Learn more about what is included in your rental history and how it impacts your future rentals.
When you apply for an apartment, the landlord or property manager will perform a background check to examine your credit score, criminal record, and rental history. Some people aren’t aware of this, but every tenant has a rental history documented in a file. These reports contain information about evictions, broken leases, and late rent payments. Having any of these elements in your rental history can make it harder to become approved for an apartment.
Everyone makes mistakes or goes through hard times, and fortunately, there are ways to fix your rental history so that it doesn’t affect your ability to rent your desired apartment. Here are the ins and outs of rental history explained.
Facts About Rental History
Here are a few quick facts that you should know:
- Rental reports affect your ability to move into a new apartment and buy a home.
- According to Experian, evictions will remain on your record for seven years.
- If certain elements affect your ability to rent an apartment, you should meet with the landlord or prepare a cover letter/letter of explanation. Doing so might place your rental application in a better light.
For example, a broken lease doesn’t necessarily mean you are an unreliable tenant. Maybe you were in the process of buying a home and could no longer rent your apartment for an entire year. A letter of explanation can clarify this. The biggest takeaway from this content is that your rental records shouldn’t come as a shock. It’s best to understand your file so that you’re never caught off guard by the information presented by a landlord or property management company.
What Information Do Rental Records Show?
There is other information that these files display, such as physical addresses of previous rentals and timelines and dates of a tenancy, and how long you lived at a location. Along with past residency, the report will also show recommendations provided by the former landlord.
How is a Rental Report Created?
Consumer reporting companies, such as Experian, Equifax, and Transunion, produce rental reports. These companies research individual information from credit reports and background checks. Landlords also conduct checks into rental history when screening tenants, looking at credit history and criminal records through background checks and contacting former landlords to ask about previous residences.
What About First-Time Renters?
First-time renters don’t have a rental record. Therefore, landlords will only focus on credit history and monthly income. Some landlords might even call employers for employment verification and recommendations.
How to Make Getting Approved for an Apartment Easier
As stated, you can’t clear discrepancies such as evictions. They won’t go away for seven years. However, once again, a letter of explanation can be helpful, and you can meet with a landlord or property manager to explain your story. You can even add reliable references to your rental application or find a co-signer in the case of financial difficulties.
Also, while this might seem obvious, being an excellent tenant goes a long way. We suggest keeping your apartment damage-free, respecting neighbors, ensuring that you budget well and don’t live beyond your means while keeping debt at bay, and ensuring that your credit score stays on the higher end.
Renting an apartment is one of the most expensive expenditures people will face, next to buying a home. Therefore, it’s not a decision to rush or take lightly. Fortunately, Apartments of Wildewood is here to give you all the information you need about renting an apartment to prepare you for the future.
The Apartments of Wildewood have a friendly community that’s waiting to welcome you!
At The Apartments of Wildewood, located in beautiful St. Mary’s, Maryland, we offer homes with access to pools, an on-site gym, and maintenance whenever you need it – and have access to all the information you need to affordably rent an apartment in St. Mary’s. To set up an appointment to check out an apartment or townhouse rental from The Apartments of Wildewood, call us at 301.737.0737 or visit the website at www.apartmentsofwildewood.com.