Landlord asking for Application and SS# before showing apartment (tenant, rentals, credit)

[jdm2008]

Hello,

I'm looking for an apartment and the landlord is asking for application with all the usual info(ss#, income etc). The problem the lady says I need to be approved before she shows me the apartment. This seems like a red flag to me. Or am I just being paranoid?

[STT Resident]

That sounds very cack-eyed and bass ackwards! Did you ask her why? I would tell her you need to see the apartment to determine whether or not you're even interested in it before you give her any information. Good luck!

[jdm2008]

Originally Posted by STT Resident

That sounds very cack-eyed and bass ackwards! Did you ask her why? I would tell her you need to see the apartment to determine whether or not you're even interested in it before you give her any information. Good luck!

yes that is what I am thinking. I will have to get more information, about the landlord. The truth is I am looking for a short term rental(only a few months) so I will pretty much take anything I can get. The main thing I am worried about is if this is some kind of scam(either pay $20 bucks for a fake background check on an apartment that doesn't exist, or they will try to steal my indentity).

[Faworki1947]

be careful... any :REAL: landlord will always show the apt first then offer an app .. this soundswrong so yeh becareful

have you checked the short stay motels ? sometimes thats easier

[Lacerta]

Actually, we have one situation we are doing this on.

We have a long term, awesome tenant moving out next month. She just had major surgery and asked that we not show the unit any more than necessary.

Because she has been so awesome, we are willing to accomodate her and only show the unit to people who are preapproved. Its the same thing as an agent refusing to take you to look at a property unless they know you are approved to actually BUY a house. Same exact thing, except this is renting instead of buying.

Normally, about 75% of the people we show rentals to are denied once we see their credit, or check their references. Showing before preapproval can be a waste of time, however, it is the way it normally gets done because it wastes less time than filling out paperwork and running background checks for someone who doesn't rent the house.

If the house is occupied, then you would be wasting the time of a tenant, and the landlord for no reason. If the house is vacant, then you are still wasting the time of the landlord.

[bentlebee]

Originally Posted by jdm2008

Hello,

I'm looking for an apartment and the landlord is asking for application with all the usual info(ss#, income etc). The problem the lady says I need to be approved before she shows me the apartment. This seems like a red flag to me. Or am I just being paranoid?

It might and might not....I wouldn't ask for it before people rent from me, but you never know what she went through and if you don't want to do it...move on to the next.

[newtoli]

I had this happen to me a few times when I was renting in NYC. The competition for decently priced apts was fierce and a few brokers would not show apts without preapproval. Is this a broker or a private LL?

[jdm2008]

Originally Posted by newtoli

I had this happen to me a few times when I was renting in NYC. The competition for decently priced apts was fierce and a few brokers would not show apts without preapproval. Is this a broker or a private LL?

Private LL I believe.

[newtoli]

I wouldn't give that to a private LL ahead of time. If it was a well known real estate broker, I would.

[pitt_transplant]

I would not do it. Everytime I ever rented I always saw the places first even before filling out any applications at all.