Houston, the 4th largest city in the United States, has numerous apartment homes for anyone wanting to lease. One question that many people ask, especially in this type of economy we’re in, is how one can be approved for an apartment without necessarily showing proof of income. For many complexes in the sprawling city, having a job is a major prerequisite to being approved. Not only does one need to have solid employment, but one needs to be earning enough to afford the monthly rent. Those who are jobless are therefore at a major disadvantage when it comes to being approved. But is there a way to actually get approved in Houston even without a job?
A few places where you can rent without a job
- Westchase District
- The Heights
- Mission Bend
- Katy
- Alief
Navigating joblessness when applying
We have seen that in Houston, renting an apartment involves being able to prove both income and employment. Many apartments actually go to the pain of verifying and this is usually done by a simply phone call to an 800-number or asking for original paycheck stubs or tax returns. Unfortunately in this economy, there is a sizeable chunk of apartment applicants who are without gainful employment.
One of the best ways to get approved for an apartment if you are indeed jobless is to have a co-signer. This is someone in good standing in the community who can attest that they know you and are willing to vouch for your authenticity. Some apartments will approve on the strength of this alone but some will insist on additional information.
Another layer of qualifiers that you can possibly provide is a list of your assets. If you own any property that brings in income, for instance, a rental property, you can show this as proof of income. Some apartments will take this in addition to having a co-signer.
A last and final step you can take to get approved in Houston without a job is to offer to pay a deposit. In addition to a deposit, one can also offer to pay 3 months of rent in advance and also show that they are actively looking for a job. This gives the leasing management the impression that the tenant will find gainful employment soon.
Remember that even after providing all this information, it is still the apartment’s discretion to rent to you or not. Some might also conduct credit checks and background checks to make a determination.