Renting Your First Apartment

Most landlords screen on the same handful of items. Have them ready as one PDF and you'll beat slower applicants.

• Income around 3x the monthly rent, shown by pay stubs or an offer letter.
• Credit check — thin history is usually fine; collections are the red flag.
• Photo ID, references, and sometimes a co-signer or guarantor.

Budget well beyond first month's rent: security deposit, sometimes last month, application and pet fees, renters insurance, utility setup deposits, and basic furniture.

Skim nothing. These are the lines that cost people money.

• Early termination — how many months' rent to break the lease.
• Automatic renewal and the notice window before move-out.
• Who pays which utilities, and any required insurance minimum.
• Repair responsibility and the landlord's entry notice period.

Before you unpack, photograph and date every room, every scuff, and every appliance. Email the set to your landlord so a timestamped record exists. Do the same on move-out day.

Common questions