Moving out of your parent's house and into your first Apartment is a rite of passage. It symbolizes a time of life when you're old enough to have your own place and take the next step into adulthood. However, first-time renters need to understand that there are restrictions when it comes to rental leases for underage tenants. Not only do landlords typically avoid renting to young adults, but there are also laws in place that dictate who can legally Rent an apartment and when. We'll walk you through everything you need to know about renting an apartment at 16.

Understanding the age of majority

In the U.S., the vast majority of states recognize 18 as the age of legal adulthood, otherwise known as "the age of majority." Simply put, the "age of majority" is the threshold for when minors become legal adults and have all the rights, privileges and responsibilities associated with adulthood.

There are different rules by state, so you may want to do some research to find exceptions to the rule! For example, Alabama and Nebraska recognize adulthood at age 19, and in Mississippi, it's age 21.

When you become a legal adult, you have the right to vote, participate in military service, the freedom to get married and the right to sign contracts, among other rights. Leases are legally binding contracts, so when you're 18, you have the right to sign a rental agreement and get your own space.

So, what does the age of majority have to do with renting an apartment at 16? Well, landlords are going to focus on the fact that minors cannot be legally held responsible for upholding the lease.

In other words, a minor could rent an apartment, sign the lease, fail to pay rent or comply with the rental agreement and the property management company could do nothing about it. It's a higher risk for a property manager to rent to someone under the age of 16.

Can you get an apartment at 16 or 17?

Technically, yes. You can rent an apartment if you're 16 or 17. However, it's a complex situation and handled case-by-case. There are situations where a landlord may choose to rent to underage tenants. These scenarios include:

• Renting to an emancipated minor — An emancipated minor is someone who is legally emancipated and is now considered a legal adult. In this case, an emancipated minor who is under 18 could rent an apartment. Minors will need court approval to legally emancipate and will need to provide documentation to rental companies to show proof of emancipation.
• Renting to college students under 18 — Some students graduate high school young and are looking to rent a college apartment when they are under 18. Some rental properties will do minor renting to students. This is left up to the discretion of the rental company.
• Renting to a 16-year-old or 17-year-old with parental consent — In some instances, an underage person may rent an apartment if responsible adults are willing to co-sign the lease. A co-signer is legally responsible for the monthly rent, the terms of the rental contract and any damage costs incurred. While the 16- or 17-year-old is not legally held accountable for the rental agreement, a co-signer is.

Ultimately, it will come down to your landlord and the apartment complexes you're looking into to determine whether or not you can rent an apartment at 16.

Why a landlord may deny minor renting

Let's talk about a few other reasons why most landlords don't want to rent to a younger individual.

No established credit history

A good Credit report is one of the top contributing factors to whether or not someone will qualify for an apartment. Many landlords look at a person's credit history by running a credit check. If a person has bad credit or no credit, it's an indicator that they likely aren't financially responsible.

When you're a minor, you don't have a credit report and if you do, it's a very short credit history due to age. The longer you're alive, the more time you have to build up your credit score and track record. If you don't have an established credit history to share, you may not qualify for an apartment.

Lack of employment history

Most young people ages 16 and 17 are still in high school. They might have part-time jobs or summer jobs, but generally, they don't have a consistent employment record to share. Many landlords look at a few months' worth of pay stubs to determine if someone is in the right financial circumstances to pay each month's rent.

Landlords are in a business to earn money and if a tenant does not meet the income requirements to pay the monthly rent, the rental deposit and the security deposit, they may deny rent to someone under 18.

Lack of bank account statements

Most landlords will also look at bank statements and a checking account to understand if someone has sufficient credit and stable financial history. Again, landlords want to place a safe bet on their tenants' ability to make rent.

Unfortunately, things like steady credit and employment history come with age. So, you'll build this over time but simply don't have the time under your belt at 16.

Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords and rental companies are not legally allowed to deny housing due to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. Age discrimination is illegal, however, the law doesn't address age discrimination implicitly. This means that housing authorities and potential landlords could deny rent to someone underage due to a lack of rental history, no financial backing or other qualifications related to finances.

How to pay rent for an apartment if you're underage

If you are under the age of majority and can get an apartment or a garage apartment, here are some tips on how to save money and pay the monthly rent.

Create a budget

Regardless of your age, it's smart to have a budget and stick to it. A budget allows you to visualize all of your expenses — rent, utilities, gas, groceries, insurance and entertainment. Once you have all your costs penciled out, compare them to your income. Keep your spending below your monthly income. As a rule, rent should not cost more than 30 percent of your income.

Look for nonprofit organizations that can help

There are some non-profit organizations dedicated to helping emancipated minors. If you fall into this category, look for financial help through non-profit organizations.

Build your credit score

Every time you pay off a credit card or utility bill on time, you build your credit score. As this increases, so do your chances of qualifying for an apartment.

Build up your savings

It's also smart to have a savings account or rainy-day fund for emergencies. It's recommended that you have at least three months' worth of rent and expenses put aside in case you lose your income.

Renting your own apartment and paying rent

Now that we've discussed how to rent an apartment if you're 16, you should have a good idea of what rules are in place. Most laws recognize the legal age of adulthood as 18. But that doesn't mean you can't rent a place if you're younger than that. It just means you need to do your research and find the right landlord and right place to rent. Good luck, young ones!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice. Readers are encouraged to seek professional legal or financial advice as they may deem it necessary.

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