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How to rent apartment with money but no income?

My wife wants a place to stay, long term, in addition to our home. I figured she could just rent an apartment, but the management said she has to have her own income -- it's not enough that we're married and have joint income. I even offered to pay the entire lease up front and they said no. Is this anywhere near normal? How can we get around it? But Melina, how is it high risk if I pay the entire amount of the lease up front?

Public Comments

1. You would also need a security deposit that is usually equal to the rent. They are also going to wonder were that money is coming from with no job. This all sounds very suspicious and a very high risk. Most landlords will not agree to it
2. Easy solution. You sign the lease.
3. 100% normal. Finding anyone to rent to someone with no ability to pay is not going to happen. No one wants the lease upfront because then they can't evict if something is wrong, the rent was paid. I am not saying she is, but they are worried she might be a nut job, a drug addict, etc. Normal people do not pay leases in advance, usually something is wrong.
4. it's not a high risk in that they are worried about getting paid their rent money...it's a high risk in that they are worried that the tenant might be a potential problem (ie. drug dealer, misc. nutjob, possible terroris, etc.). someone that pays the whole rent upfront seems suspicious to a landlord. however, the choice is the landlord's whether he wants to rent to you or not.
5. Rent the apartment as a married couple. Then the income that qualifies is your joint income, shown on your joint tax return. Then there is nothing wrong with her living there alone.
6. Here in Fla I know of several people who paid rent up front for a year without a problem, but this was years ago before the current economic meltdown. If your wife has no income she likely has little or no credit history which adds to the problem. Put both your names on a lease and use your income/background to get the apt. I don't know what their issues are, but it's unlikely they will yield.
7. Look for a private landlord and just go about it as if the two of you are renting the apt. They do NOT need to know the details and all of your personal business, as long as the rent is paid then you are fine.Best Wishes.
8. You don't. If they will not take payment for the entire lease up front there is no way around it. It is purely up to each individual landlord if they will do this or not. And most will not.