Relocating for work and need an apartment before your first day? Here is how to rent in a new city without local history. Fast.
Get Verified. Portable Profile for Any CityRelocating for work creates four specific challenges that standard rental applications are not designed for.
Landlords often call previous landlords for references. Out-of-state references can be harder to reach and verify. The solution: documented references with email + phone, and a portable verification profile that travels with you.
Landlords want pay stubs. If you are relocating before your start date, you have offer letters. Not pay stubs. Most landlords accept signed offer letters from established employers, but you need to present the right documents.
Signing a lease for an apartment you have never seen is risky. Request video tours, ask for photos of the actual unit (not stock photos), read the lease carefully before signing, and if possible, plan a brief trip to view it in person.
Most landlords want leases starting within 30-45 days. If your start date is 90 days away, you may need a short-term corporate housing solution while you search from your new location.
| Package element | Typical range | What to ask your employer |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary housing | 30-90 days, furnished apartment or hotel | "How many nights of temporary housing are included? Extended-stay hotel or corporate apartment?" |
| Moving allowance | $3,000-$15,000 lump sum (varies significantly) | "Is this a reimbursement or direct payment? Are taxes grossed-up?" |
| Lease-break guarantee | Some employers pay early termination fees at origin | "Will the company cover my current lease break costs?" |
| Apartment locator | Relocation company assigned to help find housing | "Is there a relocation coordinator or apartment-finding service?" |
| Destination services | Tours of neighborhoods, school info, spousal support | "Does our relocation package include destination services?" |
Follow this sequence to find, apply for, and sign a lease remotely before your first day at work.
Before you search, find out exactly what your employer covers: temporary housing, lump-sum allowance, lease-break guarantees. This determines your real budget and timeline. Some relocation packages include apartment-finder services. Use them.
Settl verification connects to your bank and confirms your income and identity. This portable profile works anywhere in the country. Your Seattle bank statements are just as valid in Austin as they are at home. Get verified before you start searching.
Assemble: signed offer letter (with salary and start date), 3 months of bank statements from your current bank, contact info for your previous landlord(s), your most recent pay stubs from your current job, and a letter from your employer confirming relocation.
Use Walkscore, Google Street View, local Reddit communities (/r/Austin, /r/Seattle, etc.), and employer intranet forums to identify 3-5 target neighborhoods. Ask your employer's HR or relocation coordinator for neighborhood recommendations. They know where other relocating employees land.
Most landlords now do video tours over FaceTime or Zoom. Submit complete applications remotely. Many landlords prefer applicants who submit a full, organized package upfront. Relocation professionals stand out because they arrive prepared.
In competitive markets, relocation specialists and apartment locators know which buildings have inventory, which landlords are flexible on timing, and how to fast-track approvals. Many are free (paid by the landlord). Ask your employer if your package includes one.
Settl into your new home.
Settl verification is not tied to a location. Bank-linked income verification, confirmed identity, and a shareable profile code work the same whether you are applying in Austin, Denver, or Charlotte. Get verified once before you relocate, and use it everywhere you apply.
Verified before your move
Get verified at home, use it in any city
Bank-linked income history
Shows 3+ months of deposits regardless of employer
Works with offer letters
Complements your new job documentation
Start by researching neighborhoods online and narrowing to 3-5 areas that match your commute, budget, and lifestyle. Most landlords now accept remote applications. Submit with full documentation (pay stubs, bank statements, employer letter, previous landlord references) and request a video tour. Plan a visit to sign the lease.
Yes, if you have a signed offer letter. An offer letter from a reputable employer with a start date and salary is accepted by most landlords as income verification. Pair it with your most recent pay stubs from your previous job and 3 months of bank statements showing savings.
Corporate relocation packages vary widely. Common inclusions: temporary housing (30-90 days in a furnished apartment or hotel), a lump-sum relocation allowance ($3,000-$15,000+), realtor or apartment-finder assistance, and sometimes a lease-break guarantee. Ask your HR or relocation coordinator for specifics before you start searching.
No. Landlords can call previous out-of-state landlords for references. In practice, a strong income profile (3x monthly rent), solid credit score, and verifiable employment are more important than local history. A portable verification like Settl eliminates the geographic disadvantage entirely.
Start searching 60-90 days before your move date in competitive markets (New York, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle). In mid-sized cities, 30-45 days is usually sufficient. For most markets, signing more than 90 days in advance is difficult. Landlords prefer shorter gaps between lease signing and occupancy.
Get verified before you start your apartment search. A portable income profile that works in any city eliminates the biggest obstacle relocation renters face.
A credit score alone can't tell a landlord if you have money today, paid rent on time, or who you actually are. Settl answers every question — and includes a soft-pull credit check so landlords get the full picture in one verified report.
Your landlord never sees your bank account.
When you connect via Plaid, Settl reads your income and generates your verification. Your landlord receives only the verified tier and rent ceiling — never your exact income figure, account numbers, balances, or any raw bank data. Your SSN is never shared.
Soft pull only. Zero score impact.
Landlord-initiated credit checks trigger a hard inquiry and can lower your score. Settl's VantageScore 4.0 check is a soft pull, run by Settl on your behalf. Results go straight into your Passport. No hard inquiry. No score impact.
VantageScore 4.0 via TransUnion
Soft pull · zero score impact · included in every Settl Passport
30-day validity · unlimited landlords · Valid 30 days at any property
Verify once. Apply everywhere.
2 min · Soft pull only