Renter guide

From an invitation email to keys in hand. Landlord? See the landlord guide.

1. Your invitation

Everything starts with an email from your landlord. There are two kinds:

  • "Apply for …" — an offer to rent a unit on stated terms (rent, dates, furnished or not). The link takes you to the application.
  • "You're invited to …" — you're already the tenant; the link just connects you to the lease.

Either way, click the link, create a free renter account (or sign in), confirm your email, and accept. Links are valid for 14 days. Each sign-in asks for a code we email you.

2. Apply

The application asks for your phone, current employer, how many people will live there, and a previous landlord as a reference (we email them a short questionnaire — you'll see when it's answered). If the property requires a background check, you'll be asked to consent to it.

Optional: income documents. After you submit, you can upload a recent paystub (PDF) and a bank statement export (CSV). We read them once to extract income figures for your landlord, never store the files, and encrypt the extracted result. Account numbers are masked before anything is analyzed.

You can update your application any time until your landlord decides. You'll be emailed when they approve or decline. If you applied with someone else (a partner or roommate), you each fill in your own application and are decided together.

3. Sign your lease

When your landlord sends the agreement, your rental page shows Review & sign. Read the whole agreement — it's the exact text both of you are bound by, including any addendums (extra clauses your landlord added). To sign you:

  • initial each addendum,
  • type your full legal name and a phone number,
  • agree to sign electronically (this is a legally binding signature).

Your landlord countersigns after you; then the lease is active and you can open the signed copy from your rental page any time. If your landlord recalls the agreement to change something, your signature is voided and you'll be asked to sign the new version.

4. Pay

Once the lease is signed, your rental page shows Due before move-in — the security deposit, first month's rent (prorated if you move in mid-month), and anything else listed in the agreement. Pay your landlord using one of the methods shown on your rental page (Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, or check); they record it and your balance updates.

Monthly rent is charged on the due day and you're emailed. Your ledger lists every charge and payment, and you can download it. Late fees, if any, follow what the agreement says.

5. During your tenancy

  • Maintenance — file a request with photos from your rental page and follow its status.
  • Messages — a written record between you and your landlord; keep requests and agreements here so there's no dispute later.
  • Your lease — terms, dates, and the signed agreement are always one click away.

6. Moving out

Give notice in writing the way the agreement requires (usually 30 days). After you leave, your landlord prepares a deposit statement itemizing any deductions; you'll see it on your rental page and receive the balance within the legal window.

Your data

We keep only what's needed to run your tenancy. Income documents are never stored; bank details, if you ever enter them, are encrypted. Essential cookies keep you signed in; analytics cookies are only set if you accept them. Details in the Privacy Policy; the rules of the platform are in the Terms of Service.