Start with your budget and what you can document
Before you search for apartments, know what you can afford and what paperwork landlords will ask for. Most landlords want to see that your monthly income is at least three times the rent — so if an apartment costs $1,200, you need to show $3,600 in monthly income. They will ask for recent pay stubs, a letter from your employer, or tax returns to prove this.
If your income is below that threshold, you have options. Some landlords will accept a co-signer — someone with higher income who agrees to pay if you don't. Others will accept proof of savings, a letter from a social services agency, or housing vouchers like Section 8. Know which of these you have before you start calling landlords, because it speeds up the conversation and shows you are serious.
Your credit history and rental history matter too. Landlords often run a credit check and call previous landlords. If you have bad credit or no rental history, be honest about it early and offer what you can: a larger deposit, a co-signer, or proof of stable income. Some landlords care less about credit than others, and knowing your own situation lets you target the ones who will work with you.
Key Takeaways
- Most landlords require your monthly income to be at least three times the rent, and they will ask for pay stubs or tax returns to verify it.
- If you have a Section 8 voucher or housing information, tell landlords this upfront because many will accept it even if your income is low.
- Rental listings on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Zillow are free, but also check your local housing authority and nonprofit housing organizations for subsidized or reserved units.
- When you find an apartment, get the lease in writing before you pay anything, and never wire money or pay a deposit to someone you have not met in person.
- If you are denied housing because of your background, ask the landlord in writing why — discrimination based on race, national origin, disability, or family status is illegal.
Where to search for rental listings
The biggest rental sites — Zillow, Apartments.com, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace — let you filter by price, location, and move-in date. These sites are free to use. You can set up alerts so new listings matching your criteria come to your email. Start there, but do not stop there.
Your local housing authority or public housing agency often has a waiting list for public housing or subsidized apartments. These units rent for much less than market rate, but waiting lists can be long. Contact your city or county housing authority to ask if they are taking applications. Some also maintain lists of landlords who accept Section 8 vouchers.
Nonprofit housing organizations in your area may run affordable housing programs or know landlords willing to rent to people with low income, criminal records, or eviction history. Search "[your city] nonprofit housing" or call 211 (a free referral line) and ask for housing search information. Some nonprofits will help you search, negotiate with landlords, or even pay deposits if you meet their criteria.
Word of mouth matters. Tell friends, coworkers, and social workers that you are looking. Many apartments never make it to the internet — landlords rent to people they know or who come recommended. If you are in a shelter or transitional housing program, case managers often know available units.
How to approach a landlord and what to expect
When you find a listing, call or email the landlord or property manager right away. Be ready to answer basic questions: your move-in date, how many people will live there, your employment, and whether you have pets. If you know you will need a co-signer or have a voucher, mention it in the first conversation. This filters out landlords who will not work with you and saves time.
Most landlords will ask you to fill out a rental process. This form asks for your name, Social Security number, employment history, references, and permission to run a background and credit check. The process fee is usually $25 to $75 and goes toward the cost of the check — it is not refundable if you are denied. Ask what the fee covers before you pay it.
The landlord will then contact your employer and previous landlords, and may run a background check through a company like Experian or TransUnion. This takes three to seven days. Once approved, you will sign a lease and pay a security deposit (usually one month's rent) and the first month's rent before you move in. Some landlords also charge a non-refundable move-in fee.
If the landlord denies you, ask why in writing. If the reason is a background check, you have the right to see the report and correct errors. If the denial is based on your race, national origin, disability, family status, or source of income (like a voucher), that is illegal housing discrimination — contact your local fair housing organization or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to file a complaint.
Red flags and how to avoid scams
Scammers pose as landlords and collect deposits from multiple people for the same apartment. Never wire money, use gift cards, or pay through untraceable methods. Never pay a deposit or any money before you have signed a lease and met the landlord in person at the property.
If a listing seems too cheap for the neighborhood, it probably is. If the landlord pushes you to decide when ready or says the unit is about to be rented to someone else, that is pressure to rush. Legitimate landlords give you time to think and to verify the lease.
Always visit the apartment in person. Take photos of the condition, note any damage, and get the landlord to sign a move-in inspection form listing what is already broken. This protects your security deposit when you move out. If the landlord will not let you see the apartment before you sign, walk away.
Get everything in writing. The lease should state the rent amount, move-in date, lease term, what utilities are included, pet policy, and how much notice you need to give to end the lease. If the landlord makes a verbal promise — "I will fix the roof next month" or "You can break the lease early" — ask them to add it to the lease in writing. Verbal promises are hard to enforce.
Using a Section 8 voucher or other housing information
If you have a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, you can use it to rent from any landlord who accepts it. The voucher covers part of the rent, and you pay the rest. Tell landlords about your voucher early — some will not accept them, but many will. Your local housing authority keeps a list of landlords who participate.
When you find an apartment, the housing authority will inspect it to make sure it meets housing quality standards. The inspection covers things like working heat, safe electrical wiring, and no lead paint hazards. The landlord has to fix any problems before you move in. This process adds two to four weeks to your move-in timeline, so plan ahead.
Other information programs — like Emergency Rental information or local down payment help — may cover your deposit or first month's rent. Ask your housing authority or local nonprofits what programs exist in your area. Some programs require you to be below a certain income level or to have experienced a recent hardship like job loss or eviction.
What to do if you have barriers to renting
If you have an eviction on your record, a criminal conviction, bad credit, or no rental history, you are not locked out — but you need a strategy. Be honest about your situation and explain what has changed. If you were evicted because of a job loss and now have stable income, say that. If you completed a program or paid off a debt, mention it.
Offer something extra. A larger deposit (if you have savings), a co-signer, or proof of income can offset a weak background. Some landlords will accept a letter from a social worker, case manager, or nonprofit vouching for you. If you are working with a housing search program, ask them to advocate for you with the landlord.
Target landlords who specialize in second-chance housing. Nonprofits, smaller independent landlords, and some property management companies are more willing to rent to people with barriers than large corporate landlords. Your housing authority, 211, or local nonprofits can point you toward these landlords.
Timing and next steps after you find a place
Once you sign a lease, you have a legal agreement with the landlord. You are responsible for paying rent on time, keeping the apartment in reasonable condition, and following the lease terms. The landlord is responsible for maintaining the building, making repairs, and respecting your right to quiet enjoyment of the space.
Before you move in, do a walk-through with the landlord and document the condition of the apartment with photos and a written checklist. Both of you should sign this inspection form. When you move out, the landlord can only deduct from your security deposit for damage beyond normal wear and tear — not for cleaning or minor scuffs. Keep your copy of the inspection form to prove what was already damaged.
If something breaks or is unsafe, tell the landlord in writing (email counts). Most states require landlords to make repairs within a certain timeframe — usually 14 to 30 days for serious issues like no heat. If the landlord does not respond, you may be able to repair it yourself and deduct the cost from rent, but check your state's laws first or contact a tenant rights organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent an apartment if I have a criminal record?
Yes. Landlords can consider your criminal history, but they cannot automatically deny you because of a conviction. They must evaluate whether the crime is relevant to renting — for example, a violent crime is more relevant than a decades-old drug conviction. If denied, ask the landlord to explain in writing. If the denial seems unfair, contact your local legal aid office or tenant rights organization.
What if I do not have a Social Security number?
Some landlords will accept an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead. Others may ask for a passport or state ID. Be upfront about this when you call — it eliminates landlords who will not work with you. Nonprofits and public housing agencies are often more flexible about documentation than private landlords.
How much should I expect to pay upfront before I move in?
Usually one month's rent as a security deposit, plus the first month's rent, plus any process or move-in fees. This can total two to three times the monthly rent. Some landlords will negotiate a lower deposit if you have good credit or a co-signer. Ask what is negotiable before you commit.
What if the apartment has problems after I move in?
Tell the landlord in writing — email is fine. Keep copies of all messages. If the landlord does not fix serious problems like no heat or broken plumbing within the legal timeframe (usually 14 to 30 days depending on your state), you may be able to withhold rent, repair it yourself and deduct the cost, or break the lease. Contact a tenant rights organization or legal aid office in your state for specific information.
Can a landlord reject me because I use a housing voucher?
No. In most states, it is illegal to deny housing because someone's income comes from a voucher or public information. If a landlord refuses to rent to you because of your voucher, that is discrimination. Report it to your local fair housing organization or HUD's fair housing hotline at 1-800-669-9777.