• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Money & Career

How To Secure An Apartment When You Have Inconsistent Income

Whether you have inconsistent income from freelancing or are an international student, here are some options to obtain some new digs.
How To Secure An Apartment When You Have Inconsistent Income
By Danielle James · Updated May 3, 2021

We all have basic needs to survive or as Abraham Maslow defines, “our physiological needs.” With shelter being on this list, housing is an important factor with all. As work continues to evolve, our American housing system has remained somewhat stagnant. If you don’t have a typical 9-5, finding housing to rent can prove difficult. Individuals who are a part of the gig economy or engage in contract work can find it harder to secure an apartment. It can also be difficult if you are an international student, a full time student, someone with short work history, if you’ve been evicted in the past, bankruptcy, or have inconsistent income. 

Many buildings require at least 40 times the rent in income, good credit, stable employment, and a good rental history. These buildings often want renters to have a full time job and 1099’s or inconsistent income can be an unfortunate turn off for landlords. This can make it difficult, particularly during a pandemic when many people are between jobs or taking on new forms of work. Nevertheless, these are still ways you can successfully rent an apartment. Keep reading for four ways:

01
Rent A Room
These situations happen all the time: one person is moving out and the other(s) want to stay in the super cool space. Instead of leaving, renters will look for a replacement. You can rent a room in an apartment and it doesn’t require signing a lease. Often you pay one to two month’s rent upfront as first and last and a security deposit. Especially now, you can negotiate this. Offer to pay first and a security foregoing a third month payment for a more affordable option.
How To Secure An Apartment When You Have Inconsistent Income
02
Sublet
Roommates aren’t your thing? Look for a sublet. Fellow renters sometimes want to leave their apartment for as short as a week and as long as two years. Whether they are traveling the world or simply going elsewhere for work, if they know they are returning, the person might not want to give up their apartment. In this situation, they can negotiate with their landlord for a sublease. A sublease is basically you lending the apartment from the renter who is leasing it from the landlord or management company for a specific period of time. There’s often paperwork involved to confirm the agreement and similar requirements to renting an apartment (first, last, and a security deposit).
How To Secure An Apartment When You Have Inconsistent Income
03
Guarantor
If there is a specific management building you want to live in and they aren’t feeling your freelance lifestyle, consider having a guarantor. A guarantor is an individual that is in the financial position, with a full time job, that can co-sign on your rental agreement with you. They normally have to make 80 times the rent and have a credit score of at least 700. Landlords and management companies feel more comfortable because if you default on your rent, the company can collect the payment from your co-signer. You can ask a family member or close friend or anyone that you really trust and has your best interest at heart.
How To Secure An Apartment When You Have Inconsistent Income
04
Company Guarantor
If you don’t have a friend or family member that can co-sign on your rental agreement with you; you are not out of luck. You can work with a co-signing company. This is a company that serves as a guarantor for a fee (typically one month rent). The fee can vary depending on the lease service. These are great options for international students, college students who are just graduating with minimal work or credit score history as well as people with inconsistent income or past history of evictions. You can use a service like Rhino or One App Guarantee along with several others. Each has different requirements and some only work with specific buildings, potentially limiting your options.
How To Secure An Apartment When You Have Inconsistent Income

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now