There is no standard credit score to rent an apartment. ... According to an analysis of more than 5 million rental applications by apartment industry blog RENTCafé, the average U.S. renter's credit score was 638 in 2020—an average score that has ticked up by one point in each of the past three years.
Most individuals or companies renting an apartment want credit scores from applicants to be 620 or higher. People with credit scores lower than 620 may indicate they are a high risk renter.
Landlords utilize credit scores to see if renters will be able to pay rent on time. Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. With proof of income, a valid photo ID, and a good credit score, a renter should be able to apply for an apartment without difficulty.
Typically, tenants need a credit score of 650 or higher. If you have a score of 500, we recommend that you co-sign with someone with higher credit or apply for no credit check apartments.
A 576 credit score is a poor credit score. It makes it very difficult to qualify for credit or even apply for an apartment but it can absolutely be improved.
A 524 credit score is a poor credit score. It makes it very difficult to qualify for credit or even apply for an apartment but it can absolutely be improved.
Renting a home, apartment or town house can affect your credit in a number of ways. It's increasingly common for credit reporting agencies to include positive rental history in consumer credit reports. ... Having good credit can help you rent an apartment, and paying rent on time can help you build good credit.
But a low score could cause your potential landlord to think you are more likely to miss rent payments. That's why if you're looking to rent, your credit score is important. “Anything 700 or higher is good,” says Wolf. “In general, if your score is under 680, you will begin to have difficulties renting.”
Building a credit score from scratch can take anywhere from a month or two to six months, depending on the type of credit score you are looking at. The two main credit scoring systems vary on how soon they'll show a score. You can establish a VantageScore within a month or two of having a credit line.
What is an apartment credit check? An apartment credit check shows your credit history. It lists your bank and credit card account balances, as well as any outstanding loans or payments you owe. Landlords do apartment credit checks to find out if potential renters will pay their rent on time.
The short answer is yes, you can rent an apartment with bad credit.
For FICO, the lowest credit score range is 300 to 579; the lowest credit score range for VantageScore is 300 to 499.
Most individuals or companies renting an apartment want credit scores from applicants to be 620 or higher. People with credit scores lower than 620 may indicate a high risk of default on rent owed. ... You can still rent an apartment with poor credit.
Depending on the individual lender or insurer, you may see different standards, but generally a FICO score above 800 is considered excellent; “very good” FICO scores range from 740 to 799; a “good” score ranges from 670 to 739; and 580–669 is considered “fair.” Any score below 580 is considered poor.
Factors that don't affect your credit score
Rent and utility payments: In most cases, your rent payments and your utility payments are not reported to the credit bureaus, so they do not count toward your score. The exception is if you use a rent-reporting service or if you are late on utility payments.
Apartment Credit Scores
Although not all landlords will check prospective tenants' credit histories, be prepared for such a credit check, just in case. Typically, a credit score of 620 or above will enable you to obtain an apartment lease with relatively little trouble.
Most agreed that you need a credit score of at least 650 to snag an apartment without any additional hurdles, like extra deposits, guarantors, or paying extra months of rent in advance.
At the national level, the average approved renter has a score of 650. On higher–end apartment units, the score is even higher – around 683. On low–end units, the average renter has a 624.
Generally, utility bills do not appear on a credit report unless they're delinquent and referred to a collection agency. ... If you want to build your credit score, simply paying your utility bills on time usually won't do the trick.
Unfortunately, paying rent late will be reflected in your credit report If you miss the 30-day deadline. This can have significant consequences for your credit score. A late rent payment can affect your credit score so much that it can prevent you from getting loans, credit cards, and future housing.
Simply paying your rent will not help you build credit. But reporting your rent payments can help you build credit — especially if you are new to credit or do not have a lot of experience using it. A 2017 TransUnion study followed 12,000 renters for a year as they reported their rent payments.