If you have all apartment application information ready before you enter the leasing office, your application process will go so much smoother. Bring the items listed below with you to prove to your potential new landlords that you’re a worthy, reliable tenant.

You’ve found the perfect apartment, and you’re ready to make sure it’s yours. But first, you should know which items you need to apply for the lease.

What You Need To Apply For An Apartment Lease

If you have all apartment application information ready before you enter the leasing office, your application process will go so much smoother. Bring the following with you to prove to your potential new landlords that you’re a worthy, reliable tenant, and pay special attention to the items in bold.

Provide Personal Information

It’s standard procedure to ask for your Social Security number on an apartment application. Apartment managers need it so they can perform a credit check, to ensure you’ll make your rent payments each month. Plus, you’ll need to provide your driver’s license as well as your car’s make, model, year and license plate number, if you have a vehicle that you’ll be parking at the complex.

Prove You Have a Job

Managers at your future home want to make sure you have steady income, so they may ask for employment verification. This is an official letter that will either come from your human resources department or your supervisor, so start by asking your supervisor where to go for one. The apartment complex also might need your past two bank statements and paycheck stubs to verify that you can afford the apartment’s monthly rent.

Show Them the Money

Before you even step foot on any property, you should know how much money the application, deposit(s) and leasing process will cost you. You can receive this information over the phone from the apartment complex at we buy houses Cypress before you get there. Chances are, you’ll pay an application fee (usually around $50) and a security deposit that’s usually equal to one month’s rent. The good apartments go fast, so be ready to plunk down the money if you really fall in love with a place.

Give Your Accurate History

Apartment complex managers want to know they’re leasing units to law-abiding, reliable people. For that reason, be prepared to provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of your previous apartment communities, as well as the dates when you lived at each address. If you’ve never rented before, provide personal references from people such as your boss, professors or long-term neighbor.

Divulge Who Your Roommates Are

You have to tell who will be living in the apartment, even if only your name is going on the lease. Provide each tenant’s name, current address and phone number, and they might have to each fill out applications or background checks themselves. Also, to avoid serious fines or a possible eviction, do not forget to mention pets. If your apartment community has a pet policy, you may be responsible for additional deposits.

Do Your Research

Before you apply for an apartment, check your credit report for errors or to access the state of your credit. If you think you may be in trouble, try talking to the apartment manager to see if you can work something out. Together, you may be able to find a solution to secure the apartment of your dreams.