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Credit Score to Rent an Apartment — What Do Landlords Require?

Look up what credit score you need to rent, by city tier and unit type

Your Profile

300580670740850
Your Credit Score
680 — Good
Approval Likelihood
High — Strong Applicant
Credit Requirements for Your Selection
Minimum Required620
Preferred Score660
Your Score680

Standard 620 minimum; some landlords go lower with larger deposit

Income Requirements
Monthly Income (3x rent)$5,400/mo
Annual Income (40x rent)$72,000/yr

How Landlords Evaluate Credit

When you apply for a rental, most landlords and property managers run a credit check through a service like TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian. They're looking at your overall credit score but also diving deeper — specifically at payment history (do you pay on time?), collections accounts (especially rent-related), and recent derogatory marks. A single missed payment 5 years ago matters much less than a rent-related eviction from last year.

What's on a Rental Application

Standard rental applications ask for: personal information, employment and income verification, rental history (landlord references), permission to run a credit and background check, and in some cases bank statements. Landlords use all of this together — a great credit score can offset lower income, and an excellent rental history can offset a fair credit score. No single factor is disqualifying in isolation.

Ways to Rent with Bad Credit

Bad credit doesn't mean you can't rent — it means you need to work harder. The most effective strategies: find individual landlords (not professional property managers) who are more willing to evaluate your full story; offer to prepay 2-3 months of rent upfront; get a creditworthy co-signer or guarantor; provide extensive documentation of stable income; or look for rooms for rent within existing households, which have the most flexibility.

Credit Score Improvement Path

If your score is below target, here's the fastest path up: (1) Pay all existing accounts on time — this is the biggest factor at 35% of your score. (2) Pay down credit card balances below 30% of your limit. (3) Dispute any inaccurate negative items on your report. (4) Become an authorized user on a family member's old account with good history. Most renters can improve their score by 40-60 points within 3-6 months of consistent good behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score is needed to rent most apartments?
A score of 620-650 will get you approved at most standard apartments in mid-size cities. Luxury buildings and major metros often require 700+. Below 580, you'll need compensating factors like a co-signer or larger deposit.
Does applying to rent hurt my credit score?
A rental application typically involves a 'hard inquiry' which may temporarily lower your score by 2-5 points. Multiple applications within 14-45 days are often grouped as one inquiry by scoring models. The impact is minor and fades within 12 months.
Can a landlord reject me based on credit score alone?
Yes, in most states. However, landlords cannot use credit as a pretext for discriminating against protected classes. Some cities (like Seattle) have source-of-income or fair chance housing ordinances that limit how landlords use credit.
What is a co-signer and how does it help?
A co-signer (or guarantor) agrees to be legally responsible for your rent if you don't pay. They must typically have excellent credit (700+) and sufficient income (80x monthly rent in annual income). Parents are the most common co-signers for young renters.
Does rental history show up on a credit report?
Not automatically. On-time rent payments don't appear unless your landlord reports to a rent reporting service. However, missed payments sent to collections and eviction judgments do appear. Get a rental history report to verify what landlords can see.

Get a Free Rental History Report to Boost Your Application

Show landlords your on-time payment history, even if your credit score doesn't tell the full story.

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