Renting a house requires many of the same attributes as renting an apartment or condo — good credit, a job and positive references. Most homeowners who rent are looking for tenants who treat property well and take care of their investments like their own. They’re also seeking an experience that’s easy, amicable and satisfactory for all involved. By meeting certain criteria and presenting yourself well, you should have no hassles landing a suitable house rental.
1. Present a credit report that’s clear of collections, large amounts of debt and late payments. Also do your best to avoid foreclosures, judgments and bankruptcy. A homeowner-turned-landlord looks for a tenant who shows responsibility with her financial obligations, since the home is an asset under the landlord’s name and credit. If there are past problems or blemishes on the report, take a few months to clean up those mistakes before entering the rental market, or come up with some good explanations.
2. Work at a job that produces enough income to support the house rent. Washington Post Apartment Life writer Sara Gebhardt advises: “Many financial planners and housing experts advise people to spend no more than 30 percent of their gross income on rent. That doesn’t count utilities.” Although this is tough in a more expensive rental market, the right amount of income reassures a landlord that the rent will be easy to handle.
3. Present a positive rental history through landlord references or in leasing database searches. A homeowner-landlord may refer to a leasing database to check your rental background, including any late payments, disputes or evictions. If you’ve rented from smaller landlords who don’t report this information, the prospective landlord may want a good word from the past. If that’s not possible, at least have some fond words ready from a past boss or roommate who can vouch for your character.
4. Present all residents when viewing the house. A landlord wants to see and know exactly who’s going to be living in the house, including any pets. A landlord can evict on the basis of too many tenants, or for having tenants who aren’t on the lease. In order to avoid later problems, it’s better to bring everyone out to see the house and meet the landlord in person.
