Renting an Apartment...

[ThreeMusketeers]

We are moving to a new area...Dh's credit is great, mine is awful. I see that nearly all apartment companies want credit checks on everyone living in the apartment over 18. I am afraid this is going to ax our opportunity to get into a good community. Is it against the law to just have DH fill out the info? Anyone know a way around this? Or will most apts. approve us anyway? He is the major bread winner. Obviously, i am trying to clean up my credit, but its a slow process. Oh, and we do have 9years of excellent rental history behind us. But it seems that most complex's just look at the credit scores make their decsion and move on to the next in line...

Any ideas/insight?

 

[Ashley Kees]

First this I know how stressful it is when you have bad credit!
Now the good stuff...
Firstly, DH having great credit and being the major breadwinner should carry you off. Home rentals go by different criteria than do car sales, etc. I would make sure his name is first on all the paperwork, and as long as you make enough money, you should be fine. It is possible that you will be turned down, but I would say the majority of landlords will accept this situation.

If I am wrong about that (and I live in TX, not NY, things may be different) you can always see about getting the lease in DH name only and listing yourself as an "occupant". That works for roommates. If DH makes 3-4X the rent, that should be fine.

Good for you for trying to clean things up! It will make your life SOOOOO much easier! Try not to stress too much, it helps nothing. Just follow your conscience and take things one day at a time.

 

[Lisa_M]

You need to be on the lease, so when applying they need to take into account your information. Don't omit information or you could end up evicted.

In our complex, credit problems don't mean they won't rent to you, just that you may need a higher security deposit (up to 1 month's rent). What they really care about is your rental history (and yours is good) and your income/ability to pay the rent.

If you aren't planning on living in a complex, the landlord may not even run your credit.

OT, but if you are living in a building with 3 floors (like I am), go for the 3rd floor. 2nd floor is the sandwich for the noise from below and squeaky floorboards from above and the bottom floor has the highest utilities (they pay ~$250/month and we pay ~110/month for electric).

 

[DVC Sadie]

If you go to www.creditboards.com and ask your question over there they will be able to help answer your question and give some great advice. Good luck.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Thanks so much everyone for your thoughtful replies! You guys are the best!

 

[girli565]

You need to be on the lease, so when applying they need to take into account your information. Don't omit information or you could end up evicted.

In our complex, credit problems don't mean they won't rent to you, just that you may need a higher security deposit (up to 1 month's rent). What they really care about is your rental history (and yours is good) and your income/ability to pay the rent.

If you aren't planning on living in a complex, the landlord may not even run your credit.

OT, but if you are living in a building with 3 floors (like I am), go for the 3rd floor. 2nd floor is the sandwich for the noise from below and squeaky floorboards from above and the bottom floor has the highest utilities (they pay ~$250/month and we pay ~110/month for electric).

Can I ask why a 1st floor Apartment would have higher utilities?

 

[Lisa_M]

Can I ask why a 1st floor Apartment would have higher utilities?

well it's not really the first floor, sort of the basement, they are down 7 steps I'm up 7 steps. I thought the utilities difference was just because we had an older couple living below us and they tended to keep the apartment extra warm, but last week I was talking to the lady downstairs in the apartment next to the couple and she was complaining her bill jumped up to $250 last month from like 180 the previous month. Ours is steady between 100-125. I guess it's true when they say heat rises... I don't know what the heating costs are for the folks on the third floor, but the fact that they don't have to hear the squeaking above would make any amount of money worth it to me...

 

[girli565]

well it's not really the first floor, sort of the basement, they are down 7 steps I'm up 7 steps. I thought the utilities difference was just because we had an older couple living below us and they tended to keep the apartment extra warm, but last week I was talking to the lady downstairs in the apartment next to the couple and she was complaining her bill jumped up to $250 last month from like 180 the previous month. Ours is steady between 100-125. I guess it's true when they say heat rises... I don't know what the heating costs are for the folks on the third floor, but the fact that they don't have to hear the squeaking above would make any amount of money worth it to me...

I guess that makes sense, I live in Miami so heat is not an issue for us. Cooling, yes, but heat, no.

 

[Lisa_M]

I guess that makes sense, I live in Miami so heat is not an issue for us. Cooling, yes, but heat, no.

lol I guess not....Probably in Miami basement or ground level is the best place to be....

 

[bumbershoot]

We live on the 2nd floor and haven't turned on our heat yet. Sometimes we think of putting a thank you note on the first floor apartment's door for all the heat they give us.


To the OP, in my experience, excellent rental history counts for quite a bit. At one point I had just moved into a more expensive place with a roommate (her idea and urging) then after a month she moved out b/c it was too expensive. Because I wasn't willing to ruin my rental history, I moved the earth to find someone to take over her rent instead of breaking the lease.

What someone else said about the higher deposit is true. That's what has happened with us. We've rented wherever we wanted to, and the only thing that has happened is a higher deposit.

 

[DMickey28]

When you say awful ... that still depends. My DH and I have had poor/fair credit in the past and still have gotten into every apartment we have requested. The monthly income vs. rent play a lot. Once we had to pay a deposit of $500 when they were waving it for others. That's about it.

Our current complex requires that we make more than 4x the amount of the rent. It's a very nice development. Now that our credit is up we get lower deposits or no deposits.

 

[mudnuri]

Around here it doesnt matter what your credit is, it's 1st months, last months, and a full months security.

I just moved back to my old landlord- well in October. I left on good terms, 60 days notice, owed nothing to him, and no damage to the apartment. I still needed 1st, last and security.

Also- 3rd floors not always best- when I moved here, I had my choice, 1st, 2nd or 3rd...they were either all empty or becoming empty before I Moved in....1st floor used 900 gallons of oil, 2nd floor used 650, and third floor used 850....guess which one i took...

Brandy

 

[pandora174]

I can only speak for my sister who was recently divorced & her ex really messed up their credit. She had one place turn her down specifically because of her bad credit even though she had an excellent rental history, no evictions etc. But the realtor warned her that this association was trying to keep "renters" out so this was their tactic. But she managed to find a bigger house in which the landlord did not care about her credit history just his security deposit & that she had a steady job & good rental history ! So things in the end worked out for the best ! & guess what ? that other house is still empty ! I guess no one is good enough.