Identity theft is a real concern these days. Sometimes it seems like the amount of information a potential apartment tenant has to reveal is somewhat unsettling. A landlord who is worth leasing from is going to ask several personal questions. He will want your name, address, phone number, salary, social security number, a list of your current and past employers and he will probably let you know that he will check your credit report. The reason he is requesting this information is because he is taking a risk by turning over his property to someone with whom he is unacquainted.
He needs to know your salary to determine whether or not you can afford the monthly rent. He needs your social security number to run a credit report. Our credit reports tell a lot about our character and our spending habits. He may be able to determine pretty quickly that you arent a worthy risk if you are habitually late making payments to other landlords or on bills in general. He will probably call your current employer to verify valid employment.
Although it is unlikely that a good landlord will steal your identity, here are a few tips for someone who is interested in leasing an...