How much rent can you actually afford?
The 30% rule says rent should stay below 30% of gross income. Most US landlords apply the stricter 3× rule when screening. We compute both — the difference tells you how much budget margin you have vs landlord approval ceiling.
Screen applicants against the 3× rule automatically.
Proprietio's tenant screening flow pulls income from the application, runs TransUnion credit + eviction + criminal checks, and flags applicants who don't meet your minimum income multiplier. Configurable threshold per property.
FAQ
What's the 30% rule?▾
A guideline that says your rent should stay at or below 30% of your gross monthly income. It originated from the 1968 US Housing and Urban Development Act and remains the most-cited benchmark for housing affordability. The Census Bureau still uses 30% as its definition of "housing cost-burdened".
What's the 3× rent rule?▾
A screening criterion most US landlords apply: a prospective tenant should earn at least 3× the monthly rent in gross income to qualify. It's a stricter version of the 30% rule and lets the landlord absorb risk on income volatility.
Why does the recommended rent differ between the two rules?▾
The 30% rule gives you the maximum rent you can budget for; the 3× rule gives you the maximum rent a landlord is likely to approve you for. They differ because landlords leave themselves margin. We surface both so you have an honest ceiling and a realistic ceiling.
Does this account for utilities, debt, savings?▾
No — both rules use gross income only. Personal financial planners often recommend a 50/30/20 budget (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings) where rent + utilities should fit inside the 50%. If you have student-loan or credit-card debt, you may need to target a lower rent than this tool suggests.