You can rent an apartment at 17, but you will need a co-signer and meet the same income and credit checks as an adult tenant

Most landlords will not sign a lease with someone under 18 because minors cannot be held to a contract in court. The standard workaround is a co-signer — usually a parent or guardian — who signs the lease alongside you and becomes legally responsible if you do not pay rent or break the lease terms. Some landlords will rent to 17-year-olds without a co-signer if you can show you are legally emancipated, but emancipation is rare and requires a court order in most states.

Even with a co-signer, you will still need to pass the landlord's standard screening: proof of income (a job offer letter, pay stubs, or a letter from your employer), a credit check, and often references from previous landlords. If you have no income or credit history, your co-signer's income and credit become the deciding factor. Some landlords will also require the co-signer to live with you or nearby, though this varies widely.

Key Takeaways

  • A co-signer — typically a parent or guardian — must sign the lease with you because minors cannot legally bind themselves to a contract.
  • You will still need to show income, pass a credit check, and provide landlord references, just as an adult tenant would.
  • If you have no job or credit history, your co-signer's financial profile is what the landlord will evaluate.
  • Legal emancipation allows you to rent without a co-signer, but it requires a court order and is uncommon.
  • Some landlords have age policies that refuse anyone under 18 regardless of co-signer status, so you may need to contact multiple properties.

What a co-signer actually does

A co-signer is a second person on the lease who has the same legal obligations as you. If you stop paying rent, the landlord can pursue the co-signer for the full amount owed. If you damage the apartment beyond normal wear, the co-signer is liable. If you break the lease early, the co-signer can be sued for the remaining rent or early termination fees. This is why most parents will only co-sign for their own child, and why landlords treat a co-signer's creditworthiness seriously.

Your co-signer does not have to live in the apartment with you. They sign the lease, provide their income and credit information during screening, and then step into the background — unless you fail to pay rent or violate the lease. At that point, the landlord contacts them. Some landlords do require the co-signer to live in the same city or state, or to visit the property before signing, but this is not universal.

Income and credit requirements when you are 17

Landlords typically want to see that rent will not exceed 25 to 30 percent of your household income. If the apartment costs $1,000 per month, the landlord usually wants to see $3,300 to $4,000 in monthly income. At 17, you may not have that income yourself, which is why your co-signer's income counts. If your co-signer earns enough, you can pass this check.

Credit checks work the same way. If you have no credit history — which is common at 17 — the landlord will look at your co-signer's credit score. A score of 620 or higher is typical for approval, though some landlords accept lower scores with a larger deposit. If you do have a credit history, the landlord will check both yours and your co-signer's, and either one can disqualify you if it is too low.

If neither you nor your co-signer has strong income or credit, some landlords will accept a larger security deposit — sometimes double or triple the usual amount — in place of a credit check. This is negotiable and depends on the landlord and the local rental market.

Legal emancipation as an alternative

If you are legally emancipated, you can sign a lease without a co-signer because the court has declared you an adult for legal purposes. Emancipation requires filing a petition in family court, proving that you are self-supporting and that emancipation is in your best interest, and getting a judge's order. The process takes weeks or months and costs money in court fees.

Emancipation is uncommon because it is time-consuming and because most 17-year-olds do not meet the financial threshold — you typically need to show stable income and the ability to cover rent, utilities, food, and other living expenses on your own. Even after emancipation, you still have to pass the landlord's income and credit checks. The only difference is that you do not need a co-signer to sign the lease.

What to do if a landlord refuses to rent to you

Some landlords have a blanket policy against renting to anyone under 18, even with a co-signer. This is legal in most places — landlords can set their own age policies as long as they explore them equally to all applicants. If one landlord says no, move to the next. Smaller landlords and properties in college towns are often more flexible about age than large management companies.

Before you explore, call the landlord or property manager and ask directly: "I am 17 and would like to rent with a co-signer. Do you rent to tenants under 18?" This saves you the process fee and the time of being rejected after screening. Be prepared to provide your co-signer's contact information and income details early in the conversation so the landlord can assess whether it is worth moving forward.

Documents you and your co-signer will need

The landlord will ask for the same paperwork from both of you. Bring a government-issued ID (passport, driver's license, or state ID), proof of income (recent pay stubs, a job offer letter, or a tax return), and permission to run a credit check. If you do not have income, bring a letter from your co-signer's employer confirming their job and salary, or recent bank statements showing deposits.

You may also need to provide references from previous landlords or employers. If you have never rented before, ask a teacher, coach, or employer to write a character reference instead. Some landlords will waive this if your co-signer has a strong rental history. Bring everything in a folder so you look organized — it signals that you take the lease seriously.

How to prepare your co-signer for the conversation with the landlord

Before your co-signer talks to the landlord, make sure they understand what co-signing means. Walk them through the lease together and explain that they are legally responsible if you do not pay. Many parents co-sign without fully grasping this, and it can damage your relationship if rent goes unpaid and the landlord comes after them.

Have your co-signer gather their own documents in advance: ID, recent pay stubs or tax returns, and permission to run a credit check. If they have been a landlord or tenant before, bring references from those relationships. The more prepared your co-signer is, the faster the landlord will move through screening, and the more confident the landlord will feel about approving the lease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent an apartment at 17 without a co-signer?

Only if you are legally emancipated by a court order. Otherwise, no — minors cannot sign a binding contract, so landlords require a co-signer. Some landlords may make exceptions in rare cases, but this is not standard practice.

What if my parents will not co-sign for me?

You will need another adult who is willing to take on the legal responsibility. This could be a grandparent, older sibling, aunt, uncle, or trusted family friend. The co-signer must have a stable income and pass a credit check, so choose someone with a strong financial history.

Will the landlord contact my co-signer during the lease?

Only if you break the lease or stop paying rent. Otherwise, the co-signer signs and steps back. The landlord will contact you first about any problems. The co-signer is a backup if you fail to pay or violate the lease terms.

Can I get an apartment if my co-signer has bad credit?

It depends on the landlord and how bad the credit is. Some landlords will reject you outright. Others will accept a larger security deposit to offset the risk. Ask the landlord directly whether they will work with a co-signer who has lower credit, and be prepared to offer extra money upfront.

Do I need to be 18 to sign the lease, or just to move in?

You need to be 18 to sign the lease yourself. At 17, your co-signer must sign alongside you. Once you turn 18, you can ask the landlord to remove the co-signer from the lease, though some landlords will not allow this mid-lease.