Key Takeaways
- Landlords can screen prospective tenant's credit and criminal history, but they must request a background check authorization.
- Rent applications may be denied based on the tenant's ability to pay rent, debt, previous evictions, criminal records, and unauthorized pets, among other issues.
- You may appeal denied applications.
- Landlords cannot discriminate against you based on your race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identification.
- You can repair your records to ensure future applications go smoothly.
Whether you are a first-time renter or have been leasing houses for a while, finding a new place can be daunting.
First, you locate a house or an apartment you like, which is exciting. However, the search quickly turns into serious business: Your prospective landlord requests your consent for tenant screening. What they discover during the background check can lead to acceptance or denial of your application.
Landlords typically want to know that a new tenant can afford the rent, is financially responsible, and won't damage their property. They are also concerned about tenants adhering to the lease terms. Therefore, the landlord will likely deny the application if you have pets and the lease does not allow them.
You can follow up with the landlord within a few days to determine the status of your application. If it is denied or the landlord requests co-signers, they are often obligated to inform you of the reason for their decision. Let's discuss how to know if your application was rejected. We will also learn why landlords deny rent applications and how to proceed after a rejection.
How to Know if My Rental Application Has Been Denied
Landlords want to rent out their apartments fast. However, they sometimes deny applications until they find the perfect candidate. The following are some ways to determine if you have not been accepted.
- The landlord is taking too long to respond: If you are the right candidate, chances are the landlord will contact you as soon as they have completed a background check. Screening typically takes a few hours to a couple of days. Your application is likely denied if you must wait beyond a week for communication.
- The landlord informs you of the denial: The law requires that a landlord who denies your rent application based on your credit report or other information from a consumer reporting agency tell you which information led to their decision.
- Your references have not been contacted: The rental application form often requires that you provide references to back up your application. A landlord will not contact your references if they are not considering your application.
- You call the landlord: If a week has passed without communication, you can follow up with the landlord. Although unlikely, some may forget to notify you of an approved application, or they may have experienced a delay unrelated to the status of your application.
There are many reasons a landlord may reject rent applications. The following section discusses the most common ones.
Start your Rental Application Form now
Top Reasons Rental Application Got Denied
Although landlords do not interfere with your personal life, they are in business and want tenants who understand the rules and will not have trouble honoring their residential lease agreement. Below are some top reasons American renters get rejected.
Insufficient income
As a rule, your rent bill should not exceed 30% of your income. If you have to dig deeper, chances are you won’t be able to afford necessities and may soon start missing rent payments. This is why landlords check the applicant's gross income.
Your application may also be denied if you owe a significant percentage of your income in debt.
Poor credit history
Defaulting on credit is a warning to future landlords that you are not financially responsible. Therefore, if you have an account in collections, a landlord may fear that, at some point, you will default on rent, too.
Failed rental background check
Background checks allow landlords to obtain information about you. Future landlords often consult previous landlords to determine if you are a reliable tenant. They use a rental verification form to determine if you honored previous leases, took good care of rented properties, paid your rent on time, and had no legal issues.
You have pets
Your rental application may be denied if you have more pets than are allowed or if the lease does not permit pets and you are not ready to part with your animals.
Previous evictions
Your prospective landlord is wary of tenants who have been evicted before. Of course, you may have an explanation, for example, if the eviction was retaliatory. Still, they will often consider it a red flag and will be more hesitant to let you into their property.
Sometimes, people get denied a rental property for other reasons, such as criminal records and the impression they made on the potential landlord. However, landlords cannot discriminate against tenants because of arrests or criminal charges that never led to convictions.
Also, they cannot deny applications based on the person's religion, sexual orientation, gender, or race. If you feel unjustly rejected, you may file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
What To Do if Your Application Has Been Denied
A denied rental application can mean that you start house hunting over again. However, you can take steps to reverse the landlord's decision or improve your chances of being approved.
Appeal the decision
Seek the landlord's attention to explain your situation. They may be willing to reconsider if their concern was based on an error. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), landlords must provide you with the screening report they obtained from a consumer reporting agency if you request it within 60 days. They should tell you why they denied your application.
Ask a previous landlord for a recommendation
Consider requesting a recommendation letter from a previous landlord. If they can vouch for your character, the future landlord may be willing to reconsider. Request them to fill in the landlord reference letter.
Create a Landlord Reference Letter now
Dispute errors in your credit report
If there's an error in your credit report, you can dispute it with the credit reporting agency with the error in its records. Even if it is too late to reapply, your next rental application will not make the same mistake.
Clear your records of negative history
You stand a better chance of winning over prospective landlords if your rental history is clear of negative entries. For example, you can learn how to remove evictions from your records so they do not affect future applications.
Despite the stiff competition for rental property, you can succeed with the right information. Understanding why rent applications get denied prepares tenants for the process. If you are preparing to submit a rental application, consider checking your credit beforehand.
Even if your application is denied, understanding how this process works can help you better prepare for the future.
Helpful Resources:
eCFR - Appendix K to Part 1022, Title 12, Summary of Consumer Rights
US Code - 42 USC Ch. 45: FAIR HOUSING
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - Report Housing Discrimination
Key Takeaways
- Landlords can screen prospective tenant's credit and criminal history, but they must request a background check authorization.
- Rent applications may be denied based on the tenant's ability to pay rent, debt, previous evictions, criminal records, and unauthorized pets, among other issues.
- You may appeal denied applications.
- Landlords cannot discriminate against you based on your race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identification.
- You can repair your records to ensure future applications go smoothly.
Whether you are a first-time renter or have been leasing houses for a while, finding a new place can be daunting.
First, you locate a house or an apartment you like, which is exciting. However, the search quickly turns into serious business: Your prospective landlord requests your consent for tenant screening. What they discover during the background check can lead to acceptance or denial of your application.
Landlords typically want to know that a new tenant can afford the rent, is financially responsible, and won't damage their property. They are also concerned about tenants adhering to the lease terms. Therefore, the landlord will likely deny the application if you have pets and the lease does not allow them.
You can follow up with the landlord within a few days to determine the status of your application. If it is denied or the landlord requests co-signers, they are often obligated to inform you of the reason for their decision. Let's discuss how to know if your application was rejected. We will also learn why landlords deny rent applications and how to proceed after a rejection.
How to Know if My Rental Application Has Been Denied
Landlords want to rent out their apartments fast. However, they sometimes deny applications until they find the perfect candidate. The following are some ways to determine if you have not been accepted.
- The landlord is taking too long to respond: If you are the right candidate, chances are the landlord will contact you as soon as they have completed a background check. Screening typically takes a few hours to a couple of days. Your application is likely denied if you must wait beyond a week for communication.
- The landlord informs you of the denial: The law requires that a landlord who denies your rent application based on your credit report or other information from a consumer reporting agency tell you which information led to their decision.
- Your references have not been contacted: The rental application form often requires that you provide references to back up your application. A landlord will not contact your references if they are not considering your application.
- You call the landlord: If a week has passed without communication, you can follow up with the landlord. Although unlikely, some may forget to notify you of an approved application, or they may have experienced a delay unrelated to the status of your application.
There are many reasons a landlord may reject rent applications. The following section discusses the most common ones.
Start your Rental Application Form now
Top Reasons Rental Application Got Denied
Although landlords do not interfere with your personal life, they are in business and want tenants who understand the rules and will not have trouble honoring their residential lease agreement. Below are some top reasons American renters get rejected.
Insufficient income
As a rule, your rent bill should not exceed 30% of your income. If you have to dig deeper, chances are you won’t be able to afford necessities and may soon start missing rent payments. This is why landlords check the applicant's gross income.
Your application may also be denied if you owe a significant percentage of your income in debt.
Poor credit history
Defaulting on credit is a warning to future landlords that you are not financially responsible. Therefore, if you have an account in collections, a landlord may fear that, at some point, you will default on rent, too.
Failed rental background check
Background checks allow landlords to obtain information about you. Future landlords often consult previous landlords to determine if you are a reliable tenant. They use a rental verification form to determine if you honored previous leases, took good care of rented properties, paid your rent on time, and had no legal issues.
You have pets
Your rental application may be denied if you have more pets than are allowed or if the lease does not permit pets and you are not ready to part with your animals.
Previous evictions
Your prospective landlord is wary of tenants who have been evicted before. Of course, you may have an explanation, for example, if the eviction was retaliatory. Still, they will often consider it a red flag and will be more hesitant to let you into their property.
Sometimes, people get denied a rental property for other reasons, such as criminal records and the impression they made on the potential landlord. However, landlords cannot discriminate against tenants because of arrests or criminal charges that never led to convictions.
Also, they cannot deny applications based on the person's religion, sexual orientation, gender, or race. If you feel unjustly rejected, you may file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
What To Do if Your Application Has Been Denied
A denied rental application can mean that you start house hunting over again. However, you can take steps to reverse the landlord's decision or improve your chances of being approved.
Appeal the decision
Seek the landlord's attention to explain your situation. They may be willing to reconsider if their concern was based on an error. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), landlords must provide you with the screening report they obtained from a consumer reporting agency if you request it within 60 days. They should tell you why they denied your application.
Ask a previous landlord for a recommendation
Consider requesting a recommendation letter from a previous landlord. If they can vouch for your character, the future landlord may be willing to reconsider. Request them to fill in the landlord reference letter.
Create a Landlord Reference Letter now
Dispute errors in your credit report
If there's an error in your credit report, you can dispute it with the credit reporting agency with the error in its records. Even if it is too late to reapply, your next rental application will not make the same mistake.
Clear your records of negative history
You stand a better chance of winning over prospective landlords if your rental history is clear of negative entries. For example, you can learn how to remove evictions from your records so they do not affect future applications.
Despite the stiff competition for rental property, you can succeed with the right information. Understanding why rent applications get denied prepares tenants for the process. If you are preparing to submit a rental application, consider checking your credit beforehand.
Even if your application is denied, understanding how this process works can help you better prepare for the future.
Helpful Resources:
eCFR - Appendix K to Part 1022, Title 12, Summary of Consumer Rights
US Code - 42 USC Ch. 45: FAIR HOUSING
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - Report Housing Discrimination
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