The good news is that you do not need an SSN on an apartment rental application to screen a prospective tenant. Ultimately, it is up to you as the landlord to determine whether or not you want to require a Social Security number on your rental application.I was told I needed to fill out a rental application (where ssn is required) before viewing it because he gets several requests a day. Since the SSN is a required field, have them temporarily enter any 9-digit number so they can continue filling out their rental application and complete it. If the applicant does not have a social security number, you generally can't run a credit report or nationwide criminal check. Although not all landlords will need you to have a Social Security number, pretty much all of them will require some sort of legal documentation. A valid social security number or proof of permitted stay in the US with a Visa is required for all applicants.