How to rent without a Social Security number or credit

Renting without a Social Security number and without a credit history can be done. There is no single rule: each landlord decides what to ask for and what to accept, within what their state’s law allows. This guide explains what landlords check, what you can offer instead of a Social Security number and credit, how much rent fits your income and what to do if the answer is no.

Of monthly income, the federal reference for affordable rent

30%¹⁴

Typical rent per month in the United States

$1,413

National median from the Census (ACS)

To request a free copy of the report you were turned down for

60 days¹¹

To file a housing discrimination complaint with HUD

1 year¹³

What the landlord checks

According to the CFPB, when you apply to rent, many landlords use a tenant screeningtenant screening reportA tenant screening report is a report many landlords use to decide whether to rent to you and how much to charge for the security deposit. Specialty companies prepare it, and it can include your credit report, your rental history including eviction cases and lawsuits, employment verification, criminal history and a score or recommendation. It is not the same as a credit report. If a landlord denies you, or asks for a larger deposit or higher rent, because of the report, federal law requires the landlord to tell you, name the company and explain your right to a free copy and to dispute errors.See the full definitionClose report to decide whether to rent to you and how much to charge for the deposit. That report may include your credit history, your rental history (with evictions and lawsuits), employment verification and criminal history.² The credit reportcredit reportA credit report is a statement that has information about your credit activity and current credit situation: your loans and cards, the balances, whether you have paid on time, accounts in collection and who has checked your credit. Credit reporting companies, also called credit bureaus, compile it from what banks and creditors report; your credit score is computed from it. When you apply for a mortgage, the lender pulls your report from the three bureaus. You have the right to see it for free and to dispute anything that is wrong.See the full definitionClose is a common part: businesses other than lenders use it to decide whether to rent a house or apartment to you.¹

Screening companies also verify your identity, income and employment. The CFPB explains that most of them have no information on you until you apply for rental housing.³ If the application asks for a Social Security numberSocial Security number (SSN)A Social Security number (SSN) is the nine-digit number on a Social Security card. It is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA), a federal agency, and you need it to work and to collect government benefits. The IRS also uses it as your taxpayer identification number on tax returns. You apply with Form SS-5 and proof of identity, age and U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status, and the service is free. People who must file taxes but cannot get an SSN use an ITIN. Identity thieves look for this number; the government advises keeping the card in a safe place and not carrying it in your wallet.See the full definitionClose and you do not have one, ask what they accept instead to look up your history.

What a landlord may ask for depends on your state. In California, for example, the law prohibits asking about your immigration or citizenship status, or requiring you to state it. The same law lets a landlord request the information or documents needed to verify your identity and your ability to pay, and comply with federal legal obligations, such as those of federal rental assistance programs.⁴ Other states have different rules: according to the CFPB, your rights as a tenant are usually spelled out in your lease and in your state or local laws.⁵

What you can offer instead of a Social Security number and credit

If you have no Social Security number or credit history, the landlord decides what to accept. These are the pieces you can bring, and what official sources say about each:

• Photo ID. A valid passport, a consular IDconsular ID cardA Matricula Consular is an official Mexican government ID document issued by Mexico's consulates in the United States. Other countries offer similar IDs, sometimes called consular identification (CID) cards. According to the CFPB, many banks require a U.S. or state government-issued photo ID; if you do not have one, some banks and credit unions accept foreign passports and consular IDs such as the Matricula, but not all, and the CFPB suggests asking first. You usually also need another document, such as a bill with your name and address, and an interest-bearing account requires an SSN or ITIN.See the full definitionClose or a driver’s license. In California, a landlord may request documents to verify your identity.⁴
• ITIN. An ITINITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)An ITIN is a nine-digit number the IRS, the federal tax agency, issues to people who need a U.S. taxpayer identification number to file taxes and are not eligible for a Social Security number. It is for tax purposes only: it does not authorize you to work in the United States, does not qualify you for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, and says nothing about your immigration status. You apply with Form W-7, and it expires if it goes unused for several years. Some lenders accept an ITIN for a mortgage.See the full definitionClose is a 9-digit number the IRS issues for federal taxes to people who cannot get a Social Security number. The IRS makes clear it does not serve as identification outside the tax system, so bring it together with your photo ID.⁶
• Proof of income. Pay stubs, an employer letter or a tax transcriptIRS tax transcriptAn IRS tax transcript is a free official summary of the information on your tax returns and tax account. It is not a photocopy of your return. There are several types: the tax return transcript shows most line items from your Form 1040 as filed and usually meets the needs of mortgage lenders; the tax account transcript shows changes made after you filed; the wage and income transcript shows what your W-2s and 1099s reported. You can get one through your IRS online account, by mail, by phone or with Form 4506-T.See the full definitionClose. The IRS explains that a transcript partially masks your personal information but keeps financial data visible for income verification; you can view it online or request it by mail, and it arrives in 5 to 10 calendar days.⁷
• Bank statements. They show that the rent money comes in regularly. The federal rule lets a bank identify you with your ITIN, your passport number or another official photo document; the guide to opening a bank account without a Social Security number explains how.⁸
• References. Previous landlords or your employer. Screening companies look at rent payment history, so a good record counts.³
• A cosignerco-signerA co-signer is a person who signs another person's loan or credit account to back it up, and by doing so becomes responsible for the debt. If the borrower does not pay, the creditor can collect up to the full debt from the co-signer, plus late fees or collection costs, without first trying to collect from the borrower, and the default may become part of the co-signer's credit record. A federal FTC rule calls for the co-signer to get a written notice explaining these risks before signing. On a mortgage, according to Fannie Mae, a co-signer signs the note and shares liability for the debt with the borrower but has no ownership interest in the home on the title.See the full definitionClose, a larger deposit or rent in advance. These are conditions a landlord may set when your history is not enough for them.³ If they set them because of what a report says, the CFPB explains it is an adverse action and they must give you a notice.¹¹

Your application, step by step

1. 1. Work out your rent ceiling

   The federal reference is 30% of your monthly income.¹⁴

   Try it with your numbersHow much rent can I afford?

2. 2. Check your credit report first

   Look for errors before you apply. If you have no history, check that there is no one else's information on it.³

3. 3. Gather your documents

   Photo ID, your ITIN if you have one, proof of income, bank statements and references.⁶

4. 4. See the home and verify the owner

   Before you sign or pay anything. That is how you avoid fake listings.¹⁵

5. 5. Ask before you apply

   What they accept instead of a Social Security number and whether they will check your credit with a hard inquiry.³

6. 6. If you are rejected, ask for the notice

   It must say which company made the report. Request your free copy within 60 days.¹¹

If this is you

You have an ITIN but no Social Security number

An ITIN is for taxes and the IRS says it does not serve as identification outside that system.⁶ Bring it with your passport or consular ID. The ITIN guide explains what else it is for.

You have never had credit here

Most screening companies have no data on you until you apply.³ The Credit from zero guide explains how to start your history.

You are paid in cash

Deposit it in an account: your bank statements will show it.⁸ If you file taxes, an IRS transcript also works for income verification.⁷

If a report gets you rejected, you have rights

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, anyone who denies you something, or gives it on worse terms, based on a consumer report must give you an adverse action notice with the name, address and telephone number of the agency that made the report, tell you of your right to a free copy within 60 days and of your right to dispute the accuracy of the information.⁹

The FTC spells it out for renting: if a landlord rejects your application, charges you more rent, requires a cosigner or a larger deposit because of your report, they must give you that notice (in writing, electronically or orally) with the screening company’s details; the company must give you a free copy if you request it within 60 days, and must investigate a dispute within 30 days and tell you the results in writing.¹⁰

The CFPB lays out the steps if you are denied. First, ask the landlord what information in the report was the problem, in case you can explain it. Then ask for a copy of the report, from the landlord or from the company that made it. Review it and dispute anything inaccurate or outdated. The company generally has 30 days to investigate, and in some cases 45.¹¹ If the report mixed your data with someone else’s, that dispute is how you clean it up. The guide How to dispute credit report errors explains how to write it.

Your rights against discrimination

The Fair Housing ActFair Housing ActThe Fair Housing Act is the federal law that makes it illegal to refuse to sell or rent a dwelling, or to discriminate in its terms, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status (having children), national origin or disability. It applies to landlords, real estate agents and managers, and also to banks and lenders when their practices make housing or credit unavailable for those reasons. National origin covers your language and the country you come from, regardless of immigration status. If you believe you were discriminated against, you can file a complaint with HUD at no cost; many states add protections.See the full definitionClose makes it unlawful to refuse to rent a dwelling, or to make it unavailable, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status or national origin, and also because of a handicap.¹² The CFPB explains that a landlord generally cannot set different rules in your lease for those reasons either. National origin covers your country of origin or ancestry, and familial status covers pregnancy and families with children.⁵

A discrimination complaint is filed with HUD not later than one year after the practice occurred or ended.¹³ Keep ads, messages and names. You may qualify for free legal aidlegal aidLegal aid is the free civil legal help that nonprofit organizations and their lawyers provide to low-income people in civil, not criminal, matters. In housing, that includes representing families facing eviction or foreclosure, alongside matters such as custody, child support, protection from domestic violence and access to benefits. In the United States, the Legal Services Corporation, created by Congress, funds a nationwide network of these organizations; its finder points you to the one in your area. Each sets its own income limits.See the full definitionClose based on your income;¹⁶ legal aid offices know your state’s or city’s protections. If your question is about your immigration case, look for a Department of Justice accredited representative or an immigration attorney.

How much rent you can pay

HUD’s housing-program rule sets the tenant’s payment at the highest of several amounts, including 30% of the family’s monthly adjusted income; that is the federal reference we use to talk about affordable rent.¹⁴ Above it, rent weighs; at 50% or more, it weighs a lot.

Example with real numbers

How much rent fits a typical income

With the typical US household income and the federal reference for affordable rent.

Typical household income, per month

$6,728

Federal reference

30% of income

Typical rent in the United States

$1,413

Rent that fits that reference

$2,018

This is an example with national Census numbers. The 30% reference comes from HUD's rule for its housing programs.¹⁴ Your real ceiling depends on your income and your other expenses.

Run it with your numbersHow much rent can I afford?

Many renting families go over that reference. According to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income on rent, and 26% pay 50% or more. The rent burden page has the numbers for your area.

The how much rent can I afford calculator turns it into dollars with your income. Your county’s page under Places shows the fair market rentfair market rent (FMR)The fair market rent (FMR) is the rent HUD estimates every year for each area and each unit size, including the cost of utilities (except telephone). It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent: by rule it is set at the 40th percentile, the dollar amount below which 40% of the area's standard-quality rental units rent. HUD uses it to set the payment standards of the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) and for other programs; on aquitucasa we use it as the benchmark for what renting costs in your county and for the wage needed to pay it.See the full definitionClose HUD calculates for your area, useful to tell whether a price is normal.

The deposit and the lease

The security depositsecurity depositA security deposit is money you pay the landlord when you start renting as security that you will follow the lease: pay the rent and take care of the home. The money still belongs to you. The landlord holds it and, when you move out, must return it minus the charges the law allows, such as past-due rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. You should not be charged for damage that was already there when you moved in. The maximum amount and the deadline to return it depend on your state's law and sometimes your city's.See the full definitionClose, its cap and the deadline to return it depend on each state’s law and, sometimes, the city’s; your rights are in your lease and in those laws.⁵ Always get a receipt, take photos of the place the day you move in and read in the lease when and how it is returned. The security deposits guide has the rules for several states.

Sign only what you understand. If the lease is in English and you do not read it well, ask for time to go through it with someone you trust; the guide Your lease explained says which clauses to check. A housing counselor or a legal aid office can review it with you.¹⁷

Rental scams, in three signs

The FTC describes the signs of a rental listing scam: pressure to pay by wire, gift cards or cryptocurrency before seeing the place, an “owner” who claims to be out of the country and surprisingly low rent.¹⁵ Its advice is simple: look at the property before you sign or pay, and remember that paying by wire, gift card or crypto is the same as sending cash.¹⁵

Costly mistakes

• Mistake: Sending copies of your passport or ITIN to an “owner” who has not shown you the home.

  Instead: See the property before you sign or pay, and hand over documents only with a formal application.¹⁵

• Mistake: Using your ITIN as if it were an ID.

  Instead: The IRS says it does not serve as identification outside the tax system; bring your passport or consular ID.⁶

• Mistake: Sending many applications the same day without asking how they check credit.

  Instead: A hard inquiry can lower your score; ask before you apply.³

• Mistake: Accepting a rejection, or a bigger deposit, without asking for the notice.

  Instead: Ask for the adverse action notice and your free copy of the report within 60 days.¹¹

• Mistake: Paying months up front without the lease saying so.

  Instead: Ask for the lease to state how much you paid and for which months, and get a receipt for every payment.³

Where you get free help

HUD-approved housing counselorsHUD-approved housing counselorA HUD-approved housing counselor works at an agency HUD has approved to provide housing counseling: independent, expert advice customized to your situation about buying a home, renting, a missed mortgage payment, a foreclosure or credit problems. The agencies usually charge little or nothing; many serve in Spanish and offer the homebuyer education course several assistance programs require. They are not lenders or real estate agents and sell you nothing. Your county page lists the official agencies with phone numbers.See the full definitionClose give independent advice on buying, renting, defaults and credit, often at little or no cost.¹⁷ The CFPB says you may qualify for free legal aid based on your income, and that HUD’s counseling program can be reached at 800-569-4287.¹⁶ Both links are at the end of this guide, and the guide to HUD-approved housing counselors explains how to find one, including in Spanish.

What to do this week

1. Put your file together with the list below and make copies.³
2. Work out your rent ceiling with the calculator and compare it with your county’s fair market rent.¹⁴
3. Check your credit report before you apply.³
4. When you see a listing, verify the owner or the management company before paying anything.¹⁵
5. If you are rejected, ask for the adverse action notice and the free copy of the report.¹⁰
6. If you suspect discrimination, keep everything and call a free legal aid office.¹³