Rent and applications
How long does it take to get approved for an apartment?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Often one to three business days. Large complexes with automated screening can approve some applicants within hours, while private landlords who call references may take several days. Delays usually come from missing documents, slow replies from past landlords or employers, a guarantor who has not finished their part, or several people applying together.
You can speed things up by removing the usual hold-ups before they happen.
- Submit everything in one go. Incomplete applications often sit until the last document arrives.
- Warn your current landlord and employer that a verification call or email is coming, and ask them to reply quickly.
- If a roommate or guarantor is involved, make sure they apply the same day.
- Answer the landlord's follow-up questions within hours, not days.
It is reasonable to ask at the start: "How long does your review usually take, and when should I expect to hear from you?" If that time passes, a polite follow-up is fine. After a couple of extra days with no answer, keep looking elsewhere while you wait.
Once approved, you will usually be asked to sign the lease and pay a deposit within a short window, sometimes 24 to 72 hours. Have the money available so you do not lose the place at the final step.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting Your First Apartment: Applications, Leases and Move-in Costs.