diff --git a/detekt-rules-style/src/main/kotlin/io/gitlab/arturbosch/detekt/rules/style/UnnecessaryApply.kt b/detekt-rules-style/src/main/kotlin/io/gitlab/arturbosch/detekt/rules/style/UnnecessaryApply.kt
index 5ed09649101..dc9a4647843 100644
--- a/detekt-rules-style/src/main/kotlin/io/gitlab/arturbosch/detekt/rules/style/UnnecessaryApply.kt
+++ b/detekt-rules-style/src/main/kotlin/io/gitlab/arturbosch/detekt/rules/style/UnnecessaryApply.kt
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ import io.gitlab.arturbosch.detekt.api.Severity
 import io.gitlab.arturbosch.detekt.api.internal.ActiveByDefault
 import io.gitlab.arturbosch.detekt.api.internal.RequiresTypeResolution
 import io.gitlab.arturbosch.detekt.rules.receiverIsUsed
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.lexer.KtTokens
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.name.FqName
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtBinaryExpression
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtCallExpression
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtDotQualifiedExpression
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtNameReferenceExpression
@@ -75,11 +77,20 @@ class UnnecessaryApply(config: Config) : Rule(config) {
     @Suppress("ReturnCount")
     private fun KtCallExpression.hasOnlyOneMemberAccessStatement(): Boolean {
         val lambda = lambdaArguments.firstOrNull()?.getLambdaExpression() ?: return false
-        val singleStatement = lambda.bodyExpression?.statements?.singleOrNull() ?: return false
-        if (singleStatement !is KtThisExpression &&
+        var singleStatement = lambda.bodyExpression?.statements?.singleOrNull() ?: return false
+
+        if (singleStatement is KtBinaryExpression) {
+            if (singleStatement.operationToken !in KtTokens.ALL_ASSIGNMENTS) return false
+
+            // for an assignment expression only consider whether members on the LHS use the apply{} context
+            singleStatement = singleStatement.left ?: return false
+        } else if (singleStatement !is KtThisExpression &&
             singleStatement !is KtReferenceExpression &&
             singleStatement !is KtDotQualifiedExpression
-        ) return false
+        ) {
+            return false
+        }
+
         val lambdaDescriptor = bindingContext[BindingContext.FUNCTION, lambda.functionLiteral] ?: return false
         return singleStatement.collectDescendantsOfType<KtNameReferenceExpression> {
             val resolvedCall = it.getResolvedCall(bindingContext)
diff --git a/detekt-rules-style/src/test/kotlin/io/gitlab/arturbosch/detekt/rules/style/UnnecessaryApplySpec.kt b/detekt-rules-style/src/test/kotlin/io/gitlab/arturbosch/detekt/rules/style/UnnecessaryApplySpec.kt
index cd051c8214c..b9f6ce081ea 100644
--- a/detekt-rules-style/src/test/kotlin/io/gitlab/arturbosch/detekt/rules/style/UnnecessaryApplySpec.kt
+++ b/detekt-rules-style/src/test/kotlin/io/gitlab/arturbosch/detekt/rules/style/UnnecessaryApplySpec.kt
@@ -117,12 +117,12 @@ class UnnecessaryApplySpec(val env: KotlinCoreEnvironment) {
                 class C {
                     var prop = 0
                 }
-                    
+
                 fun main() {
                     val list = ArrayList<C>()
                     list.add(
                         if (true) {
-                            C().apply { 
+                            C().apply {
                                 prop = 1
                             }
                         } else {
@@ -235,6 +235,50 @@ class UnnecessaryApplySpec(val env: KotlinCoreEnvironment) {
         }
     }
 
+    @Nested
+    inner class `unnecessary apply expressions that can be changed to assignment` {
+        @Test
+        fun `reports apply with a single assignment whose result is unused`() {
+            assertThat(
+                subject.compileAndLintWithContext(
+                    env,
+                    """
+                class C {
+                    var prop = 0
+                }
+
+                fun main() {
+                    val c = C()
+                    c.apply {
+                        prop = 1
+                    }
+                }
+                    """
+                )
+            ).hasSize(1)
+        }
+
+        @Test
+        fun `does not report apply with a single assignment whose result is used`() {
+            assertThat(
+                subject.compileAndLintWithContext(
+                    env,
+                    """
+                class C {
+                    var prop = 0
+                }
+
+                fun main() {
+                    val c = C().apply {
+                        prop = 1
+                    }
+                }
+                    """
+                )
+            ).isEmpty()
+        }
+    }
+
     @Nested
     inner class `reported false positives - #1305` {