How to Get Approved for an Apartment When Relocating to a New City
The short answer
Relocating to a new city? Learn how to get approved for an apartment remotely — no local references required. How Settl helps remote applicants get approved before they move.
You've accepted a job offer in Denver. Or Austin. Or Seattle. You have two weeks to secure housing before your start date. You're applying for apartments from 1,500 miles away, and landlords keep ghosting you or giving the unit to someone local who can tour in person.
Relocation applications have always been harder than local ones. But they're not hopeless — if you know what you're doing.
Why Relocation Applications Get Rejected
Landlords have a rational fear of remote applicants: they can't meet you, they can't verify your story easily, and if something goes wrong, you're not locally accountable in the same way. Common reasons remote applications fail:
- No local references: Your previous landlord is in another city, and calling cross-country feels like extra work
- Can't tour in person: Some landlords won't commit to a lease without an in-person showing
- Unverified income: "I have a new job that starts next month" is not the same as a paycheck to a landlord
- Distance signals risk: If you change your mind and don't show up, the landlord loses a month or more of rent
- No local bank history: If you're coming from a different state, your financial history is less legible to a local landlord
The Pre-Verified Strategy
The most effective approach to remote renting is arriving at every application already fully verified — so a landlord doesn't have to trust your word on anything. When you submit a remote application with identity, income, employment, and rental history all pre-verified by a neutral third party, the distance becomes less of a factor.
This is the core idea behind the Settl Passport: one verification session, done in advance, that travels with you and speaks for you in every market you're applying in.
What to Do Before You Start Applying
- Get a job offer letter in writing: Even a formal email from your new employer on company letterhead establishing your start date, title, and salary is powerful documentation
- Verify your income now: Don't wait until you're in the new city. Bank-link your current income so landlords can see consistent deposits from your current role
- Collect landlord references proactively: Contact your current and previous landlords and ask for a short written reference. An email that says "X was a reliable tenant who paid on time for 2 years" is worth including in your application packet
- Set up your Settl profile: Complete identity, income, and employment verification before you start searching — so every application you submit is backed by a verified report
How to Stand Out in a Remote Application
Beyond verification, presentation matters. A few things that help remote applications succeed:
- Offer a virtual tour: Ask the landlord if you can do a video call walkthrough. Many are willing, and showing enthusiasm reduces their hesitation
- Be direct about your timeline: "I'm relocating for [Company Name] and starting [Date]. I need to be in a unit by [Date]." Clear, professional, factual.
- Offer to prepay: First and last month's rent upfront (where legally permitted) removes most of the landlord's risk from the equation
- Write a brief cover note: Two paragraphs explaining who you are, why you're moving, and why this unit fits — attached to your application. Most applicants don't do this. The ones who do stand out.
The Remote Worker Advantage
If you're a remote worker relocating by choice rather than for a specific employer, your situation is slightly different but has its own advantages. You likely have documented, consistent income from a known company. You can be flexible on move-in dates. You're often a higher-income applicant targeting units that have fewer qualified applicants.
Lean into that: "I work remotely for [Company], earn $X/month (bank-verified), and I'm relocating to [City] permanently. I'm not on a tight timeline and can be flexible on your preferred move-in date." That's a low-risk tenant profile.
Cities That Are Most Remote-Application Friendly
Property management companies in high-turnover markets (Denver, Austin, Phoenix, Charlotte, Nashville) are generally more accustomed to relocation applications and have clearer processes for handling them. Individual landlords in tight local markets (NYC, San Francisco) tend to be more skeptical of remote applicants. Target your search accordingly.
Regardless of where you're moving, getting verified before you apply is the single highest-leverage step you can take to improve your remote application odds.
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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