If you have never rented before, the application process can feel like a loop: you need a rental history to get approved, but you cannot build a rental history until someone approves you. It is a real obstacle, but not an impossible one. Most first-time renters who get approved share one thing in common — they came to their application prepared.
Here is what to have ready.
Proof of income
This is the most important thing a landlord reviews when there is no rental history to lean on. Most communities require that your gross monthly income equal at least 2.5 to 3 times the monthly rent. For a $900 per month apartment, that is roughly $2,250 to $2,700 in monthly gross income.
Bring your most recent two to three pay stubs. If you are starting a new job, a signed offer letter showing your start date and pay rate works in many cases. Self-employed applicants typically need bank statements covering the past six months. The stronger your income documentation, the less the absence of rental history matters to most landlords.
A government-issued ID
A valid driver’s license, state ID, or passport — current, not expired. This is a basic requirement on every application and worth double-checking before you walk in.
References
No rental history does not mean no references. A current employer, a supervisor, a professor or academic advisor, a pastor — anyone who can speak to your reliability and character in writing or over a phone call. Some landlords ask for these explicitly; others do not. Having one or two ready shows you have thought ahead.
A larger security deposit
Many communities ask first-time renters for a higher security deposit, sometimes two months’ rent instead of one, to account for the uncertainty of an unproven history. Budget for it. It is returned when you leave in good standing, so it is not lost money, just money that is tied up for the duration of your lease.
Start building credit six months before you apply
If you have time before you need to move, open a secured credit card and use it for small purchases each month, paying the balance in full. After six months of on-time payments, you will have the beginning of a credit file, and that changes how your application reads to a landlord significantly. Even a thin but clean credit history carries more weight than no file at all.
If you do not have six months to build, check whether you are already on your family’s utility accounts. Some landlords accept utility payment history as a reference substitute when there is no formal rental record to pull.
Know what you want before the tour
When you tour, ask practical questions: first or second floor, which direction the windows face, how much sound carries between units. First-time renters often spend so much energy on the approval process that they forget to evaluate whether the unit is actually a good fit. Both things matter.
The practical checklist
Before you apply, have these in order:
- Two to three months of pay stubs or equivalent income documentation
- Valid government-issued ID
- One to two references with name and contact number
- Savings for first month, security deposit (possibly two months), and application fees
- A basic sense of your credit file — pull it free at annualcreditreport.com
For more on what to expect around deposits, credit requirements, and how landlords think about first-time applicants, read our first-time renter options guide.
Apartments Near Me works with first-time renters across all six Memphis communities. Call (901) 264-9019 or start your application at apartmentsnearme.biz/apply.
