For Tenants

Renting With Bessa in Los Angeles

Whether you’re looking for a unit or already living in one of ours, here’s everything you need.

Two paths from here

The application process, plainly

Step 1 — See a unit you like? Schedule a tour.

Tours are by appointment, weekdays and Saturday mornings. We don’t do open houses — they’re a waste of everyone’s time.

Step 2 — Apply online.

The application takes about 10 minutes. $45 application fee per adult applicant (covers credit + background screening). All adults 18+ who will live in the unit must apply.

Step 3 — We respond within 2 business days.

Approved, declined, or “we need more info” — you’ll hear back within 48 business hours, every time. We don’t ghost.

Step 4 — Sign the lease, send the deposit.

E-sign the lease. First month’s rent + security deposit due before move-in. We accept ACH, wire, and cashier’s check. Sorry, no cash.

Step 5 — Move-in inspection.

We walk the unit with you on day one and document condition together. You get a copy of the move-in inspection report. This protects everyone at move-out.

We follow a transparent screening standard

We evaluate every application on the same five criteria. We don’t discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, family status, source of income, disability, military/veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or LA City fair housing law.

• Income. Combined household income should be approximately 2.5x–3x the monthly rent. We accept all lawful sources of income, including Section 8 vouchers.
• Credit. We pull a credit report. There’s no “magic minimum score” — we look at the full picture.
• Rental history. We call your last two landlords. We ask about on-time rent and condition of the unit at move-out.
• Employment / income verification. Pay stubs, offer letter, tax returns, or self-employment summary depending on your situation.
• Background check. We follow CA SB 81 and LA’s Fair Chance Initiative. Recent unrelated history will not automatically disqualify you. Serious recent violent felonies are evaluated case-by-case per LA City rules.

If anything in your application gives us pause, we’ll tell you what we found and ask for context. Honesty up front almost always works in your favor.

Everything you need, no email required

What tenants ask us most

Do you accept Section 8 vouchers?

Yes. We follow LA’s Source of Income Protection rules — we don’t discriminate against any lawful source of income.

Are pets allowed?

Property by property. Each listing notes whether pets are allowed. Where allowed, we typically charge a pet deposit and pet rent. Service animals and ESAs are not pets under the law and are accommodated per FHA / HUD rules — no extra fee, but we do need documentation.

What if I lose my job during the lease?

Tell us early. We can sometimes work out a short-term plan, especially if you’ve been a reliable tenant. The worst thing to do is go silent.

Can I sublet?

Most of our leases require written consent before subletting. Short-term/Airbnb-style subletting is usually not permitted. Ask us before you list.

How do I get my deposit back at move-out?

We do a move-out inspection, deduct lawfully (per CA Civil Code §1950.5), and return the balance plus an itemized statement within 21 days of you handing back the keys.

My neighbor is being loud / has a problem. What do I do?

First, try a polite conversation if it’s safe. If that doesn’t work, log it in the portal — date, time, what happened. We follow up after we have a written record.