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My girlfriend has been living with me at my current apartment since I moved in, and since my lease ends at the end of next month, we are going to be applying for a new apartment soon (I've already gotten one application). I'm on the lease here, but she isn't. Management doesn't know about her. I know it's stupid and seems shady, but her credit has been very poor until recently and we figured trying to get her added would be a lost cause (and neither one of us know anybody who would be willing to co-sign). I would try to get her added now but it's so late that I figure there's not much point.
We are applying together for our new apartment since her credit has improved, and our combined income is over three times the rent. I am wondering how a new prospective landlord might feel about seeing her notating "not on lease" on the rental history section of the application. The requirements state that 6 months of verifiable rental history is required, which seems like it could be met by the previous residence section (apartment complex she lived at for a year before this; on lease), but I'm worried we'll be seen as shady because of her not being on the lease here. We both have totally clean backgrounds, no evictions or complaints in our histories, have had steady jobs for years, mediocre credit scores, and our combined income is sufficient. Can any landlords weigh in on this? If all other aspects of the application were agreeable, would this be a red flag to you? Are we going to be out of luck?
EDIT: I looked at the "Real Estate - Renting" subforum and I feel like maybe this post would be a little better suited there, so I am posting it there too. I don't see a delete option anywhere in the Edit screen, so the mods can feel free to delete this.
The Renting Forum would have been the best place to ask this because that's where actual Landlords and Property Managers post.
Most applications will look for rental history covering all periods they seek. If you have a gap, you need to explain the gap such as moved in with Aunt Edna to care for her in her last year of life. That lets the landlord know you were not on the steets or illegally occupaying a premise for that no rental period. DO NOT tell them she was living with you because if they call the landlrod for reference, they will be asking about both of you. You do not want your old landlord to ask what the heck are they talking about and that you and only you should have been occupaying the premise. That makes a landlrod start thinking that your one of those that seems to like breaking the rules. Thats a good reson for them to deny you and move onto someone else.
what is your credit score, I don't know what mediocre means?
Are her parents in the area? Best to say she was living at home.
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