People tend to associate credit scores primarily with lenders and credit accounts, but landlords often pull your credit report when you apply for an apartment too.

Your credit history is one of the primary factors they use to assess the likelihood that you’ll keep up with your rent. If they see you have a habit of missing your monthly debt payments, they’ll be less likely to lease their property to you.

However, having an imperfect credit history doesn’t mean you’re doomed to live on the streets. Here’s how to get an apartment with bad credit.

What Credit Score Do You Need to Rent an Apartment?

There’s no universal minimum credit score to rent an apartment. Every landlord is free to set their own credit score requirements, and they can vary depending on things like the location and price of the apartment.

However, as a general guideline, you risk raising some eyebrows with a score under 650, and dropping below roughly 620 could disqualify you.

In 2024, the average credit score among apartment renters was 650 or higher. For context, FICO scores range from 300 to 850 and fall into the following ranges:

• Poor: 300 to 579
  
• Fair: 580 to 669
  
• Good: 670 to 739
  
• Very Good: 740 to 799
  
• Exceptional: 800 to 850

As you can see, FICO rates 650 as fair credit. It’s not quite good, but it’s not so low as to be considered a poor credit score either.

Fortunately, your credit is only one of the considerations that landlords take into account when they review your application. There are a lot more ways to assess whether you’d make a good tenant.

Can You Still Get an Apartment With Bad Credit?

Yes, you can get an apartment with bad credit. However, it will be more difficult, especially if your financial situation is also less than stellar.

Your potential landlord will check your credit when you apply for their apartment to assess the likelihood that you’ll pay what you owe. A bad credit score indicates that there’s a higher risk of you missing your monthly payments.

But remember, your credit is only one data point in your application. It’s possible to make up for a low credit score or short credit history with other factors.

If you need to rent an apartment but struggle with poor credit, here are some ways to get around the issue.

Wait to Improve Your Credit Before Applying, If You Have Time

In general, it’s best to wait to apply for apartments until you can build a sufficient credit score. You’ll often pay fees for each application, so you don’t want to waste attempts.

Waiting might not always be possible, of course. Everyone needs a place to live. But if your current housing situation gives you enough time to build your credit up before moving out, consider doing so. It can save you a lot of headaches.

One of the best ways to improve your score is with a credit builder loan like CreditStrong’s. Build up to $30,000 of credit history and choose among a range of credit builders for every need and budget.

Look for Apartments with No Credit Checks

Most well-established landlords and property management companies check your credit as part of your application process. For example, you’ll almost always undergo a credit check when you apply to a unit in a large apartment complex.

However, not every apartment’s application process is as rigorous. You can sometimes avoid credit checks by applying for properties managed by less advanced investors. Try to look for:

• An inexperienced landlord that doesn’t know how to vet tenants properly
  
• An individual property owner who has more informal systems
  
• A personal acquaintance that already trusts you

If you know you aren’t going to be able to pass a credit check because of your bad credit history, targeting these sorts of landlords instead of the more corporate ones can improve your odds of success.

Get a Cosigner

Cosigners are one of the best ways to get around having bad credit when you’re applying for an auto loan or a secured credit card, and it works the same way with an apartment rental.

If you can’t pay your rent, your cosigner, or guarantor, is legally responsible for picking up the slack, which can go a long way toward easing any future landlord’s concerns.

Of course, you have to make sure that your cosigner has a better credit rating than you. Otherwise, it won’t make a difference.

The cosigner strategy is common among younger tenants. Landlords understand that people who are fresh out of college and entering the workforce are unlikely to have an extensive credit profile or rental payment history.

In these cases, if you can get your parents to cosign your lease, applying for an apartment becomes a lot easier.

Give Reference Letters

Never making a late payment is the bare minimum for being a good tenant. The best renters bring a lot of other intangibles to the table. For example, they:

• Take good care of the property for the duration of their lease.
  
• Notify landlords when there are maintenance issues so that they don’t get worse.
  
• Follow the other terms of the lease, such as pet restrictions and quiet hours.

If you can convince your landlord that you’re going to be a dream tenant in ways beyond paying the rent each month, you may be able to overcome the red flag of a bad credit score.

One of the best ways to prove your good character to a landlord is to give them reference letters, especially from your previous landlord. These carry the most weight since a past landlord has the most relevant perspective and no reason to lie for you.

Failing that, you can give them reference letters from other people who might be qualified to vouch for your character, such as your employers or co-workers.

Try not to use letters from personal connections such as friends or family. They have a clear bias, and their word won’t mean much to your prospective landlord.

Show Proof of Stable Income

Your income is another one of the primary factors landlords consider when assessing your potential as a prospective tenant. You’ll typically have to prove your monthly earnings by providing a couple of recent paystubs.

Many landlords want your monthly gross income to be at least three times the rent payment. That means if the rent is $1,250 per month, you’ll need to earn at least $3,750 before taxes.

If you can show them that you make significantly more than that, you can help minimize their concerns over your weaker credit score.

In addition to having minimum income requirements, landlords also want to know that your income is reliable. Showing that you have a long and stable employment history is another way to build their confidence in your ability to pay.

Pay More Upfront

Security deposits are appropriately named. If you can put down a larger security deposit, your landlord will feel better about leasing their apartment to you.

Security deposits can be anywhere from a flat fee of several hundred dollars to three times your monthly rent payment. However, one month’s rent is a popular standard.

If you have a bad credit score, you can offer to put down a security deposit equal to your first and last month’s payments. Not only does that reduce their potential losses, but it also shows you have the financial strength to afford your rent and then some.

Note that state laws may restrict what your landlord can accept as a down payment, so research the local rules before proposing this.

You should also get clear terms in writing for getting your security deposit back. Be aware that even if you do, your landlord might try to pocket your deposit when you leave.

Consider Getting a Roommate Who Has a Good Credit Score

Getting a roommate with a good credit score is similar in principle to having a creditworthy cosigner. Landlords feel more comfortable knowing that at least one renter on the hook for the lease has a history of paying their debts.

To get the best results, make sure they have other characteristics that make an attractive tenant too. All of the strategies listed above can work for both of you, and you’ll look like a better option if you and your roommate have well-rounded applications.

In any case, making sure your roommate has a good credit score, a stable income, and positive references is as beneficial to you as it is to your landlord. If your roommate skips out on their rent payment, you’re usually liable for it, so choose carefully.

FAQs

What is the minimum credit score for an apartment?

There is no standard minimum credit score to get an apartment. Landlords are free to set whatever credit requirements they want. They can even skip checking your score altogether.

However, as a rule of thumb, most of them want you to have at least a fair credit score, which means 620 or above. In 2024, the average credit score among apartment renters was 650.

Your credit isn’t the only factor they’ll consider, though. They’ll also look at your financial position and character references to get a complete picture of your merits as a tenant.

How can I get an apartment with bad credit and no cosigner?

When you’re applying for an apartment, cosigners are one of the best ways to make up for having bad credit. If you can’t get someone to cosign for you, you can still qualify for an apartment with bad credit, but most of the strategies require strong finances.

For example, you could:

• Demonstrate monthly gross income that’s significantly higher than the rent payment; most lenders want you to earn at least three times the rent.
  
• Offer a significantly higher security deposit than the landlord asks for, such as the first and last month’s rent.

If you don’t have the money for these options, a roommate with a good credit score is another viable solution. They’ll help you keep costs down once you’re in the apartment too.

How can I get an apartment with no credit check?

Most landlords check your credit as part of their rental application process. An experienced property manager knows that credit verification is a vital step in assessing a tenant.

However, some property owners put significantly less into their vetting processes than others and may skip the credit check altogether. It’s most common among people like:

• Casual, individual investors who only have a single rental property.
  
• Homeowners who rent out a spare room or some other portion of the property they live in.
  
• Landlords who know you personally and don’t feel the need to test you as thoroughly.

While you obviously shouldn’t look to take advantage of anyone, applying for an apartment that belongs to an individual landlord instead of a large apartment complex makes it more likely that you’ll be able to get an apartment without a credit check.

CreditStrong helps improve your credit and can positively impact the factors that determine 90% of your FICO score.

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