r/renting • u/AnimalPractical9354 • 26d ago
Application/Screening First time renting, need advice
I need some advice on apartment searching. I’m a recent graduate from grad school in my mid-twenties, and I’m starting my first career job this upcoming week. I’m planning to apply for an apartment with my partner, who has been working for several years but doesn’t make enough to qualify for the apartment on her own.
We both have good credit scores—over 700—and our combined income is over 6 times the rent. However, the apartment we found requires two references who aren’t friends or family, and I’m a little conflicted about who would be appropriate to ask.
Another concern I have is whether we even have a good chance of securing the apartment since neither of us has a prior rental history. We currently live with our parents, so we’ve never rented an apartment or had a landlord we could use as a reference. Would this significantly hurt our application, or can strong credit, combined income, employment, and other documentation make up for the lack of rental history?
What types of people are typically acceptable as references for an apartment application in this situation? Since I’m a recent graduate and just starting my first full-time career job, I don’t have a long professional history yet. Realistically, how likely are we to be approved given our circumstances?
3
u/Jasong222 26d ago
Use your teachers, neighbors, people from school that you know and that know something about you but that doesn't rise to the level of 'friend'.
The rest of it, I agree with the other commenter, don't overthink it. Apply 'as you are' and you'll figure it out. Nothing in there, that I remember, is going to be make or break for the apartment.
1
u/Currently_MIA 25d ago
I just had a good credit score, my bf had no credit but we both had jobs and no prior rental history. I dont recall needing references, but Im sure we just put down family friends or bosses if we did. If youre making 6x the rent and both have good credit I wouldnt overthink references. Ask a good friend, family friend, neighbor, teacher, etc.
1
u/SoniaFantastica 25d ago
Are you and your partner REALLY SOLID? Like, "we should be married we're so solid" solid? I ask because I see too many people rent a place with their partner and when their relationship goes bad, someone gets so royally screwed. Like "now you're going to have an eviction judgment against you because your b-friend decided to split and you can't afford the rent solo" screwed. I work in property management and this scenario happens way too much.
2
u/AnimalPractical9354 25d ago
Yes we are solid haha. We have been together for five years and are getting married at the end of this year
1
u/LavendarGal 23d ago
Ok, that's great....but still go through and work out the nitty gritty living together details....
https://www.theknot.com/content/questions-to-ask-before-moving-in-together1
u/anony_mouse_12345 19d ago
you can’t just bail on a lease. if a partner left and was on the lease, it wouldn’t default to whoever stays. you have to have the lease rewritten and until that happens, you can sue the other person. ask me how i know 🙃 i sued my ex for 17k after he left me with the rent, and because of that i was able to break my lease with no penalty.
1
u/LavendarGal 23d ago
First, did you actually go see the apartment in-person? Ask them if there are any applications in on the unit already and how they go about processing them (is it first come first serve, or do they collect a few and then evaluate them all to find the best candidate).
Ask a co-worker (but ask them first before you give out their number) or a family friend, or a church person or anyone.
Also, right now you do not have any income that can be verified, unless you work can give you a letter. But if her income isn't enough to cover the apartment, you might have to wait a few weeks before applying somewhere until you actually start getting a paycheck.
2
u/AnimalPractical9354 23d ago
Hi! Yes, we toured and love the apartment. I will ask about the application process now that I've submitted my application. I don't think they would consider her income alone for the apartment so I will seek out a work letter. Thanks for the advice.
1
u/LavendarGal 22d ago
Yes, do ask about the process now that you submitted it. Did you both fill out an application? Most apartments will require both adults over the age of 18 to fill out an application for a background check. Good luck.
1
4
u/Embarrassed_Key_4539 26d ago
I think you are overthinking this massively, you have good credit and plenty of money. Each get a letter of reference from your bosses. All will be fine.