10 Reasons Why Your Rental Application was Denied

By: ROS Team

You’re planning to get an apartment. You selected the right place, made a request, waited expectantly to hear about the property, and then discovered that your rental application was rejected. What will you do now?

There are several reasons why rental requests are being denied. Some of the reasons are legal, and some are invalid, and you can take action to increase the chances of being accepted the next time.

How Can I be Protected Against Discrimination as a Renter Legally?

When there are valid grounds for refusal, property owners must comply with federal legislation, avoid prejudice and hold everyone accountable for refusing or approving a rental application.

Let’s quickly look at valid and illegal grounds before exploring appropriate reasons for refusing a rental application. The Fair Housing Act does not allow landlords to reject applications based on:

Race
Gender
Color
National Origin
Sex
Disability
Familial Status

Various reasons can be denied housing if applicants are protected from discrimination according to this law.

Reasons For Refusing A Rental Request

Your application for rental was refused, and why are you curious. Those are the main hurdles for renters when they wish to rent an apartment, and the tenants refuse to apply for specific, prevalent reasons:

1. Lack of Income

Landlords prefer to rent to people who make safe bets to pay rent on time, keep their apartment clean and fit, and work quickly. If a landlord examines a request for rental and notes that the applicant does not make enough money to pay the property, they can reject the bid.

Rent should generally represent 30% of one’s earnings as a general rule. If you raise $50,000 a year, you should raise $15,000 a year, or around $1,250 a week. In this situation, a landlord may feel like your income is insufficient if you apply for a place where the rent is $2,000 a month and refuse the rental application.

2. Missing or a Poor History of Credit

You can pay or break your credit, particularly if you rent an apartment. Because your credit is an accurate means for the property owners to evaluate their financial history, you may be refused if you do not have a credit history or a poor score.

Poor History of Credit

A respectable loan score is 620, but you need a 740 or more if you want to rent in a top-level market. There is a reasonable risk that your application will be refused if the credit score is below this range. Furthermore, if your financial history is bankrupt, this could have a negative impact on your rental capacity.

3. Rental and Expulsion Histories

Your renting past may affect your rental future, from expulsions to run-ins with former property managers. Foreseeable tenants must take their rental history into account when they submit a new rental request. Property owners have a rental history to determine whether a renter fits nicely on a building. When a previous landlord talks about you adversely, you might have a rental request refused.

You can discuss it early and explain your side of the situation on the application if you have an expulsion in your rental history.

4. Lack of References

Using an apartment, persons who can speak highly about you as a future renter will likely be requested to offer references. If you have no reference or recommendations for your rental application itself are not outstanding, a property owner may reject you. Ensure that you have a wise choice of reference.

5. Checking Suspicious History

Background checks allow property owners to look into your past and decide whether or not to rent to you. This can be a red flag for property owners if you decline a background check, and they can deny your rental application.

You may also be denied if you experience a felony or another conviction or suspect in your background check.

6. Unfinished Information

When you apply for renting, you have to do exactly what you need to do to qualify for the accommodation according to the requirements. You may refuse to add relevant data or simply not fill out the complete form if you leave part of your application blank. And this is a reasonable cause to refuse rentals. Be sure that when you fill out a rental application, you dot the “i’s” and cross your “t’s.”

7. Many Applicants

Supply and demand suggest that it raises value if a lot of people want something. In the rental market, we follow the same procedure. The demand is high, the supply is low if a lot of people are fighting for an apartment. If you compete with numerous people for the same place, your rental application may be declined.

8. Criminal History

It will be challenging to overcome conduct that is irresponsible enough to provide you with a criminal record. It is crucial to demonstrate that you have paid your debt for any prior criminal conduct and are simply conducting yourself responsible now, such as regular work and paying all recent payments in time.

9. Incomplete Rental Application/Lied on Application

For instance, a potential renter may create a former employer or landlord as a reference. You have earned a legal basis to dismiss the application entirely if you contact the information provided just to find out that the applicant has lied.

Incomplete Rental Application

Similarly, it is another legal cause to reject an application if an applicant lies about his income. False information can even be used to expel a renter if the information had played a role in renting the tenant.

10. Negligence of Making Payments

Many leases are subject to a credit check. You don’t monitor your credit, but you will make sure you pay your payments in time. One thing is to be late, but another is so unaccountable that you allow accounts to default to trigger further negative acts.

How Often Are Rental Applications Denied?

It is not rare to deny a rental application, but it will be frustrating when it happens to you. The paperwork may be incomplete, deficient in credit, or ten people requesting the same accommodation, in which case nine out of 10 applicants have been declined. Whatever the reason, it can be helpful to understand why your application has been refused.

How Often Rental Applications Denied

My Request for Renting was Denied. What to do Now?

Here are some things you may do to prepare your rental CV better for future applications:

Check What Might Have Been Wrong

You can re-assess it and establish why you have understood every reason your petition might have been declined. This will tell you what will be improved for the future time.

Request Input From The Owner On The Request

You may want to ask the landlord for feedback on your application if you’re puzzled about why you have been rejected. It doesn’t harm to ask, although they’re not required to let you know.

Take A Look At Your Payment

It’s likely that when you submit your rental application, you would have to take a credit check. Now is an excellent time to examine the credit statement and look at where you may improve your score if you were rejected.

Select A Co-Signatory

You might try looking for a prospective co-signer to boost your chance of acceptance if you were refused income, have a lack of renting history, or have a poor credit score.

Do Not Refuse Your Rental Request

You would ideally apply and qualify for a flat immediately. But things don’t go so quickly all the time. You may ensure that your application is sound beforehand and save time and money on a refused application if you can grasp all the logical reasons why your application was denied.

FAQs

Can a Landlord Reject a Tenant’s Application?

Yes, a landlord can reject a tenant’s application for various reasons, such as poor credit history, insufficient income, a criminal record, or previous rental history. However, discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, religion, or disability is illegal.

How do Landlords Choose Tenants?

Landlords typically choose tenants based on factors such as credit history, income, rental history, employment status, and references. They may also consider other factors such as criminal records, pets, smoking habits, and the number of occupants. The exact criteria vary depending on the landlord and the rental property.

Can a Landlord Refuse a Guarantor?

Yes, a landlord can refuse a guarantor if they do not meet the landlord’s requirements or if they have a poor credit history. The landlord has the right to select a guarantor who they feel is suitable and meets their criteria.

On what Basis can a Landlord Reject a Tenant?

A landlord can reject a tenant based on various legitimate factors such as rent price, move-in date, length of tenancy, or other rental rules in the lease.