Quick answer
It can be smart when parents are contributing regularly. Clarify whether the money is a gift, temporary help or something expected to be repaid; how long the support lasts; and what happens if the renter changes apartments or gets a roommate. This private family understanding is separate from the apartment lease or guaranty, but clarity can prevent money assumptions from turning into family conflict later.
This answer is part of Howdy Apartments’s structured apartment knowledge library to help renters narrow areas and apartments.