How to Apply for an Apartment with Roommates or a Co-signer Using Settl
The short answer
Renting with others? Settl Household Reports let you combine verified incomes into one shared landlord report — one H- code, one link, one clean application.
Renting Together Just Got a Lot Easier
Applying for an apartment with a roommate or a co-signer used to mean juggling separate credit checks, different application portals, and hoping the landlord would piece it all together. Settl Household Reports change that completely.
One H- code. One landlord report. Everyone's income verified separately, shown together.
What Is a Settl Household Report?
A Household Report is a combined verification profile for 2–3 applicants applying for the same unit. Each person completes their own Settl Verified Passport independently — identity check, Plaid bank income verification, employment verification — and they're all linked under one shared household code starting with H-.
When a landlord enters your H- code at settlhome.com/verify, they see:
- Combined verified income from all members
- Each member's individual Settl Verified Passport
- A recommendation badge based on all verified members' combined income, identity, and background check results
- Income-to-rent ratio — does combined income clear the 3× threshold?
- Each member's role — primary, roommate, or co-signer
Roommates vs. Co-signers — What's the Difference?
Roommates are co-applicants who will actually live in the unit. Their income combines with yours — if you earn $3,200/mo and your roommate earns $2,800/mo, your combined $6,000/mo qualifies you for apartments up to $2,000/mo instead of the $1,000–1,100/mo you'd each qualify for alone.
Co-signers don't live in the unit — they're a financial backstop. Landlords typically require co-signers to earn 80–100× the monthly rent annually. With Settl, co-signers verify their identity and income and appear clearly labeled as "co-signer" on the household report.
How to Set Up a Household Report
Step 1: Primary applicant gets their Settl Verified Passport first
Complete the full Settl flow — pre-qualification, KYC identity check, Plaid bank income connection, payment. Your Settl Verified Passport is valid for 30 days and portable — usable with any landlord. Once verified, you'll see your readiness page with a "Create Household Report" button.
Step 2: Generate your invite links
Click "Create Household Report" and you'll get two shareable links:
- Roommate link — for people who will live with you
- Co-signer link — for guarantors who won't live in the unit
Step 3: Each member completes their own Settl Verified Passport
When someone clicks your invite link, they go through the same 5-minute Settl process. The household member rate is $59 — discounted from the solo price ($99) because their profile is being added to an existing verified household.
Step 4: H- code is generated automatically
Once 2 or more members are fully verified, your household code (like H-K7MNP23Q) is generated automatically and appears on your readiness page.
Step 5: Share one code with every landlord
Text or email your H- code to any landlord. They visit settlhome.com/verify, enter the code, and instantly see your full household report. No software, no signup, no wait — completely free for landlords.
What Landlords See
The landlord view shows:
- Recommendation badge based on all verified members' combined verification status
- Total verified income and maximum affordable rent
- Each member's card — name, verification status, role badge, verified income, identity confirmation
- Co-signer note — clearly labeled with a note that the co-signer does not occupy the unit
Pricing
| Who | Cost | What they get |
|---|---|---|
| Primary applicant | $99 | Full Settl Verified Passport — portable, 30-day validity, reusable with any landlord |
| Household member / roommate | $59 | Identity + income verified, added to household report |
| Co-signer | $59 | Identity + income verified, labeled as guarantor |
Every member gets a reusable individual Settl Verified Passport too — usable independently with any landlord for 30 days. Apply anywhere. Pay once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does everyone have to apply at the same time?
No. The primary creates the household and sends invite links. Members can join any time within 30 days. The H- code generates once 2 members are verified.
What if one member has a lower verification level?
The household receives a recommendation badge based on all verified members' combined income, identity, and background check results. Combined income matters most: if your combined income clears 3× the rent, you clear the most common landlord threshold.
Can a co-signer be in another state?
Yes. Settl's verification is fully remote — government ID, biometric liveness check, and Plaid bank connection. No in-person meeting required.
Can we use household and individual codes separately?
Yes. Each person also has their own personal Settl Verified Passport usable independently with any landlord.
Ready to set up a Household Report? Start your Settl Verified Passport →
Settl Team
Settl Editorial
Settl helps renters stand out in competitive markets through verified identity, income, and rental verifications. Trusted by landlords across the US.
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