stay at home mom, file jointly. can i rent an apartment alone?

Most rental companies require the tenant to have adequate verifiable income. Your husband would need to sign the agreement, to guarantee the payment. A mortgage will have a similar requirement.

There's nothing illegal about someone not willing to rent to someone without verifiable income.. If only you sign, and the rent is not paid, their is no wage that can be attached for the landlord to collect in the case of a judgment in their favor.. When it comes to mortgages, President Obama signed a law stating that all borrowers must document they have sufficient income to service the debt taken on by a new mortgage.. if you were to apply for a mortgage in "Your name only" but your a stay at home Mom.. you would be denied.. regardless of how much income your husband has.. .. I'm a Broker here in Scottsdale AZ and I only lend in Arizona. If you or someone you know is looking for financing options, feel free to contact me or pass along my information. 480-287-5714 WilliamAcres.com

Every state has their own laws around this - you'll have to check with local or state legal services office, or possibly your state dept. of consumer affairs (or similar). my guess is that as long as they have written qualifications they use for all renters it is legal. Effectively you want to use your husband's income but not put him on the lease. If you were applying for a mortgage alone, your husand's income could not be considered.