People who arrive in the US have no US credit history, and that makes renting harder. But there are ways through, and the most important thing is to know what to bring and how to avoid scams, which are very common in rental ads.

What landlords usually look at

Landlords and property managers generally look at four things: income (many ask for a monthly income of about three times the rent), credit history, rental history and identity documents. Without a credit score, you need to make up for it on the other points. Requirements vary by landlord and by state, so ask before you pay any application fee.

Alternatives if you have no credit

  • A bigger deposit or rent paid in advance. Many landlords accept it, but confirm the amount and the refund terms in writing.
  • A guarantor or co-signer, someone with US credit who signs the lease with you.
  • Proof of income and savings: bank statements, an employment or contract letter, and, for students, the university letter and the I-20.
  • References from previous rentals, including outside the US, translated if possible.
  • Listings from individual owners or smaller buildings, which tend to be more flexible than large management companies.

Also ask which ID is accepted. Some ask for a Social Security number, others accept a passport or an ITIN. See how the SSN works.

The most common rental scams

The FTC, the US consumer protection agency, warns about clear signs of a scam:

  • They ask for money before you see the property. According to the FTC, if they ask for a deposit or fee before a visit, it is likely a scam.
  • They demand a wire transfer or a gift card. The advice is never to pay that way.
  • The ad was copied from another one, or the "owner" says they are traveling and cannot show the place.
  • The price is much lower than similar places in the area.

A safe step-by-step

  1. Visit the property, inside and out, before paying anything.
  2. Confirm who the owner or manager is, for example in the county's public property records.
  3. Read the whole lease. If in doubt, ask someone you trust or a lawyer to read it with you.
  4. Pay by methods that leave a record and ask for a receipt.
  5. Take photos of the whole place on move-in day to document its condition.

When you move, also see which documents to get as soon as you arrive.

Sources