How Do Landlords Verify Pay Stubs? An Answer to your question

Landlords are always looking for tenants who can pay their rent, no matter how small or large that rent is. However, fake pay stubs can be misleading. So they ensure their rental income by checking the pay stubs of tenants. 

You must provide proof of employment and income when applying for an apartment. There are various ways to do this, and this article will explain how to get authentic pay stubs for your apartment and how landlords verify them. 

What Is a Fake Pay Stub?

A fake pay stub is a falsified document about your made-up income. However, people usually use a fake pay stub to apply for a loan, a rental unit, a credit card, etc. 

It is hard to tell the difference between a real and fake pay stub as it has all the same details as a real one.

How Landlords Verify Pay Stubs

Here is how landlords should verify a pay stub:

• Check the pay stubs against the information on the W-2 form. If there are differences, ask the applicant to contact the employer and ask them to explain the discrepancy.

• Ensure all income is reported to avoid penalties or fines from taxes or other agencies (like Medicare). For example, if the tenant is self-employed, be sure that all sources of income are listed on each pay stub. Also, ensure they have mentioned any deductions taken from those earnings before calculating net pay.

• Ensure that tenants avoid using fake names/businesses when filing tax forms. If you see any difference, call the authorities to spot inconsistencies in reports. Furthermore, ensure that everything is legitimate when making decisions about residents' rights over housing conditions, including rent increases, etc.

How to Spot Fake Pay Stubs

Here are a few tips for spotting fake paystubs.

• Look for inconsistencies in the pay stubs, like font differences, zeros written as 'O' and incorrect figures.

• Check the employer's name, address, and phone number. If it's not listed on your pay stubs, then you should call them to ask why they're not listed.

• Check the employee's name, address, phone number (and Social Security number if applicable). If there are any discrepancies here, too, then this is another reason to be suspicious of the authenticity of these documents.

• Note when each payment was made. It will give us an idea about when this person or company worked for us at our business.

Why Landlords Ask For Pay Stubs?

The primary reason why landlords ask for pay stubs is to ascertain the rental applicant’s ability to pay rent. It is also important to check stubs for renting apartments to ensure the landlord is not party to any fraudulent activity, knowingly or unknowingly.

Verify Proof of Income

Landlords want to make sure you have enough income to pay the rent. If you're paying rent, it should match what you earn through your job. 

It can help avoid possible issues like late fees and evictions if there is any discrepancy between the two.

However, proof of income is not the same as proof of employment. You can have income without being employed, like alimony, a pension, or welfare benefits.

Different Types of Proof of Income

There are various ways to prove your income. This is because not everyone can afford to be employed at various stages of life. These different types of proof of income cater to employees, the self-employed and the unemployed. Some of these include;

• Bank statements

• Tax statements

• Salary and wages

• Self-employment ledger documentation

• Timesheets or receipts

• Certificates of inheritance

• Court letters or orders

What to Do if You See a Fake Pay Stub

There are sanctions for falsifying pay stubs. If a person uses the name of any company or business, they can sue the person for using their name illegally. 

Moreover, if a landlord finds a fake pay stub, they should report it to the police, as it is a criminal act.

How to Get Pay Stubs for a New Apartment 

Ask for a copy of your pay stubs. Once you've decided on a new apartment, landlords need to know that you're earning enough money so that they'll get their money back as quickly as possible. Here are a few options you can use to get pay stubs.

• Call Your Employer

Ask your employer for them. It is the most obvious route and will work in most cases. Your employer should be able to provide you with this information without problems.

• Request a Copy of Your Tax Return

Request a copy of your tax return from the IRS. You can also ask for an official copy of your income tax return from the IRS using Form 4506-T (e-filing) or Form 1040NR-EZ (electronic filing). 

• Get a Bank Statement

You can request a copy of your bank statement. Further, you can specify the time frame you want the statement to cover. About two years back from the time of asking is a good reference. Your bank should be able to provide it within a few minutes. 

• Get a Copy of Your Court Order

This is a viable option if you are due an inheritance, alimony, or child support that has legal backing. This is acceptable proof of income to get you an apartment. You can ask your lawyer for help.

FAQs

How to fake pay stubs to rent an apartment?

A fake pay stub is similar to the real one, containing made-up facts presented in an authentic manner. If a fake pay stub is not verified, a landlord might rent out an apartment based on false information. 

You can write up your own false documents, ask a fraud expert to help you, or check out a fake pay stub guide. However, most landlords can spot fake pay stubs and might report you to the police for providing false information. 

How do apartments verify income?

Can you show proof of income without pay stubs? Do landlords care that much about a fake pay stub for an apartment? It's important to understand how a landlord verifies income when you apply for a rental property.

In most cases, landlords will want to see pay stubs from previous jobs and bank statements showing that you have money in your account. 

They may also request tax returns or other information about your financial situation (such as W-2 forms).

However, if you have no credit history, landlords often run a background check on applicants by looking at recent credit reports from Experian and Equifax. 

Furthermore, if an applicant has been sued or is being sued for debt collection purposes, landlords may also ask them to provide court documents showing their debts have been paid off or dismissed.

What can I use if I don't have pay stubs?

Besides pay stubs, you can provide your income proof through a W-2 Wage and Tax Statement.

If you are a freelancer, entrepreneur, or contract worker, you can use other forms, such as the 1099-MISC form, to show your income.

Can you make fake pay stubs for the apartment?

You can make fake pay stubs for the apartment but cannot provide them as proof of income for rental purposes. Fraud is a criminal act according to the law.

Can I get approved for an apartment using fake pay stubs?

If you are lucky enough that your landlord did not spot the fake pay stub, you can get approved for an apartment. However, most of the time, it is impossible to use a fake pay stub for a rental property.

Final Thoughts on Verifying Pay Stubs as a Landlord

Even if you've never had a problem with your pay stubs, you should still make sure to verify them before moving into an apartment or house. 

It is especially important if you have never rented before because landlords can easily see through fake pay stubs or even know they are fake based on your other financial documents.