Corral
Every applicant
- Photo IDFor every adult who will live there. Front and back.
- Proof of incomeLast 2 pay stubs, or an offer letter if you're starting a new job. Many landlords look for income around 3 times the rent.
- Rental historyNames and phone numbers of your last two landlords, with dates.
- Permission for a credit and background checkUsually a signed form. Nothing to upload but your signature.
If it applies to you
- Bank statementsIf you're self-employed, retired, or between jobs, two months of statements can stand in for pay stubs.
- Tax return or 1099sFor self-employed and freelance income.
- Guarantor documentsIf someone is co-signing: their ID and proof of income too.
- Pet recordsVaccination records and a photo, if you have a pet.
- Housing voucher paperworkIf you're using one.
Before move-in
- Renters insuranceThe declarations page. Many leases require it.
- Signed leaseEvery page, initialed where asked.
What usually holds things up
- One roommate sends everything and the other sends nothing. Each adult needs their own documents.
- Pay stubs from an old job. Send what matches the job you have now.
- Phone photos that cut off the edges of an ID.
- References who never pick up. Give them a heads-up first.
Questions
Can a landlord ask for my bank statements?
In most places, yes, as proof you can pay. Rules vary by state and city, so ask what they'll accept if you'd rather send something else.
Do all adults on the lease need to apply?
Almost always. Each adult usually sends their own ID and proof of income.
Is it safe to email my ID and pay stubs?
Email attachments sit in inboxes forever. A secure upload link that deletes files later is a safer way to send them.
Updated November 2026. Every lender, landlord and preparer is a little different, so treat this as a starting list, not legal or tax advice.