Can You Rent an Apartment If You Are Unemployed?
Understandably, most landlords want to make sure they collect rent, consistently and on-time, for the apartments they own. If they don't, property ownership could turn out to be a losing proposition. Most landlords vet employment history and status when screening applicants. If you don't have a job when trying to get an apartment, you'll need to do some fancy, but honest, footwork to get a landlord to take a chance on you.
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Be Straightforward
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While it depends on each landlord's demeanor and appetite for risk, being unemployed does not necessarily rule you out of securing an apartment. Use honesty with prospective landlords. If you have a job lined up, simply provide proof. Showing your landlord a letter from your future employer outlining your start date and salary should ease any trepidation. If you don't have work lined up, explain your situation, whether it involves your employment history, the status of the industry in which you work or the role of others, such as family, in helping you out.
Prepare
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The last thing you want to do is present yourself to a landlord as both jobless and unprepared. Ensure that you have all of the things a landlord would expect from a good tenant. Bring a copy of your credit report, reference letters from past landlords, proof that you have money in the bank or anything else that bolsters your case. If you don't have a job, ideally you'll want to show landlords that you not only are a good tenant, but that you can pay the rent in the interim.
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Concede
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Make concessions. Without a job, you lose a bit of leverage when trying to secure an apartment. While you should limit rent to about 25 or 30 percent of what you expect your income to be, don't ask for too much if you get into a negotiation. In fact, to show potential landlords that you are serious, be willing to put additional cash upfront or offer light maintenance services for a period of time as an act of good faith.
Consider a Cosigner
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Some landlords won't budge if you don't have a job, regardless of what you bring to the table. Consider bringing a cosigner into the picture as a last-ditch effort. If you do this, however, proceed with caution. When somebody cosigns an apartment lease for you, they assume responsibility if you skip out on the rent or break any other terms of the agreement. If a landlord takes you to court to recoup past-due rent and wins a judgment, you put your cosigner's credit rating at risk. For better or worse, without work, you might need to take this route to get the place you need.
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