Rental application guide

Get your documents ready

What should I have ready?

Have your documents in one place before you find a home you like. Applications are often decided quickly.

• Identification, such as a driver licence or a passport.
• Proof of income, such as recent payslips, or a letter from your employer or your bank statements.
• References, such as a previous landlord or agent, and an employer or someone who has known you for a while.
• A short note about who will live there, and any pets.

Fill in the form

How do I fill it in?

Give clear, true answers. A missing answer can cost you the home.

• Answer every question the form asks. Do not guess. If you do not know, say so.
• Only give the information the form is allowed to ask for. Your state's regulator says what an agent can ask for.
• Read what you are agreeing to before you sign, including how your information will be used and stored.
• Keep a copy of what you sent.

Make your application easy to say yes to

How can I help my application?

A tidy, complete application helps the agent, and helps you.

• Apply for homes that fit your budget, so your income is clearly enough.
• Send everything at once, and reply quickly if the agent asks for more.
• A short covering note about who you are, and why the home suits you, can help.

Protect yourself

How do I avoid rental scams?

Scammers copy real listings. Do not pay anything before you have seen the home and know who you are dealing with.

• Be careful of a home that is priced much lower than similar homes, or an owner who cannot show you the home.
• Never pay a bond or rent before you have seen the home and signed an agreement, and never pay by gift card or to a person you cannot identify.
• Check that the agency is real, with the agency's own phone number or website.
• Do not send your identity documents to a person you have not checked.

• Find a real estate agency

After you apply

What happens next?

You will usually hear back from the agent, though not always quickly.

• Ask when you can expect an answer.
• If you are chosen, you will be asked to sign the agreement and pay what is due before you get the keys.
• If you are not chosen, you can ask for feedback. You can also keep applying. It is common to apply for several homes.

• Browse properties for rent by state