What's the Lowest Credit Score a Landlord Will Accept?

No fixed "minimum credit score" requirement exists for renting an apartment. Landlords check the credit of rental applicants to assess their dependability and creditworthiness. The credit score standards of a landlord might vary based on the market demand for rental units. Other variable factors might include the neighborhood, the condition of the property, and more. Experian reported that the average renter in the U.S. had a credit score that averaged 638. Bear in mind that your credit score alone might not represent the only consideration. For example, a landlord will likely find a prior eviction on your credit report very concerning.

Can You Rent With a 500 Credit Score?

Both FICO and VantageScore are the two primary credit scoring models. Both models indicate that a credit score of 500 is poor. Further, Experian explains that individuals with a sub-579 credit score pose a risk. They estimate that 62% of these individuals will become "seriously delinquent" on a future credit obligation. Can you rent with a 500 score? Yes. Yet, most landlords that perform credit checks will deny these applicants. Here, a consumer should consider making concessions. For example, offer a larger security deposit or have written verification of employment and income.

Can I Rent With a 300 Credit Score?

Rental applicants with 300 credit scores should expect denials in any tenant screening process. A director of the National Landlord Association confirmed this assumption. He explained that "most" landlords look for credit scores above 600. With a 300-credit score, you should look for rentals without a credit check requirement. Find individual landlords rather than pursuing rentals with a large property management staff. You should also begin focusing on a strategy for building your credit. In the meantime, you should consider alternative measures. For example, finding a roommate with good credit or a willing co-signer.

How to Rent With Bad Credit

We recommend products that we love. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Landlords and property management companies today often perform credit checks on rental applicants. Credit checks are usually part of a larger prospective tenant background screening process. This is one of the various challenges that those with bad credit face.

Ways In Which You Can Rent With Bad Credit

Those with poor credit should create a multi-faceted plan for this challenge. This should involve finding landlords that don’t perform credit checks.

Being prepared with documentation might help counter your poor credit score. For example, having a verifiable income, references, additional up-front money, and more.

First, let’s define what a good or bad credit score is with the following table.

FICO Score Ranges

Range	Rating
800 or more	Excellent
740 to 799	Very Good
670 to 739	Good
580 to 669	Fair
300 to 579	Poor

Source: FICO

Ways In Which You Can Rent With Bad Credit

FICO Score Ranges

Look for Landlords That Don’t Run a Credit Check