Gig workers and freelancers often struggle to prove their income and responsibility to landlords, but it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it might seem. Consider these tips and tricks to show your responsibility as a gig worker to potential landlords.
Whether you work freelance, deliver food or groceries, or drive for a rideshare service, renting as a gig worker might seem daunting. Fortunately, it’s not as difficult as you might think. Renting is often an essential part of a gig worker’s lifestyle, as many people take on gig work for the flexibility, which is a common appeal of renting.
There are many things you can do as a renter to ensure that your chosen career does not negatively impact your ability to find a rental home. From proving your income and stability to using the help of friends and loved ones to build trust with a landlord, you have plenty of options. If you’re a gig worker or a freelancer, use these tips and tricks to help ensure you can find a great rental home.
Prove Your Income
In most cases, if you can prove that you bring in plenty of money to pay the rent, a landlord may not worry much about the specific job you have. Typically, three times the monthly rent is the ideal starting point, but some landlords may be okay with less. More is ideal, of course, but three times is a good starting point. Show your landlord your recent bank statements or other proof of payments for gig work to prove that you bring in enough income to afford the rental easily, even if it isn’t always the same amount. If your potential landlord does tenant screening, they may run an income verification report, which allows them to see only relevant information on bank statements such as recurring and non-recurring income. These reports can be helpful to prove your average income over the last year.
Zillow offers a guide on how to rent without a traditional job, which suggests the above. You may also offer a few months’ rent upfront to convince your would-be landlord to rent to you. This can be an excellent choice if you have savings or can easily collect enough money to pay the first two to three months’ rent.
Show Your Rental History
Showing a history of positive rental experiences can assuage a landlord’s worries about inconsistent income, especially if you can get positive recommendations from multiple previous landlords. Most background checks will show if you have had any evictions or other legal issues with prior landlords, but positive reviews can be an additional point in your favor as a prospective renter.
A positive rental history can help you in any situation, but it is vital for a gig worker. As with many forms of freelance and gig work, a positive reputation can open many doors for you, be they professional or for housing.
Learn more: What is a Rental History Report?
Find a Roommate or Cosigner
Roommates, cosigners, and guarantors can be an excellent resource for gaining the trust of a landlord. If you can find someone who would willingly guarantee your rent will be paid, especially someone with a more traditional job, you will have a much easier time finding housing. If you have a spouse or other live-in partner, they may also provide the same guarantee of payment. You should ensure that they can afford to meet the apartment’s financial requirements as well.
Learn more: Do I Need a Guarantor or a Cosigner to Get Accepted for a Rental?
How to Verify Gig Worker Incomes for Landlords
As a landlord, if you need to verify the income of a prospective tenant who is a gig worker, there are multiple ways to do so. Another Zillow article discusses providing proof of income as a gig worker. You can use tax returns, bank statements, profit and loss statements, or 1099 forms to verify that your gig worker tenant brings in enough money on average to afford the property and meet your income expectations. To eliminate the need for a large paper trail (and to mitigate the risk of accepting fraudulent income statements), run an income verification report with your tenant screening to offer yourself peace of mind and a smoother application experience for your future tenants.
Learn more: Fast, Secure Income Verification for Landlords With Rentec Direct
Don’t be afraid to hire these gig worker tenants, as freelance and gig work require these individuals to be driven, self-starters, and responsible with their spending and time management. These traits often result in a responsible tenant who will take care of their property and be certain to pay their rent on time.
Final Thoughts
Gig workers can make great tenants, and there are plenty of housing providers willing to rent to you. Just remember that you need to be able to prove stability in your payments and occupation. If you can prove this stability or find other people willing to verify it and back you up, renting as a gig worker can be far easier than one might assume.
