Rental application

Rental application

Apply for an apartment

This form takes about 15 minutes. Have ready the addresses where you lived in the last 12 months, your landlords' contact details, and, if you would like to be reviewed on your rental history, proof of your rent payments.

Before you apply. Submitting this form is free. If your application continues, we will send you a link to complete a credit and identity check with TransUnion SmartMove and tell you the cost before you pay. Your total application and screening fee will never be more than $50. If you already have a reusable tenant screening report prepared in the last 30 days, you may give us that instead and we will not charge you a screening fee.

We do not ask about criminal history on this application. Under the Cook County Just Housing Amendment, a criminal background check happens only after you prequalify on everything else. You have the right to dispute the accuracy and relevance of any criminal history information and to give us evidence of rehabilitation or other mitigating factors before we decide.

Our screening criteria

We apply the same criteria to every applicant for the same apartment. We comply with federal, Illinois, Cook County and Chicago fair housing laws. We do not consider race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or parental status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, immigration status, source of income (including housing vouchers), arrest records, or sealed eviction records.

Income

  • Household income from all lawful sources of at least 3 times the tenant's share of the monthly rent.
  • If you have a housing voucher or other rental assistance, only the part of the rent you pay counts toward this test.

Standard review: credit

  • TransUnion SmartMove credit report and ResidentScore, which you start yourself. It is a soft inquiry and does not lower your credit score.
  • If your credit does not meet our standard, or you have no credit history, we can review you on verified rental history instead (below).

Rental history review (alternative to credit)

  • 12 months of rental history in the last 12 months, verified by your landlord or landlords.
  • Proof of every rent payment for those 12 months, whoever your landlord was (bank statements, canceled checks, money order receipts, or a rent ledger).
  • No late rent payments in the last 12 months.
  • No unpaid balance owed to a current or former landlord, unless you are current on a written payment plan.
  • The move-in dates and rent your landlord reports match what you told us and your payment records.
  • If you have less than 12 months of rental history, tell us why in the form. We review each case individually.

Criminal history (only after you prequalify)

  • We consider only convictions from the last 3 years, and never arrests or charges that did not lead to a conviction.
  • Before deciding, we look at the individual circumstances: the nature and severity of the offense, how long ago it happened, and any evidence of rehabilitation you provide.
  • We will give you a copy of the report within 5 business days of receiving it. You then have 5 business days to dispute it or send us information, and we decide within 3 business days after that.

If we deny your application

  • We will tell you in writing, including the reason and, where a consumer report or information from others was used, your rights to get a free copy and dispute it.
Step 1About you

We do not collect your Social Security number or date of birth on this form. If we screen your credit, you enter those directly with TransUnion, and we never see them.

Step 2The apartment

Each adult who will live in the unit fills out their own application.

Step 3Income

Include all lawful sources. Housing vouchers, Social Security, disability benefits, child support and other non-wage income all count the same as wages.

Income sources
Step 4How should we review your application?
Step 5Where you lived in the last 12 months

Start with your current home, then go back until you have covered 12 months. We will contact each landlord to confirm your dates, rent, and payment history.

Rental history in the last 12 months0 of 12 months
Step 6Documents

PDF, JPG, PNG or HEIC; up to 10 files, 10 MB each and 25 MB in total. You may black out account numbers (except the last 4 digits) and any transactions that are not rent or income.

        Step 7Accommodations
        Step 8Certification

        Questions, or need help with this form? Call or text (773) 831-4545 or email contact@cityexperts.us.