Key points
- You do not need a Social Security number to rent. Without US credit, landlords look at other evidence: income, savings, an employment letter or school funding documents.
- Many large buildings accept an I-20 or DS-2019 with proof of funds. Ask which figure on the form the building uses and how much of the lease it must cover.
- If you do not qualify on your own, a personal guarantor or a guarantor company can help. Ask what the building requires before you apply.
- Many landlords accept statements from banks outside the US with an English translation and a dollar conversion; ask first. Never alter a document.
What stands in for a credit score
A US credit report shows a landlord how you have paid bills here. If you do not have one yet, many landlords will consider other evidence instead, typically:
- An offer letter or employment verification stating salary and start date
- Bank statements showing savings or funds available for rent
- For students and scholars, the I-20 or DS-2019 and the financial documents behind it
- A credit report from your home country, if one exists, translated into English
- A guarantor, if your own documents fall short of the building’s standard
Students and scholars: I-20 and DS-2019
Many large apartment buildings accept an I-20 or DS-2019 with proof of funds in place of US income. The details differ from building to building, so ask before you apply:
- Which figure the building uses, for example total funding or the amount for living expenses
- Whether the funds must cover the full lease or a set number of months
- Whether a scholarship letter, a sponsor letter or parents’ bank statements count
- Whether a guarantor is still required
Funds and documents from abroad
Many landlords accept statements from banks outside the US with an English translation and a conversion to US dollars at a stated rate. Some prefer to see funds in a US account; ask which accounts and documents the building accepts before you move money. The name on every document should match your passport.
Never edit, crop or recreate a document. If something is wrong or unclear, ask the bank or employer to issue a new one.
Guarantors and guarantor companies
A guarantor signs to cover the rent if you do not pay. Buildings often require the guarantor to be based in the US and to earn a higher multiple of the rent than a tenant would. If no one you know qualifies, guarantor companies will act as guarantor for a fee; confirm that the building accepts the company before you pay or apply.
Ask what the building requires before you apply. If your own documents may be enough, apply on your own first and add a guarantor if the landlord asks for one.
Parents who want to help can take different roles: sign the lease as a tenant, sign as guarantor, or simply pay. Each carries a different level of responsibility, so choose deliberately.
Before you sign
A few practical points:
- If your move depends on a visa, a start date or a job offer that is not final, ask what happens if it falls through. A signed lease generally binds you either way
- The Massachusetts limits on upfront payments apply to everyone: whatever your situation, a security deposit may not exceed one month’s rent
- If you do not have a Social Security number yet, ask the electric utility which other identification it accepts to open an account
- Ask how the first payment must be made; international transfers take time
General information for renters new to the United States, current as of the date shown. Each landlord sets its own requirements.