Can an illegal immigrant rent an apartment in California?
Mia Ramsey
Published Mar 12, 2026
Illegal immigrants live somewhere and with California’s notoriously high prices, renting is the only option for many. Remember, illegal immigrants can receive driver’s licenses in California and it is illegal to discriminate in employment or housing because of the nature of a driver’s license.
Can your landlord call immigration?
Under California state law, landlords can’t ask a tenant or family about their immigration status. It would also make it illegal for landlords to threaten to report a tenant to ICE or otherwise compromise an undocumented tenant’s legal rights.
Can illegal immigrants rent a house?
The short answer is no. The federal government has almost exclusive authority to address immigration, including undocumented immigration. Currently, there is no federal law which prevents or penalizes landlords from renting to undocumented persons.
What checks do landlords do on tenants?
Credit and reference checks Landlords and agents can ask for references from an employer or previous landlord. They may carry out a credit check on you when you apply to rent a house or flat. A credit reference agency checks if you’ve had problems paying bills in the past.
Can you rent an apartment without a green card?
No green cards are required to rent apartments. There are plenty of people living in this country legally who do not have green cards, on various sorts of visas (student, H1B, etc.) who are able to rent apartments.
Can a tourist rent an apartment in the US?
There is no law a tourist can not rent an apartment. It’s pretty much up to convincing the landlord you can pay for however long the lease is.
Can you get in trouble for renting to an illegal immigrant?
What does the Fair Housing Act cover?
The Fair Housing Act is a federal law enacted in 1968 that prohibits discrimination in the purchase, sale, rental, or financing of housing—private or public—based on race, skin color, sex, nationality, or religion. The statute has been amended several times, including in 1988 to add disability and family status.
Can I get renters insurance without a SSN?
For example, your insurance agent may not proceed without your social security number, but they might be fine without a birth date.
What documents do you need to prove right to Rent?
Acceptable documents that a tenant can show their landlord include:
- A UK passport.
- An EU/EEA passport or identity card, permanent residence card.
- A travel document showing indefinite leave to remain.
- A visa if applicable.