background check before leasing an apartment

[Brules Rules]

Is anyone familiar with how a background check that a landlord would perform is done? Like, how extensive is it?

The reason I'm asking is because I'm moving in with a few friends of mine at the end of the month. They already have the apartment, but wanted an extra roommate. I figured, "why not!", and yesterday I had to send in some personal information to the landlord for the application. Some things might raise a red flag, and I'm becoming worried. For example, it asked for my employer, and how long I've been there, but I'm sorta paid off the books, so I might show up as having no work history from the last few years. Also, my current address doesn't match up with my mailing address or the one on my driver's licence (my DL# was also asked for). This is because I live in a bad city, and don't want anything being mailed here, and I've been meaning to move forever, so I never changed the address on my licence. I've just been keeping everything under my parents address, but I gave my current residence as the address.

 

[woods]

Work history is big with them, I do know. I've been denied, for not being able to prove income. But, if there are a "few" other names on the lease, who knows. It depends on the apartment. I dont see why you would even need to be on the lease though.

 

[Bible_Belt]

They will probably verify employment via a phone call.

If you gave your social security number, they will probably pull your credit. They'd look for judgments that came from skipping out on unpaid bills, especiall rent and utilities. Most people either pay all their bills or hardly pay them at all, so credit reports tend to be one extreme or the other.

 

[Brules Rules]

If they just verify by calling, I should be ok.

As for a credit check, my credit is golden.

I guess I'm worrying over nothing.

 

[saber]

my friend has an apartment and he hsan't had an "over the table" in years either + his credit is ****

 

[MacAvoy]

Your over worrying. They'll likely just follow up with a phone call. They often do so, just so that they have another method to get in touch with you to serve court papers if you ever bounce on them.

 

[penkitten]

when i do a background check , it is in two parts :
1. police report/criminal history/ national registry for sex offenders
2. last 3 years of resident history including evictions and foreclosures
i manage an apartment complex that has section 8 (hud) subsidy.

other places also check credit to see if you owe other companies or places money, and other places may check with your employer to see if you can afford the apartment and with personal references to see if you would be a good resident.