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Understanding the MoveZen Rental Qualification Process

Learn what’s required to qualify for a rental—income thresholds, credit expectations, fraud prevention measures, and when a cosigner may be considered.

 

Step by Step Through Our Application Process

We recommend reviewing the following information before you apply!

1. Rules of the Road - A pdf handout that walks through the important issues to know before deciding to apply, how the process flows from there, and what to expect from us long term.

2. A Sample Lease - NC Version | SC Version

 

Application Overview:

Required Household Income & Income Verification


To qualify, all applicants must have a gross monthly income of at least 3 times the monthly rent. For example, if the rent is $1,500 per month, the combined gross income must be $4,500 or more per month. Applicants must include income documentation from the most recent full month with their application.

We’ve significantly increased our income verification requirements. If we cannot directly verify your income through a recognized third-party provider, you will be required to:

  • Pay a $30 fee, and

  • Connect your bank account through the same major public credit processing agency used for your background check.

This method, now common in the industry, provides secure, fraud-resistant income verification. You can find more information about the agency at the bottom of this page.

Most large employers do not participate in direct income verification, so this additional step and fee will apply in many cases.

 

 

Credit & Identity


Credit scores will be reviewed, but other factors will also be evaluated!

  • Credit score requirements vary by property and will be posted on the listing itself.

  • Unpaid or habitually late utility bills are heavily weighted and may lead to denial, as do most forms of delinquency or collection accounts.

We advise property owners that medical debt and student loans are not strong indicators of rental risk. While education loans are considered due to their strict repayment requirements, we encourage owners to weigh them lightly. High levels of additional debt may increase your risk profile.

Due to a rise in sophisticated application fraud, we can no longer accept:

  • Credit reports with fewer than three active items over 2 years old,

  • Reports with minimal activity, or

  • Credit histories that are less than 2 years old.

These often accompany fraudulent applications. We do not accept cosigners to offset credit-related issues. At least one applicant must have a well-established, verifiable credit profile. Common fraud tactics involve limited credit activity and one or two small, positive accounts. We estimate that 85% of these types of applications are fraudulent and will not be accepted.

Because fraudulent applications often include fake IDs, we will attempt to verify your identity through a trusted third party (e.g., a university or company website). If your identity can be verified, we may proceed, but a thin credit file still poses a challenge.  If we need to run a formal ID verification through our third-party processor, an $8 fee will apply.

 

Cosigners & Past Evictions


Not all property owners accept cosigners. Even if a cosigner is allowed:

  • Cosigner applicants must still meet all standard credit requirements, and

  • A cosigner may only be used to address insufficient income—not to compensate for poor credit. The only exception for a cosigner being utilized for a credit related issue is if the financially responsible applicant is a verified student actively enrolled without established credit.

Cosigners must have a gross monthly income of at least 4 times the monthly rent.

Prior evictions almost always result in denial. Our records go back 10 years. If your eviction was older or you have legal documentation that may merit reconsideration, you’re welcome to submit it. However, approval is unlikely, and your application fee is non-refundable.

 

Additional Funds


In some cases, applicants with less-than-perfect credit may be able to strengthen their application by prepaying the last month’s rent. While not always available (as it is dependent on the property owner consent), this option can help lower risk for the owner and increase your chances of being approved. It also makes future moves easier, as you’ll already have the last month's rent payment prepaid.  If prepaying the last month's rent is an option for you, please indicate this when asked on your application!

 

Property Condition & Improvement Requests

All properties are rented as-is, whether or not they are viewed in person prior to applying. If you have any requests for repairs, upgrades, or changes, these must be submitted in writing before your application is presented for final owner approval.

Once approved, the lease will reflect the current condition of the property, and no additional improvements will be guaranteed unless previously agreed to in writing.

 

Sight-Unseen

Not all property owners allow applicants to lease a home without viewing it in person. 

If you are considering applying for a property sight-unseen, we strongly recommend reviewing our Sight-Unseen Help Article to understand the process and risks. This resource outlines what to expect and how to make an informed decision when applying without a physical walkthrough.