Who gets the apartment if the Realtor has a bunch of applications?

Question

Im apartment hunting in NYC. How does a real estate agent or landlord decide who gets the apartment if theres a ton of applications in? Is it the person with the best credit/records/history or is it the first one to put the application in? Sorta confused. Thanks!

Answer 1

legally they have to take the first qualified applicant - otherwise it can look like discrimination.

Answer 2

He just has to choose and not give a reason

Answer 3

I run them in the order they are received. I either qualify or dis-qualify the person, then move on to the next if needed...