There are a number of ways to “rent a place” in the U.S., whether you are choosing to rent a single-family home, a condominium unit, or an apartment. While scenarios can differ, here is a general outline of what you can expect —U.S. citizen or not. You may deal one-on-one with the owner of the housing, or more likely, you will be dealing with a real estate agent or a property management company. This agent or company will essentially be in charge of the transaction and you’ll be put through the ropes before they declare you a suitable tenant.
Looking for an apartment is the fun part, but there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind. You’re usually going to want to go for an apartment that is about 30% of your income, this is also what your landlord can use to determine your ability to pay. You’re also going to want to check for what utilities (if any) are included and what other sort of fees you may have to pay. These hidden fees can really be the deciding factor in how much rent you can really afford.
Now that you’ve found the perfect place, you’re ready to start your application. Fortunately, there are no specific documents needed to rent in the U.S. if you are not a citizen. But there are some standard procedures that you will have to go through before being approved. In most cases, you will have to demonstrate that you have the financial means to pay the rent and undergo credit and criminal background checks. Usually these checks cost a small fee and are a huge determiner in whether you’ll be eligible to live in a specific complex or not.
There are also a few other documents you might want to make sure you have handy for your potential landlord when applying as a non-citizen. Although there are fair housing laws that forbid discrimination based on color, national origin, race or religion, you may have to prove that you are in the country lawfully. It’s as simple as providing a copy of your visa, green card, or permanent residency card to review. Going off of this, they probably wouldn’t want to rent to someone who’s visa expires before the desired lease term. But there are definitely short term lease options or month-to-month payments that can be worked out.
Assuming you are offered the housing you desire because you do qualify, you will have to pay a security deposit or maybe even a pet deposit if you have a furry friend. These deposits and fees help protect the landlord in case you do not pay the rent, leave before your commitment is up, or do damage to the unit —but this is all standard procedure. Because you may not have been in the U.S. long enough to have established credit, it is possible that you might have to pay an enhanced security deposit because there is more of a risk for the landlord. Although your credit score can affect you as a renter, there are other other ways to prove you’re reliable like writing a renter’s resume to prove you’re an ideal resident.
Just like a U.S. citizen, non-citizens are required to meet the housing standards that are in place for everyone else seeking to rent. Citizen or not, there are definitely plenty of hurdles to climb when looking for the perfect place to call home!
This ForRent.com blog post was updated on April 6th, 2017, by our team to bring more up to date information on the world of renting for our audience.