How to Get Your Rental Application Approved: A Renter's Checklist

In the DC area, good rentals move fast. The applicants who get approved first are usually the ones who show up prepared. Here's how to make your application quick, complete and easy to say yes to.

Have these documents ready

• Government-issued photo ID for every adult who will live in the home
• Proof of income: your two or three most recent pay stubs, an offer letter if you're starting a new job, or tax returns and bank statements if you're self-employed
• Housing voucher or assistance paperwork, if applicable. In DC and Maryland, voucher income must be considered like any other income.
• Contact information for current and previous landlords
• Pet information (if the home allows pets), including vaccination records

Scan them into one folder on your phone so you can upload everything in minutes.

Know the numbers before you apply

Many housing providers look for gross monthly income of about 2.5–3 times the rent. For a $2,950/month apartment, that's roughly $7,400–$8,850 per month in combined household income. If you're close, include every lawful source of income: a second job, benefits, child support or assistance.

Fill out every field

Incomplete applications are the most common cause of delays. Double-check dates, phone numbers and email addresses for your references. If there's something in your history you want to explain, like a gap in employment or a past late payment, a short, honest note helps more than leaving it unexplained.

Give your references a heads-up

Let your employer and current landlord know they might get a call. A quick response from them can shave days off the process.

Check your own credit first

You can pull your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for errors and dispute anything that isn't yours before you apply.

Tour first, even virtually

Watch the video tour, then schedule an in-person showing. Seeing the home helps you ask the right questions about utilities, parking, laundry and lease length, and it shows the housing provider that you're serious.

Watch out for rental scams

Never send money for a unit you haven't seen, or to someone who can't show you the inside. Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true and of anyone who asks for payment by gift card or wire transfer. Legitimate managers will have a real office, a phone number and a proper application process.