What is Rental History?

Your rental history is information about your past rental arrangements, which typically includes former addresses, late rent payments, evictions, and other information that would be helpful for us while reviewing your application. 
 

What Does It Tell Us?

Your rental history can be compared to your credit score; it gives us insight about your past and makes us aware of anything that could be an issue. We completely understand that your rental history doesn’t tell the complete story which is why it isn’t the only deciding factor when it comes to approving or denying an application. 
 

How Can You Prepare?

Before applying for an apartment, you can always check your own rental history online. There are many free websites that allow you to do so – just be sure to double-check their authenticity to ensure it's valid. Once you pull the report, look it over to make sure that all the information is correct and up-to-date. You may find things that are no longer accurate or miscommunicated. You can often fix these things on your end by reaching out to previous landlords or financial institutions. 

How to be Proactive?
While you might not be able to change your rental history, you can still continue to improve it! Be proactive and remember how your current rental arrangement can affect you. Even if you aren’t currently planning on moving, always keep in mind the fact that you some day will want to. This means paying your rent on time, leaving the apartment in good condition, and generally being a good tenant! Some communities and landlords even ask for letters from landlords with their application and having a good relationship with yours can go a long way in helping you get your dream home. 

Clearly, your rental history is an important part of your rental application, but there are many ways you can be proactive and help yourself succeed. Do you have any questions about rental history? Feel free to ask away in the comments below.

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