What Credit Score Do Landlords Check to Rent to You?

No law sets a minimum credit score for renting an apartment. As a practical benchmark, though, a (https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog/credit-score-to-rent-apartment) puts you in territory most landlords treat as safely "good." Scores in the 600-650 range still land plenty of approvals, depending on the market and your income. Lower than that? You're not automatically out of the running — you just need to know what's actually being reviewed, and how to make the rest of your application work harder.

This matters most if you're weighing whether to apply now or spend a few months rebuilding first. Below, we cover what landlords actually check, what your rights are if you get denied, and how to strengthen a weak application without waiting a year for your score to climb.

What Credit Score Do Landlords Actually Look For?

No federal or state law sets a required credit score for renting. Landlords set their own thresholds, and those thresholds shift with the local rental market, the unit's price point, and how competitive the applicant pool is.

That said, a couple of numbers come up again and again. (https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog/credit-score-to-rent-apartment) — the same cutoff FICO uses for its own "good" tier. Want to know exactly which habits move that number? (/fico-factors-explained-what-really-moves-your-score) breaks down the five factors behind it.

Below 670, you still have options. (https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-credit-score-do-you-need-to-rent-an-apartment/), especially with steady income or a solid rental history to point to. Around 540, a landlord is more likely to flag your application as higher risk. Not an automatic denial — just one that invites a closer look at everything else in your file.

What Landlords See Beyond the Number

The score is a summary. The credit report underneath it is what a landlord — or the screening company they hire — actually reads line by line.

Expect a landlord to look at your (https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-landlords-look-for-credit-check/): how much of your available credit you're currently using. They'll also check for collections accounts, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and repossessions, since those tend to weigh more heavily than a single late payment.

None of that happens in a vacuum. Landlords also weigh your income against the rent, often looking for something close to three times the monthly rent in verifiable earnings. Strong income can offset a middling score. A great score, on the other hand, won't save an application if the rent-to-income math doesn't work. For the fuller picture of how lenders — not just landlords — balance these two signals, (/debt-to-income-ratio-vs-credit-score-what-lenders-weigh) versus credit score is worth a read.

Your Rights Under the FCRA If You're Denied

If a landlord turns you down — or raises your deposit, or asks for a cosigner — based on something in a tenant screening report, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires them to tell you. That notice is called an adverse action notice, and it has to be delivered in writing, electronically, or orally.

The notice must (https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-do-if-my-rental-application-is-denied-because-of-a-tenant-screening-report-en-2105/), along with your right to dispute anything on it that's inaccurate or outdated. Find an error? The screening or reporting company generally has 30 days to investigate the dispute once you file it.

If a landlord skips this notice entirely, or you believe the denial crossed into fair-housing territory, flag it to the CFPB or a housing attorney. You have real leverage here — not just a request.

How to Strengthen a Weak Rental Application

A below-average score doesn't have to end the conversation. A few moves consistently change a landlord's mind.

A cosigner with strong credit is the most direct fix, though remember they become liable for the lease if you fall behind. Offering to prepay a few months of rent, or put down a larger security deposit, signals you're not a collection risk even if your history says otherwise. A short written explanation for a specific setback — a layoff, a medical bill, a divorce — goes further than you'd expect, especially paired with (https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/landlords-credit-check).

Planning further ahead than your next lease? It's worth knowing that (/rent-reporting-thin-credit-file-score-lift) — your on-time rent payments can start counting toward your score the same way a credit card payment does. We've also compared the (/rent-reporting-services-compared) that actually report to all three bureaus, in case your current landlord doesn't offer it.

What to Do This Week If Your Score Is Low

Before you submit another application, pull all three of your credit reports for free and actually read them. Errors are more common than most people expect, and a wrongly reported collection account can be the difference between a 640 and a 600. Paying down revolving balances, even partially, lowers your utilization and can move your score within a billing cycle or two.

If disputes and negative-item cleanup feel like more than you want to take on alone, a reputable credit-repair company can handle that process for you. Under CROA, any company you hire has to skip up-front fees, give you a written contract, and offer a three-day right to cancel. (/go/the-credit-people/) is one option worth comparing if you'd rather have a pro handle the disputes while you focus on the application itself.

Ready to compare your options? (/#top-companies).

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score do you need to rent an apartment?

There's no legally required minimum. A FICO Score of 670 or above is generally treated as safely "good" by most landlords, but plenty of applicants get approved in the 600-650 range, especially with strong income or a clean rental history. Below roughly 540, expect more scrutiny and possibly a request for a cosigner or extra deposit.

Can a landlord deny you for a low credit score?

Yes — credit history is a legal factor in rental decisions, as long as it's applied consistently and doesn't violate fair-housing law. If a landlord denies you (or raises your deposit) based on a tenant screening report, the FCRA requires them to send you an adverse action notice telling you which company supplied the report and how to get a free copy.

What if I don't have a credit score at all?

A thin or nonexistent credit file isn't the same as bad credit, but it can still worry a landlord — there's no payment track record to review. Rent-reporting services that add your on-time rent payments to your credit file, a cosigner, or proof of steady income can all help offset a thin file.

How long does a credit check stay on a rental application?

The credit inquiry itself typically stays on your credit report for about two years, though its effect on your score fades much sooner — usually within a few months. The application decision itself isn't stored anywhere; only the hard inquiry and whatever accounts you have show up on your report.

Can you get a rental with bad credit?

Often, yes. Landlords weigh income-to-rent ratio, rental references, and willingness to pay a larger deposit or several months upfront alongside the score. A cosigner with strong credit, a written explanation for past problems, or a roommate with better credit can also tip a borderline application toward approval.

The Bottom Line

There's no hard cutoff for renting. 670+ is the safe zone, 600-650 is workable in most markets, and even a score in the 500s doesn't close every door. Payment history, debt levels, and your income relative to rent all factor in alongside the number itself. Pull your reports, fix what's fixable, and know that if you do get turned down, the FCRA gives you the right to see exactly why.