How much does the landlord need to know?

[MeddyDuo]

I'm looking at my first application for an apartment, and it just seems like they are asking for too much info. Some things on the application: Social Security #, Driver's license #, savings account #, checking account #, and credit card #. Why do they need all that, especially since it's just an application?

When you apply for a job you don't have to give them all your numbers. After you get hired then you fill out those forms. But even if I got the apartment I don't know why they would need all that info.

UPDATE: I'm just getting around to filling this application out again, and now that I read it all, it wants to know what kind of car I have as well. Is this normal? I don't really mind filling it in, but I was just wondering why they would want to know.

 

[MX2]

Thats quickly becoming the norm. Just as employer's are now checking the applicants credit report in many instances for higher paying jobs. Plain and simple. By doing a more thorough background check on potential tenants, they can effectively rule out those who might be a higher risk.

If I were a lnadlord I would do the same

 

[Gunslinger08]

I'd be looking for a different apartment. The last 3 are by no means standard.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
I'm looking at my first application for an apartment, and it just seems like they are asking for too much info. Some things on the application: Social Security #, Driver's license #, savings account #, checking account #, and credit card # . Why do they need all that, especially since it's just an application?

When you apply for a job you don't have to give them all your numbers. After you get hired then you fill out those forms. But even if I got the apartment I don't know why they would need all that info.

Are you renting it to help save someones lil brother who is dying from Cancer in Nigeria's residence in the US?


Say no to Nigerian Apartment scams.. :beer:

 

[tasmanian]

Giving away your $ info is not good.

 

[mugs]

So leave the information off... but you probably won't get the apartment.

Your checking account number isn't something you can keep a secret forever. It's on every check you write. Every time you use your credit card, someone gets your credit card number.

 

[flyboy84]

I moved into my first apartment this past July. My landlord did ask for my bank acct numbers and SSN, but I asked him about it and he said not to worry about it, so I didn't fill it in. Ask if it's really necessary. I think the slots were there in conjunction with "how do you plan to pay for this?"...and if you put something like personal savings/accumulated wealth, the LL would like to check that those things exist. but if you are employed, they shouldn't need to see that info.

 

[MeddyDuo]

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
I'm looking at my first application for an apartment, and it just seems like they are asking for too much info. Some things on the application: Social Security #, Driver's license #, savings account #, checking account #, and credit card # . Why do they need all that, especially since it's just an application?

When you apply for a job you don't have to give them all your numbers. After you get hired then you fill out those forms. But even if I got the apartment I don't know why they would need all that info.

Are you renting it to help save someones lil brother who is dying from Cancer in Nigeria's residence in the US?


Say no to Nigerian Apartment scams.. :beer:

No it's actually an old friend of my mom's, but I think she just used a generic application (it says something about RentalGuide.com on it)

 

[gsethi]

WTF ? The only number that we gave was Social # so that they could run a credit check on us. Nothing else and they dont need to know anything else. WTF would you give someone your Bank account numbers / credit card numbers ? (Might as well hand them over your wallet, keys to your car, wife, kids and be done with it )

 

[GeekDrew]

Last time I filled out an app for an apartment, they had all of those fields on the form, but of the three payment methods, I only had to provide the one that I would be paying with (and providing a canceled check was sufficient). So, I provided my SSN, ODL, and checking acct num.

They wanted five references (!). I listed three valid ones, and the other two were just alternate references to the same three I had listed... but not to worry, they didn't check any of them.

 

[imported_cheapdude]

Some places requires you to make a certain amount of your monthly rent.
Usually if you can let them run your credit, and prove your source of income that should be enough.
No way should you give them your account/credit card info.

 

[MeddyDuo]

Bump for new question...

 

[tfinch2]

I had to give SSN and DL numbers, and where I bank at.

Asking for checking, savings, and cc acct numbers is ridiculous.

 

[montanafan]

I wouldn't put down any information I didn't feel comfortable giving out. Since this is for a friend of your mother's, she should already know enough about you to not need all that info. In the places for savings and checking account numbers, I'd just put the name of the bank. For the credit card space, just put the name of the type of credit card.

They probably want to know what kind of car you drive to keep track of whether the car's in the building's parking lot belong there or not.

 

[0roo0roo]

bank number is bogus to ask for, they already ask for a deposit for protection, frankly thats enough.

 

[GeekDrew]

Yeah, the car is probably for parking control reasons.

 

[Looney]

That is a lot of information. I got a decent place in Boca Raton, and all they did was run my Canadian credit check.

 

[apac]

I had to give all that on my most recent rental app.

 

[Parasitic]

My landlord requested all that information for "financial security" too, but after I insisted that he can obtain most of that along with approximate account balances too we settled on giving out DL and SSN, and the last 4 digits of credit cards.

Give them a call and reason with them using identity theft protection, and reasonable landlords will agree.

 

[Kelemvor]

I definitely wouldn't give them the bank account, etc info. Although they can get it off the check you use to pay the rent easy enough anyway. No reason they should need a CC# though.

 

[EXman]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
I had to give SSN and DL numbers, and where I bank at.

Asking for checking, savings, and cc acct numbers is ridiculous.

I'd say that is a deal killer...

 

[FoBoT]

if you are not willing to provide the info they are asking, then don't rent from them

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Usually the point of asking what car you have is so they know which ones should be there.

 

[tjaisv]

Well if the apt is run by a management company then the only things they REALLY care about are your income and credit score (ie, rental score). And basically everything they need to know about u is just in the credit score itself...

 

[mrrman]

CC info I would not give, DL is debatable as thats none of their business. If you pay by cheque for rent then thats sufficient.