How to Rent With No Rental History
Last updated: June 2026 · 8 min read
Quick answer
You can rent with no rental history by strengthening the parts of your application a landlord can verify: provide a guarantor (someone who covers rent if you cannot), offer one to three months' rent in advance, show proof of savings or a stable income, and supply character references from an employer or university. First-time renters, students and recent arrivals are accepted every day — the landlord's real concern is whether you will pay reliably, so your job is to remove that doubt with evidence.
A blank rental history is one of the most common worries for students, new graduates, and people who have just moved to a new country. The good news: it is a solvable problem. Landlords are not looking for a long résumé of past tenancies — they are looking for confidence that the rent will arrive every month. This guide shows you how to provide that confidence.
1. What landlords are really worried about
Behind every referencing check is one question: will this person pay the rent and look after the property? Rental history is just a convenient proxy. If you can answer that question another way, the absence of history stops mattering.
That reframing is the key to the whole process. Instead of apologising for having no history, present positive evidence — income, savings, a guarantor, a clean character reference — that addresses the underlying concern directly.
2. Five ways to strengthen your application
Offer a guarantor
A guarantor with a stable income who legally agrees to cover unpaid rent is the strongest single move. It transfers the landlord's risk to someone with a proven track record.
Pay rent in advance
Offering one to three months upfront removes the immediate payment risk entirely. For many landlords this is more persuasive than any reference.
Show proof of funds
Recent bank statements showing savings equal to several months' rent demonstrate you can weather a gap in income.
Provide an employment letter
A signed contract or offer letter stating your salary and start date proves stable, ongoing income — the thing a payslip history would otherwise show.
Get character references
A reference from an employer, university tutor, or previous landlord (even informal) vouches for your reliability when a formal rental reference is unavailable.
3. Build a renter application pack
Walking into a viewing with a ready-to-go application pack sets you apart instantly. Prepare these documents before you start your search:
- ✓Photo ID (passport or national ID)
- ✓Proof of income — last 3 payslips, or an employment/offer letter
- ✓Bank statements (last 3 months) showing rent affordability
- ✓Guarantor details and their proof of income, if applicable
- ✓One or two written character references with contact details
- ✓A short cover note introducing yourself and your circumstances
4. Avoiding scams when you are new
People without local rental experience are the prime target for rental fraud. The classic scam asks for a deposit or advance rent by bank transfer before you have seen the property or signed a contract — then the "landlord" disappears.
Golden rule: never send money to a personal account before verifying the landlord owns the property and you have a signed agreement. GeraRent verifies every landlord's identity and holds deposits in escrow, so your money is never exposed to a vanishing "owner".
Rent safely as a first-timer
GeraRent verifies every landlord and holds deposits in escrow — built for renters with no track record yet.
Find verified rentalsRelated: Guarantors explained · Flat viewing checklist · New in town? Find local work on GeraJobs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent an apartment with no rental history?
Yes. Landlords accept first-time renters all the time. You strengthen your application with a guarantor, rent paid in advance, proof of income or savings, and references from an employer or university instead of a previous landlord.
What is a guarantor and do I need one?
A guarantor is someone — usually a parent or close relative with a stable income — who legally agrees to pay your rent if you cannot. You do not always need one, but offering a guarantor is the single most effective way to reassure a landlord when you have no rental track record.
How much rent in advance might I be asked for?
With no rental history, landlords commonly ask for one to three months' rent in advance in addition to the deposit. This is legal in most markets and is often the quickest way to secure a property without a guarantor.
Can students rent without a job?
Yes. Students usually rent using a guarantor (often a parent) or by paying a term or year of rent in advance from a student loan or savings. Student-focused listings expect this and are set up for it.
I just moved to the country with no local credit history — can I rent?
Yes. Offer rent in advance, show bank statements proving funds, provide an employment contract or offer letter, and use a platform like GeraRent that accepts international payments and verifies landlords so you are not exposed to deposit scams.