Most landlords do not have a single credit score cutoff, but scores below 620 make approval harder

There is no universal credit score requirement for renting an apartment. Landlords are not required to check credit at all, and many do not. When they do, they are looking for a pattern of unpaid debt or missed payments rather than a specific number. A score of 620 or higher generally makes approval easier, but landlords in competitive markets sometimes accept lower scores if other parts of your process are strong — steady income, a cosigner, or a larger deposit.

What matters more than the number itself is what the score reflects: whether you have unpaid collections, evictions, or a history of late rent payments. A landlord running a background check sees these details directly and weighs them against your current income and references. You can be approved with a 550 score if you have no evictions and can show you earn three times the rent. You can be denied with a 700 score if you have an active collection account or an eviction filing.

Key Takeaways

  • Credit score requirements vary by landlord and location; there is no legal minimum, and many landlords do not check credit at all.
  • Scores of 620 and above generally make approval easier, but landlords weight income, references, and rental history more heavily than the score alone.
  • Evictions, collections, and recent late payments hurt your process more than a low score without those marks.
  • If your score is low, a larger deposit, a cosigner, or proof of stable income can offset it and improve your chances.
  • You can request a copy of the background report a landlord pulls so you can correct errors before they deny you.

What landlords actually see when they run your credit

When a landlord pulls your credit, they receive a report from a consumer reporting agency — usually Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. The report shows your credit score, but also lists every account you have or had, payment history for the past seven years, collections, judgments, and evictions. The score is one data point; the history is what landlords use to make the decision.

A landlord is most concerned with recent behavior. A late payment from five years ago matters less than one from three months ago. An eviction filing — even if dismissed — stays on the report for seven years and is a major red flag because it shows you have been to court over housing. Collections accounts, unpaid medical bills, and judgments all signal financial instability to a landlord who is betting you will pay rent on time for a year or more.

The credit score itself is a summary of all this information. Scores range from 300 to 850. Scores below 580 are considered poor; 580 to 669 is fair; 670 to 739 is good; 740 and above is very good or excellent. But a landlord does not see just the number — they see the accounts and payment history behind it, and they make their own judgment about risk.

How income and rental history outweigh credit score

Landlords care most about whether you can afford the rent and whether you have paid it on time in the past. If you earn at least three times the monthly rent and have no evictions on your record, many landlords will overlook a credit score in the 550 to 620 range. If you have been renting for five years with no late payments and no evictions, a lower score becomes less important because your rental history proves you pay.

Income is verified through recent pay stubs, a letter from your employer, or tax returns. Rental history comes from your previous landlords, whom the landlord will contact directly. If you have no rental history — you are moving out of your parents' house or from a dorm — a low credit score becomes more of a barrier because the landlord has fewer ways to assess your reliability. In that case, a cosigner or a larger deposit becomes more valuable.

In tight rental markets where many people are competing for one unit, landlords can be selective and may require a higher score or perfect rental history. In looser markets, landlords are more willing to work with applicants who have lower scores but stable income. Location and the specific landlord matter as much as your credit profile.

What to do if your credit score is low

If your score is below 620, you have several options. First, request a copy of your credit report from all three bureaus — you can get one free copy per year at annualcreditreport.com. Check for errors: accounts that are not yours, payments marked late that you made on time, or collections that have been paid. Errors are common and can lower your score by 50 to 100 points. If you find errors, dispute them with the bureau in writing; they must investigate within 30 days.

Second, if you have recent late payments or collections, paying them off or bringing accounts current will improve your score over time. A paid collection still shows on your report, but it signals you resolved the debt. This takes weeks or months to reflect in your score, so plan ahead if you are apartment hunting.

Third, offer a larger deposit. Many landlords will accept a lower credit score if you pay a deposit of one and a half or two months' rent instead of one month. This gives them security if you miss a payment. Fourth, find a cosigner — a parent or trusted person with good credit who agrees to pay if you do not. A cosigner does not live in the apartment but signs the lease alongside you, making themselves legally responsible.

Fifth, provide a letter of explanation. If your low score is from a specific event — a job loss, medical emergency, or identity theft — write a brief letter explaining what happened and what you have done to recover. Some landlords will consider context, especially if everything else in your process is strong.

How to check what a landlord will see about you

Before you explore, you can check your own credit report and score. Free credit scores are available through many banks, credit card companies, and websites like Credit Karma or Experian. These free scores are usually accurate within 10 to 20 points of what a landlord sees. Paid credit monitoring services offer more detail, but the free versions are sufficient for apartment hunting.

When a landlord runs your background, they use a tenant screening service — companies like Experian RentBureau, CoreLogic, or Clarity Services. These services pull your credit report and also search for evictions, judgments, and criminal history. The report they generate is what the landlord sees. You have the right to request a copy of this report if the landlord denies you based on it. Federal law requires the landlord to give you the name and contact information of the screening company they used.

If you are denied because of the report, contact the screening company and ask for a copy. Review it for errors and dispute anything that is wrong. This can take time, so if you are apartment hunting, start this process early — do not wait until you have found the apartment you want.

Credit requirements vary by landlord type and location

Large property management companies often have written policies: a minimum credit score of 650, no evictions in the past five years, no collections. Smaller landlords or owner-occupied buildings may not check credit at all and instead rely on references and a phone conversation. Public housing authorities and subsidized housing programs typically have income limits but may not check credit or may overlook low scores if you meet income requirements.

Some states and cities have laws limiting how much weight landlords can give to credit scores or past evictions. California, for example, restricts how far back landlords can look at evictions. New York City has limits on how much landlords can charge for background checks. Check your state or city housing authority website to see if there are local rules that protect you.

If you are renting in a competitive market — a major city or a neighborhood with high demand — landlords can be selective and may require higher scores. If you are renting in a less competitive area, landlords are often more flexible. This is not a rule, but a pattern: where supply is tight, landlords have more applicants to choose from and can set higher bars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get an apartment with a credit score under 600?

Yes. Many landlords do not check credit at all, and those who do often overlook scores under 600 if your income is stable and you have no evictions. Offering a larger deposit or a cosigner makes approval more likely. The specific landlord and your local market matter more than the score itself.

Will an eviction on my record prevent me from renting?

An eviction makes approval harder but not impossible. Landlords see evictions as a serious risk. However, if the eviction was dismissed, if it was years ago, or if you can explain what led to it and show you have stable income now, some landlords will rent to you. Smaller landlords are sometimes more willing to overlook an old eviction than large management companies.

Does paying off old collections improve my chances?

Paying off a collection improves your credit score over time, but the collection still appears on your report. Landlords see that you paid it, which is better than an unpaid collection. If the collection is very old — five or more years — it has less weight. Paying it off is worth doing, but do not expect it to when ready change a landlord's decision.

What if I have no credit history at all?

No credit history is different from bad credit. Landlords cannot see a score if you have never borrowed money or had a credit card. In this case, offer a cosigner, a larger deposit, or strong references from previous landlords or employers. Some landlords will rent to you based on income and references alone.

Can a landlord deny me based only on my credit score?

Legally, yes — credit score alone is not a protected class. However, if a landlord denies you and the reason is related to a protected characteristic — race, national origin, disability, or family status — that is discrimination. If you believe you were denied for a discriminatory reason, contact your state or local fair housing agency.