A cosigner signs the lease agreement like the tenant does; therefore, you must screen cosigners as thoroughly as you screen your tenants. All potential cosigners should fill out a rental application, provide proof of income, and agree to submit a credit and background check if your state allows.
Have them fill out a rental application and run a credit check to ensure they're financially fit. Check state laws: Create a lease agreement in ance with the applicable state laws outlining the terms of the cosigner and their responsibility. Sign: Review the lease agreement with both parties before signing.
Have them fill out a rental application and run a credit check to ensure they're financially fit. Check state laws: Create a lease agreement in ance with the applicable state laws outlining the terms of the cosigner and their responsibility. Sign: Review the lease agreement with both parties before signing.
While an apartment lease isn't a loan, it does represent debt in the form of monthly payments. Co-signing a lease is a common way to help friends or family get approved for an apartment and comes with important obligations for the cosigner, so you should understand how co-signing a lease works before you agree to it.
A cosigner could help you get approved for an apartment if you don't meet your landlord's financial requirements.
Most landlords seek credit scores of 650 or higher as a sign of tenant responsibility. Applicants with scores below 600 may face additional hurdles in securing approval. Exact minimum thresholds vary widely depending on factors like the type of apartment, current occupancy rates, and the landlord's discretion.
That safety net makes it easier for a hopeful tenant to get approved for an apartment, especially if they don't have a strong rental history or an income that meets the landlord's requirements. The most common example is a parent co-signing for their child's first apartment since the child has no rental history.
Co-signing a lease is a common way to help friends or family get approved for an apartment and comes with important obligations for the cosigner, so you should understand how co-signing a lease works before you agree to it.
Although requirements can vary by lender, a cosigner typically needs to have good to excellent credit (670 and up) to cosign a loan or credit line. Lenders look at a cosigner's credit score and report as well as their income and assets to determine whether they qualify for a loan.
The landlord will typically look at the co-signer's credit and the co-signer's income as well to ultimately make their decision. If your co-signer also has bad credit or does not have substantial income this will not help your cause.