- Choosing the correct personal references can increase your chances of securing a great apartment.
- Professional and personal contacts can make excellent personal references.
- Choose personal references who know you well enough to tell a property manager about your character and the qualities that make you a good renter.
Rental references, or referrals, are votes of confidence from people who know you in a Personal, financial, educational, professional, or prior rental experience setting. Having a few qualified people who can vouch for you is one of the elements that could help your rental application stand out and increase the chance a property manager will rent to you. Good rental references know you well enough to speak to your character and tell a potential property manager that you’ll be a great renter. Learn more about some people you could consider for a personal Reference for a rental application.
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Who should you consider as your personal reference for your rental application?
- Former landlords
- Current co-workers
- Previous employers
- Family friends
- Mentors
Your ideal rental reference will know you well enough that they can speak to your character and express to your potential landlord that you’ll be a great tenant. It’s best to choose someone who can confirm you have the qualities of a good renter: timeliness, cleanliness, financial stability, maturity, and responsibility.
Choosing the ideal personal reference for your apartment rental application
For your Personal Reference for a rental application, make sure to choose people who know you well. Try to avoid family members, close friends, or anyone who might appear to be writing a skewed reference because of their close relationship with you. Significant others or good friends are not the best to use as rental references, as they may have some personal interest in the matter and won’t be seen as objective. Here’s who you should consider:
Former property managers
A property manager who can talk positively about you as a renter is the most reputable personal reference for your rental application as the individual knows firsthand what you are like as a renter. A past property manager can confirm your ability to pay rent on time and share some kind words about your tenancy. The individual can also attest to your ability to follow rental rules and leave a property tidy.
Current co-workers
Current co-workers can confirm you have a stable income and employment. They can also vouch for qualities property managers look for, such as maturity and responsibility. If you are a responsible team member, you are more likely to be a reliable renter. These references may also vouch for your spending habits or clarify any additional questions your property manager might have regarding your financial responsibility. These individuals can be vital if you have bad credit or a history of paying rent late.
Previous employers
Previous employers can verify your career history and past income. Having a good relationship with a previous employer also suggests you are respectful and reliable. These references may mention the qualities that made you a good employee and can make you a good renter, such as your ability to meet deadlines, which can help you pay rent on time, and your courtesy to others, which can make you a respectful neighbor.
Family friends
Family friends know you well, and they can make good references. Try to include family friends who are well-respected in the community, such as lawyers, doctors, or politicians. While family friends can make good references, it’s best to select only one as a reference with your application as the close relationship with you may make them biased.
Mentors
A mentor’s role in guiding you through your career makes the individual an excellent personal reference. Mentors are usually well-respected people with seniority in your industry, so their opinion carries weight. A good mentor assesses your strengths and weaknesses and helps you work to be a better person. The individual understands your best skills and qualities and can share them with a property manager. As you communicate openly and honestly with a mentor, your mentor knows more about you than most people.
The importance of personal references when renting with a bad or low credit score
Having a quality personal reference is a valuable part of the rental process, and it’s even more so if you have bad or low credit. Landlords usually run a credit check to see how you’ve handled your money in the past, and how it might affect their rent collection. References can help vouch for your spending habits or clear up any additional questions your landlord might have in terms of your financial responsibility. Make sure you have strong personal references if renting with bad credit; they could make all the difference!
Preparing your personal reference letter for your rental application
Sometimes people simply don’t have the time to write a letter of referral for you, especially on short notice. In this situation, be prepared and suggest an alternative: collect the preferred contact information from each of your rental references, and pass it along to the prospective landlord. If the landlord chooses to reach out, your referral will be able to respond at their convenience. If that doesn’t work, consider using a rental reference template and write the letter yourself. Your referral can read it over and sign off without having to do any of the work.
FAQs: Choosing a personal reference for your rental application
It’s a good idea to feel someone out before asking the individual to be a personal reference. For example, you might ask what the individual might say about how responsible you are if you were to list the person as a reference. If the individual can give you a compelling answer that shows he or she knows you well, you may decide to ask the person to be your personal reference. Depending on your relationship, you can ask someone to be a personal reference face-to-face, over the phone, or in an email or instant message chat.
What your personal references need to submit depends on the rental application. Sometimes, a short written reference of no more than a page is appropriate. References can write individualized letters or use a rental reference letter template as a guide. Other property managers prefer calling personal references and speaking to them directly.
You should provide your personal references with your rental application. Attaching personal references to your rental application helps the property manager keep all your details together and makes it easier for the property manager to assess everything needed to make a decision about the property.
Most rental applications require two personal references. Some applications may ask for a different number, and others may not require references. Carefully reading the rental application form and supplying all information required shows the landlord you are serious about your application.
You may need to submit a personal reference for a rental application. However, some property managers only ask for these references from first-time renters who don’t have a rental history they can assess. Property managers may also prefer assessing personal references to running costly background checks.
If you’ve never rented before, don’t stress! You can still find people who are great renting references. In these cases, we recommend choosing the following references: mentors, coaches, family friends, and past/current employers.
Final thoughts
Make sure to have a backup referral or two just in case. Personal references are one of the most important aspects of standing out in the rental application process, so make sure you choose wisely and prepare so you can move into that dream apartment.
Looking for a new place to live? Search thousands of apartments on Zumper and get your references in order. Moving day will be here before you know it.
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