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.
Your credit scores can influence whether you'll be approved for a rental lease, says Chris Fluegge, director of operations at the National Landlord Association. “Each landlord is different, but most landlords and property managers look for a credit score above 600,” Fluegge says.
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.
So, if your renter has a score of 670 or higher, that's a very good credit score for most rentals. ... Most landlords are looking for a score somewhere between 600 – 650 since renters don't have the credit history of making mortgage payments to boost their credit score.
While you likely need a credit score of 620 or higher to rent an apartment, many other factors go into your landlord's decision-making process. Don't let a low credit score hold you back from applying for rentals. In the same way, you shouldn't assume your high credit score will be enough to land your ideal rental.
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.
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.
If you have bad or poor credit — somewhere between 300 and 579 — it's not impossible to rent an apartment, it just might take a little more work on your part.
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.”
Renting. In general, landlords breathe easier when a renter has a credit score over 700. However, a credit score over 650 generally is high enough to win over landlords. It all comes down to your competition, since a landlord may select an applicant with a better score over you.
Whatever your reason for wondering how long it takes to get a credit score, you can generally expect it to take about six months – and usually longer to get into the good-to-exceptional credit score range.
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.
In terms of the minimum credit score required to rent an apartment, there's no hard-and-fast requirements as things can vary by landlord and locale. ... Renters in major cities and in high-end units have higher credit scores on average.
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.
It's nothing personal but, because an apartment is their investment, a landlord will run a credit check (also called a “credit report”) to make sure your qualifications are a good fit for the rental. Meaning, you are able to afford it and can pay the rent on time.
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.
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.
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.
Landlords should conduct credit reference checks on any prospective tenant. This will show you if the tenant pays their bills on time each month and will detail any late or missed payments over the last few years. It will verify whether the tenant has any debt and how much that debt is.
Most experts recommend that you shouldn't spend more than 30 percent of your gross monthly income on rent. Your total living expenses (rent, utilities, groceries and other essentials) should be less than 50 percent of your net monthly household income.
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.