A rental resume is a one-page summary you give a landlord with your application. It covers who you are, where you have rented, what you earn and who can vouch for you. Here is what to include, a full example to copy, and when it makes the biggest difference.
A rental application is a form. It asks every applicant the same questions in the same boxes. A rental resume is your chance to put your strongest points first. In a competitive market, where a landlord may have a dozen applications for one unit, that is often what separates a yes from a maybe.
What Is a Rental Resume?
Think of it as a cover letter and a job resume combined, written for a landlord. It does not replace the official application or the screening report. It sits on top of them and makes them easy to read.
It is most useful when your application has something the standard form does not explain well:
- You have no credit, or a thin file
- You are a first-time renter with no landlord references
- You are self-employed or have several sources of income
- You are moving from another city or country
- You have pets
- You are competing for a popular listing
What to Include on a Rental Resume
1. Contact details
Your full name, phone, email and current city. Keep it at the top so the landlord can reach you in one glance.
2. A short introduction
Two or three sentences: what you do, why you are moving, when you want to move in and for how long. Mention anything a landlord cares about, such as being a non-smoker or having no pets.
3. Rental history
For each of the last two or three homes, list the dates, the address or city, the rent, the landlord's name and phone, and why you left. Honest, simple reasons such as "new job" or "needed more space" are fine. If you have never rented, say so and point to other proof. Our guide to verifiable rental history shows what counts.
4. Employment and income
Your employer, role, start date and income, plus your income as a multiple of the rent. Landlords are calculating that anyway, so do it for them. Attach the proof. See what counts as proof of income.
5. Household
Everyone who will live there, plus any pets and vehicles. Surprises at the lease signing cost trust. Being upfront earns it.
6. References
Two or three people who will answer: a current or past landlord, an employer or manager, and a personal reference if you have no rental history. Ask them first so they expect the call.
7. What you are attaching
List your supporting documents so the landlord knows the application is complete: ID, pay stubs, offer letter, your score, pet records.
Rental Resume Example
Copy this layout and replace every detail with your own. Keep it to one page.
ALEX RIVERA
(555) 010-0000 · [email protected] · Currently: Columbus, OH
ABOUT ME
Nurse at a regional hospital, relocating for a new position. Non-smoker, one cat, looking for a 12-month lease starting November 1. Rent always paid on time, by AutoPay.
RENTAL HISTORY
2023–present · 1BR apartment, Columbus, OH · $1,150/month
Landlord: [Name], [Phone] · Leaving because: new job in another city
2021–2023 · Shared 2BR, Dayton, OH · $650/month (my share)
Landlord: [Name], [Phone] · Leaving because: finished degree
EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME
Registered Nurse, [Employer], starting October 2026 · $78,000/year (offer letter attached) · Monthly gross: $6,500, 3.9x the rent
HOUSEHOLD
1 adult · 1 indoor cat, 6 years old, spayed, vaccinated · 1 car
REFERENCES
[Name], current landlord, [Phone]
[Name], nurse manager, [Phone]
[Name], previous landlord, [Phone]
ATTACHED
Photo ID · Offer letter · Last 3 pay stubs · Renter Score link · Pet vaccination record
Save it as a PDF named with your name and the property, for example "Alex-Rivera-Rental-Resume-Elm-St.pdf". Attach it to your application and bring a printed copy to the showing.
Adding a Pet Resume
If you have a pet, a short pet section can decide a pet-restricted listing. Include the animal's type, breed, age and weight; whether it is spayed or neutered; vaccination and license details; training or behavior notes; and a reference from a previous landlord who allowed the pet. Mention renters insurance with liability coverage if you have it. Our renters insurance guide explains what it covers.
Mistakes That Make a Rental Resume Backfire
- Writing more than one page. Landlords skim. Put the most important facts at the top.
- Leaving gaps unexplained. A missing year looks worse than a one-line explanation.
- Overstating income. It will be checked against your pay stubs and bank deposits.
- Sharing too much personal data. Do not put your Social Security number, date of birth or bank account numbers on a resume. They belong only in the secure application.
- Listing references who will not answer. An unreachable reference is worse than none.
Add proof, not just claims. A Renter Score link shows your verified rent payment history without exposing your SSN, income or contact details. Put the link on your rental resume and the landlord can check your record in seconds.
Rental Resume Questions
Do landlords actually read rental resumes?
Many do, especially individual owners and small landlords who choose tenants personally. Large companies with automated screening may not, but a resume still helps the leasing agent argue your case.
Is a rental resume the same as a rental application?
No. The application is the landlord's official form and usually authorizes a background and credit check. The resume is your own summary, which you add alongside it.
Should I include my credit score?
Only if it helps you. A strong score is worth stating. If your credit is thin or weak, focus on income, savings, rental history and a cosigner instead, and let the screening report speak for itself.
How long should a rental resume be?
One page. If it does not fit, cut the introduction, not the rental history or references.
Can I use a rental resume if I have never rented?
Yes, and that is when it helps most. Replace rental history with employment, savings, a cosigner and personal references, and explain in one line that this is your first lease.
Related Resources
Templates & guides:
More from the Blog:
Let Your Payment History Do the Talking
Apply online, pay rent on time and build a Renter Score you can link from your rental resume, so the next landlord sees proof, not promises.
Creating a renter account is free.
Get Started Free →Want more guides for renters?
← Explore More Getting Started Articles