How to Get an Apartment With ‘Bad’ Credit

Your credit score is a bit like your age. It generally increases over your lifetime, and it requires a lot of maintenance once it reaches high numbers. If your credit score is too low, landlords may be unlikely to rent you an apartment. But there are options to help you land a great apartment, even with a low credit score.

If a potential landlord checks your credit, it’s usually to gauge how likely it is that you’ll pay your rent in full and on time. After all, with 36% of housing going to renters, there’s a lot of competition out there – and credit checks can help narrow down who may be a responsible tenant.¹ Most landlords look for someone in the “good, very good, or excellent” credit score range This typically equates to a credit score of about 670 or higher.

But what about the 30% of Americans who have a score under 670?² Maybe you’re young and only recently started building credit, or perhaps you’ve recently moved to the country and are currently “credit invisible.” There’s also the possibility that you’ve had some ups and downs in your financial history and are working to rebuild your score – a process that takes time.

Regardless of why your score is low, there are steps you can take to show your soon-to-be landlord that you’re more reliable than just a number on your credit report. Think of it like applying to a college. You might not have the best SAT scores, but all those clubs you were in, a stellar essay, and a good recommendation letter could sell you as a valuable member of the community.

Laying out your financial strengths doesn’t have to take a one-size-fits-all approach. Try to focus on where your assets lie and why you think you’d be a great tenant – someone your landlord can rely on. Here are some strategies you can use to strengthen your application:

Show your income: Your pay stubs and bank statements can serve you here. Even with a low – or no – credit score, you may be making or saving up more than enough to cover the rent. But since income and savings accounts don't show up on a credit report, your landlord won’t know that unless you volunteer the information.

Put more money down: If showing income isn’t enough, an offer to pay a larger security deposit can demonstrate that you’re invested in the apartment. Likewise, a landlord may request a few months’ rent in advance, instead of the standard first and last month. A larger down payment might provide evidence that you’re financially sound enough to support the rent on the apartment.

Always be honest: Being up-front, especially when you know that they will be checking your credit score, can save you a lot of time – not to mention the fees that often come with credit checks. If your credit history was off to a rocky start but you’re working to rebuild your score, consider letting your future landlord know.

Expand your search: Many apartment complexes will require a minimum credit score, but you may be able to find a no-credit-check apartment by renting from smaller landlords or property owners. This is because they’re less likely to follow a company guideline or checklist for vetting potential tenants. Similarly, if you look farther away from larger cities or high-price and high-traffic areas, you may find something you qualify for without having to show your income or put more money down.

Having some "teammates" on your side can help boost your chances of approval. Teammates for a renter can take a few different forms:

Roommates: Going in with a roommate can spread out the liability for the landlord and make a stronger case that you’ll be able to cover the rent – especially if the roommate has a higher credit score or income than you do.

Co-signers: A co-signer, such as a parent or family member, doesn’t necessarily live at the apartment with you but can supply a stronger financial backing for the landlord. If you fall behind on rent, your co-signer will be fully responsible for it.

Guarantors: If the apartment is too small for a roommate or you don’t have anyone willing or able to co-sign the lease with you, there’s another option: a professional guarantor. For a fee, these companies will co-sign for an apartment to provide the financial backing that someone with low or no credit might need. Costs can vary, but tend to range from 60%–95% of a month’s rent for a one-year lease.³

References: Recommendation letters and references can be a great way to show the strength and reliability of your character. If you can get a letter from a previous landlord stating that you were a model tenant who never missed rent payments, caused damage, or made problems for the landlord, it might help you overcome the challenges of apartment hunting with bad credit.

Finally, the best way to stop bad credit from getting in the way of renting an apartment is to raise your credit score. Although that may seem like a long-term solution to a short-term problem when you’re looking for a place to live, it can help you when it comes time for your next apartment search.