News & Trending Money News

16 Things That Are Making You Undesirable to Landlords

Don't let these 16 landlord repellents stand in the way of your next cozy home.

real estate explaining policies to couple
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

It can be hard to find an apartment in your price range, in the right location, or that has everything you need. But it can be even harder if you're not the type of renter a landlord wants.

So what makes you undesirable to a landlord? Here are a few things to consider before looking for your next apartment and figuring out ways to pay your rent.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

You skipped parts of the rental application

deagreez/Adobe Woman raising eyebrows in confusion

There may be questions you don’t want to answer on the rental application, such as where you work or your current address. Landlords, however, see those omissions as you trying to hide information.

If you have specific information you don’t want to share, be honest about the omission and ask the landlord to consider other factors when determining whether you will be a good fit, such as a credit score or your financial fitness.

You don’t pay rent on time

ChayTee/Adobe Overdue bills

You may be able to afford rent, but do you actually pay rent when it’s due?

Overdue rent could show up on your credit report, or your potential landlord may find out about your late rent from your current landlord.

So make sure your rental payment is on time every month. It can help you build good credit and make it easier to rent or buy in the future.

You sued your last landlord

Gorodenkoff/Adobe People in a courtroom

There can be legitimate reasons to sue a landlord, such as not caring for a property or fixing major issues when you’ve requested them.

Potential landlords might understand if you explain the situation or have a legitimate reason for suing a landlord. 

But landlords can also look up public court cases as part of a background check, so don’t be surprised if you get dinged for filing frivolous lawsuits against your previous landlord.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

You have pets

Nina/peopleimages.com/Adobe Woman with cat

You may love your dogs and cats, but they can hinder your options due to pet restrictions.

Be prepared to potentially pay a pet fee in addition to your rent, and make sure you’re upfront about pets when looking for a place if there are homes that don’t allow them.

You’re combative during your rental search

Mangostar/Adobe Irritated woman

It’s OK to want to negotiate the terms of a lease agreement or ask for a reduction in potential rent. Negotiations are part of the rental process.

But you could be signaling to a landlord that you’ll be a disruptive tenant if you elevate negotiations into a more combative position.

So take a breath and approach the process as a discussion and not a fight to make a good impression.

You don’t make enough money

vetkit/Adobe businessman counts money in hands

One of the biggest issues is how much money you make. You could be rejected if you don’t make enough to cover rent or enough that the landlord feels comfortable with.

Instead, consider your income when deciding which apartments fit your budget, and consider lowering your target price so you can afford an apartment as well as other needs and wants you have each month.

You have bad credit

Andrey Popov/Adobe Man unhappy about poor credit score

Landlords may pull your credit report as part of a background check to determine how much debt you have or if you pay your bills on time.

It’s a good idea to get a free copy of your credit report before you start apartment shopping so you can address any issues and correct them before you look for a new place.

You don’t pay utilities on time

LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Person lighting candles

Utilities such as electricity or water may be included with the rent, or you might have to pay them separately.

Falling behind on your utilities could show up on your credit report, which will be a sign you’re not a reliable person to rent to and could have issues with the power or water being turned off at the property owned by your landlord.

You don’t have stable employment

bongkarn/Adobe Sad woman leaving office

Depending on the month, you could be in between jobs or switching from job to job.

A landlord checking your employment history may be concerned that you can’t hold steady employment, which could affect your ability to pay rent each month and make you a risky tenant.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

You don’t have a stable income

fizkes/Adoobe nervous applicants

Your income may be another issue. You could hold a steady job that may rely on commissions or tips, which could cause your income to fluctuate monthly.

Make sure your base pay is enough to cover rent each month, and consider bringing more months of pay history to the table to prove you make a steady income.

You have a criminal record

ra2 studio/Adobe Someone holding a guilty sign

Your potential landlord may run a background check on you to see if you’ve had issues in the past.

If you have, be honest and upfront with your potential landlord and mention any potential character references they can talk to as a way to prove you would be a reliable tenant.

You move a lot

jackfrog/Adobe Couple moving

One of the great things about renting instead of buying is you can move from place to place without worrying about the extra costs or issues that might be involved with buying a new home every year.

But moving from place to place could also be a sign you’re not a steady resident, and landlords would rather have someone in a home for a long period instead of having to find another tenant after only a few months.

You’re too loud

Kostiantyn/Adobe Friends being loud

A landlord may ask for references from current or previous tenants, and they may not be as pleasant as you would hope.

Being disruptive in your current rental space could follow you to a potential apartment, making other landlords unwilling to rent to you.

Pro tip: Remember that your current behavior as a renter could affect any potential references from your current landlord when you’re looking for a new place.

You won’t get renters insurance

kamiphotos/Adobe Mortgage advisor explaining policies to client

Renters insurance is important to cover any damage to your personal property while you’re living somewhere. It can also help protect the landlord if you damage the property or there are issues while you live there.

Refusing to get renters insurance as part of your rental agreement could be a red flag for your potential landlord.

You use your property as an Airbnb

Song_about_summer/Adobe Person on Airbnb app

Airbnbs have become a popular way to earn extra money and people love to rent them as an alternative to a hotel or for travelers who need something unique or more homey.

Most landlords won’t allow this, and you can easily be found out if a potential landlord does a quick search of your current address on websites such as Airbnb or Vrbo.

You’re new to renting

Antonioguillem/Adobe Young girl moving

You may be excited to finally be out on your own and looking for a new place you can call home. But landlords may see your lack of a rental history as a ding against you.

Make sure you build up other things that could work in your favor when applying for a new apartment, such as an offer letter for a steady job you’re about to start or a strong credit report that shows you reliably pay other bills like your credit card.

Bottom line

Yuliia/Adobe Happy person holding new keys

It’s a good idea to review your budget now before you start looking for an apartment if you’re looking to get out of debt or you're struggling financially and you're worried about being able to afford it.

Remember to consider all your costs when deciding which apartment is right for you, including your investment contributions if you’re trying to save enough to retire early.

It's also a good idea to get a free copy of your credit report so you don’t have any surprises.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details


Author Details

Jenny Cohen

Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.