their rent on time, which may prevent them from renting an apartment.

Unpaid rent also indicates that the landlord had to take legal action to collect the rent. So this is a sign that the tenant is unreliable or irresponsible when it comes to paying their bills.

Lease violations

A history of violating rental agreements, such as unauthorized roommates, pets, or subletting the apartment without permission, may indicate that a potential tenant is not living up to the terms of the rental agreement. This is when knowing the pet policy in the apartment can help you.

Causing damage to previous rentals (intentional or not) can indicate that a potential tenant is not responsible enough and may not be taking good care of the apartment.

Short rental

If a potential tenant is used to moving frequently or having short-term rentals, landlords and property managers consider them high-risk tenants who can move out quickly, leaving them with an empty unit.

However, this depends on the policies and criteria of the property owner or manager. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check with local authorities to find out more about these requirements. Also, you can learn more about renting an apartment with no rental history in order to get your rental application approved.

credit history

There are several types of credit problems that prevent a person from renting an apartment:

• Low credit score: A poor credit score or poor credit rating is an indicator of poor creditworthiness and may indicate that a potential tenant has a history of late payments or high levels of debt. Property owners and managers may view a low credit score as a red flag.
• High debt levels: High levels of debt, such as credit card debt, auto loans, or student loans, indicate that a potential tenant is not financially stable and may struggle to pay rent on time. Landlords and property managers could analyze that the debt to income ratio of the potential tenant does not correspond to their needs

Some other credit issues

• Late payments: A history of late payments, such as missed or late credit card or utility payments, indicates that a potential tenant is not financially responsible
• Bankruptcy: A recent bankruptcy indicates that a potential tenant has experienced serious financial difficulties and may have difficulty paying rent on time
• Foreclosure: Credit check of recent foreclosure indicates potential tenant has had significant debt issues in the past and may have difficulty paying rent on time

Takeaway meals

It’s always a good idea for potential tenants with a criminal history or low income to be transparent with the landlord or property manager. You must assure them that you can pay the monthly rent on time. You can also bring any relevant documents, such as your credit report, proof of rehabilitation or a letter of recommendation from your previous landlord. This can help increase your chances of being approved for a rental.

In some cases, landlords and property managers may ask for a guarantor or co-signer if you don’t have a good credit rating.

Now that you know the factors that could prevent you from renting an apartment, it’s time to keep this information in mind and act on it. The next step is to know the different ways to find apartments for rent!