How to Get an Apartment with Bad Credit

Finding a good apartment can be difficult, and finding one if you have a poor credit score even more so. Credit scores are one of the first things landlords look at for each prospective tenant to find the right candidate.

If your credit score is less-than-stellar, you are right to be concerned about finding an apartment, but there’s no need to panic. You can do many things to prove you’re the right choice and get the home you want.

Credit Scores and Apartments - The Long and The Short Of It

Homeowners and property managers will check your credit score at one of the three major consumer agencies: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. 

In 2026, most screening services provide landlords with a "ResidentScore" or a VantageScore 4.0, which are tailored specifically to predict rental risk.

Based on your credit score and other information (e.g., eviction history and personal records), your potential landlord will determine whether you are a good candidate.

Usually—but not necessarily—landlords will use the FICO scoring model, which ranges between 300 and 850.

Many competitive markets and corporate complexes now look for a score of 670 or higher. However, having a lower score does not mean you can't get the apartment.

The first thing you should do is check your credit score on your own.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are entitled to free weekly credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. If your credit score is drastically lower than the one you need, you won’t be wasting your time with pointless applications.

What’s more, most landlords do a soft pull on their applicant credit score, but some can do a hard pull that will affect your credit score.

Always ask if the application uses a soft inquiry before submitting, as multiple hard pulls in a short period can further damage a low score.

How To Rent an Apartment with Bad Credit

If your credit score is lower than 600, you might consider it bad credit, but it’s far from the end of the world. There are lots of things you can still do to get the apartment you want.

Offer to pay more up front (Where Legal)

Most homeowners and property managers will ask for a deposit and the first month’s rent in advance. However, check your local laws first; many states now cap security deposits at one month's rent, making it illegal for landlords to accept extra deposit money.

If you are in a state without these caps, you can offer to pay a bigger deposit or two months’ rent up front to gain your landlord’s trust..

Show you have a good income

You can show your income to convince a landlord that you’re a worthy candidate. In 2026, the standard requirement is a gross monthly income of at least 3x the monthly rent.

Moreover, you can disclose your salary for the last few months to prove you have a steady income. If you are a freelancer or gig worker, provide at least two years of tax returns (1040s) to prove stability.

Prove that you’ll be a reliable tenant

A high credit score is not the only way to prove that you are a reliable tenant, and most landlords will check other things, like your eviction history and criminal record.

If you are serious about renting the apartment, make sure you can prove that you’ll be a good tenant. Here’s what you should show your landlord:

• Proof of good rental history: Show your landlord that you were a good tenant. Ask previous landlords to provide a "ledger" showing every payment made on time.
• Proof of employment: A steady job can offset a low score. Provide a formal offer letter or recent pay stubs that include year-to-date earnings.
• Utility payments: Use services like Experian Boost to add your on-time utility and phone payments to your credit file, which can provide an immediate (though small) score increase.
• Letters of recommendation: Get testimonials from former property managers. A quick email or signed note confirming you left your previous unit in "broom-clean" condition is highly effective.
• Show that you have healthy finances: If you have a savings account, grant your potential landlord insight into your "cash reserves." Landlords feel much safer knowing you have 3–6 months of rent tucked away in a liquid account.

Find a cosigner or Guarantor Service

A cosigner is a person held responsible if you cannot pay the rent. If you don’t have a friend or family member who qualifies, you can now hire a professional guarantor service.

For a fee (usually 5%–10% of the annual rent), these companies act as your cosigner to insurance the landlord against default.

Find a roommate

With one or more roommates, most landlords will allow you to apply because it means that you’ll be sharing the rent.

Of course, the landlord will check your roommate’s credit score too. If your roommate has a score above 700, it can often carry the application even if your score is lower.

What Else Can You Do?

If none of the options we described seem possible to you, don’t be disappointed. Here’s a list of alternatives that you might consider.

Adjust Your Expectations

Look for "mom and pop" landlords rather than large corporate REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts).

Private individuals are much more likely to listen to your story, whereas corporate complexes often have hard-coded credit minimums in their software that a human manager cannot override.

Find Landlords That Don’t Do Credit Checks

You can try to look for an apartment for rent with no credit check.

Be cautious, as "no credit check" listings on sites like Craigslist can sometimes be scams. Never send money before seeing the unit in person and meeting the owner.

Improve Your Credit Score

Reducing your credit card balances to below 30% of your limit can result in a significant score jump within 30 days.

If you have late fees or charge-offs, you can hire a credit repair company, but be aware that you can perform most of these disputes yourself for free via the bureau's online dispute portals.

Explain Your Bad Credit Score to the Landlord

Write a formal "Credit Explanation Letter." Landlords in 2026 are often understanding of specific hardships like medical debt, divorce, or temporary layoffs.

If you can show that the bad credit was a result of a specific event and that you have been perfect with your payments since then, they are much more likely to approve you.