"Cash back for renting an apartment" sounds like it must have a catch. It doesn't — but very few Houston renters know it exists, and even fewer know how it actually works. Here's a straight explanation of the locator rebate: where the money comes from, why it's free to you, and how to make sure you qualify.
In this guide
What a locator rebate is
When you lease an apartment through a licensed locator, the apartment community pays that locator a commission for bringing them a tenant. A rebate — or cash back — is when the locator returns a portion of that commission to you, the renter. At My Rent Return, that's 25% of the commission, paid directly to you after you move in.
Where the money comes from
This is the part that surprises people. Apartment communities have a marketing budget specifically for filling units, and paying leasing commissions is a normal, planned line item in it — the same way they'd pay for ads or an in-house leasing agent. When you use a locator, the property pays that fee out of the budget it already set aside. The locator then chooses whether to keep all of it or share some back with you.
The commission exists whether or not you get cash back. Most locators simply keep 100% of it. A rebate just means your locator passes part of that existing fee back to you instead of pocketing all of it.
Why it's free and doesn't raise your rent
Two things renters worry about, answered plainly:
- It's free to you. You never pay the locator anything — not a search fee, not a placement fee, nothing. The property pays the commission; you receive a share of it.
- Your rent doesn't go up. You pay the exact same rent, deposit, and lease terms you'd get walking in off the street. The commission comes from the property's marketing budget, not from your rent. Using a locator with a rebate is strictly better than not — same apartment, same price, plus money back.
How much you get
Commissions are typically equal to about one month's rent, and My Rent Return rebates 25% of that. So a quick rule of thumb: your cash back is roughly 25% of one month's rent.
| Your monthly rent | Typical commission (~1 month) | Your 25% cash back |
|---|---|---|
| $1,200 | ~$1,200 | ~$300 |
| $1,600 | ~$1,600 | ~$400 |
| $2,000 | ~$2,000 | ~$500 |
| $2,800 | ~$2,800 | ~$700 |
Actual commissions vary by property, so your exact rebate is confirmed in writing before you sign — never a vague estimate.
When you get paid
The rebate is paid after you move in — not at lease signing. Apartment communities generally pay the leasing commission to the locator around 90 days after your lease start date. Once we receive it, your rebate is processed and sent directly to you. There's nothing you need to chase; we handle it and let you know when it's on the way.
How to make sure you qualify
Qualifying is straightforward, but a couple of things trip renters up:
- Start with the locator before you apply. To be credited (and paid a commission the property can rebate), the locator generally needs to be named as your referral source before or at application. If you already applied on your own, the property may not pay a commission — and there's nothing to rebate.
- Lease through the locator. Your lease has to be processed through My Rent Return for the rebate to apply. Using a separate agent for the same unit makes it ineligible.
- Check the lease term. Most communities only pay a commission on leases of 12 months or longer, so very short-term leases may not qualify. We confirm eligibility for any property before you commit.
The rebate is on top of whatever leasing special the property is running. You can get a free month from the property and cash back from your locator on the same lease.
Start your search and lock in your rebate
Begin with us before you apply so your 25% cash back is credited from day one. Free to use, same rent, real money back after you move in.
Get started — it's free