Probably in a couple of years we’re going to sell our city house and move to our weekend house. I want to rent a place in the city then.
It’s been 35 years since I rented any place and back in those days credit checks were not commonly performed.
My credit score is fine, but I will have no references from landlords. Also, our income is kind of low. We keep it that way although by then I will be sucking more from the government teat.
But let’s say today I wanted to rent an apartment for $1000 a month and I told you my income last year was $39,000, no debt, credit score 796 (DH’s credit score is 810ish) no landlord referrals possible.
Would I qualify to rent from you guys?
Your situation was kind of like mine. Being mustachian, I've always bucked the trend, and never really fell into the normal mold, which always involved more questions and paperwork. Up until recently, work either always provided a house, or hired someone to drive me around and let me pick one out, then handle the details of setting it up. Once they make the effort to "get" you though and learn your colourful story, (assuming they do), then generally you have someone who sees the value there and is an ally in your corner. Dealing with mega-corp rentals who employ some $12/hr drone who get's confused because $2m in assets doesn't equate to a yearly income you can straight up do without.
As others' have stated, your best bet is to find a private house or condo and deal with one person so you can charm them and demonstrate that you are a 1 in a thousand person. Asking them about paying a year or two upfront for a bit of a potential discount to allay their concerns helps as it's an casual, non-boastey way of letting them know that coming up with $50k tomorrow would merely require a perfunctory drive to the bank. Also make sure to mention that since you "recently sold one of your two houses" as the reason you're in the rental market.
I had a similar problem when I was like 22, just after I graduated. I wanted the fancy points credit card that came free with my bank account that was normally $120/yr. They said it wasn't possible since I had no income, while a friend pulling 30k/yr was able to get a card. I told them I have no debt, and 75k liquid assets, which although I'm not sure, is probably doing ok for someone fresh out of uni with no job? Obviously I'm great with money, so why does a pidley $5k CC matter. Their argument was something along the lines of "you'd be surprised how many people can blow through that kind of money". My response was "No, because if I was the sort of person to do that, then I wouldn't have made it to 5, 10, 25, or 50k of savings. It would have been long gone before all of that". Eventually they acquiesced on the condition that they freeze $5k, but it was a mindfuck to sit there and essentially be told someone with $100k in student debt, 15k in car debt, but a $30k income is less financially risky than me.
Unfortunately when you march to the beat of your own drum, some people get very uncomfortable. Do your best to avoid them, and deal with those that get it.