Very limited options. The majority of lenders will refuse your credit application if you have a 450 credit score. Even if you get approved, it will only be by specialised lenders who offer so-called “bad credit loans” with extremely high interest rates and short repayment periods.
While there's no universally required credit score needed to rent an apartment, having a solid credit score can certainly help your chances of a landlord handing you a set of keys. In general, a landlord will look for a credit score that is at least “good,” which is generally in the range of 670 to 739.
Most landlords seek credit scores of 650 or higher as a sign of tenant responsibility. Applicants with scores below 600 may face additional hurdles in securing approval. Exact minimum thresholds vary widely depending on factors like the type of apartment, current occupancy rates, and the landlord's discretion.
It's never too late to start working toward a better FICO® Score, and your 450 FICO® Score is as good a starting point as any. Bringing your score up into the fair range (580-669) could help you gain access to more credit options, lower interest rates, and reduced fees.
The minimum credit score needed to rent an apartment varies from location to location. Wealthier, more competitive areas will require a higher minimum score, as will new or luxury buildings. However, a good rule of thumb is that most landlords look for a credit score of at least 600.
Yes, it's possible to rent an apartment with bad credit. Make your application more attractive to a potential landlord by offering a larger deposit, finding a cosigner or roommate, and highlighting consistent income.
The higher your credit score, the better chance you have to get approved for a rental—especially in competitive markets. Landlords generally prefer good credit, meaning FICO® Scores☉ of 670 or above.
For example, a poor FICO score is considered to be 300–579 and a poor VantageScore is 300–660. This doesn't mean that renting an apartment with bad credit is impossible—but you may have to take some extra steps to increase your chances of being approved.
A credit score of 450 or below is considered poor, so direct lenders might be reluctant to approve your loan application. It's possible to get loans with a bad credit score, but be prepared for high fees, high interest rates, and potentially risky terms.
The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.
FICO Score
Very poor: 300 to 579. Fair: 580 to 669. Good: 670 to 739. Very good: 740 to 799. Excellent: 800 to 850.
All applicants fill out an online rental application through Zillow with information about their current household makeup, prior residences, contact information and income. Zillow will then pull their tenant credit report history powered by Experian and run a tenant background check using CIC.
Most landlord credit checks are soft inquiries, which allow them to see the information in your credit reports and public records without impacting your credit score. However, some rental credit checks come in the form of a hard inquiry, which require tenants to give their permission upfront.
Reducing your balances is the most effective way to boost your credit score. Provided you have no derogatory marks on your credit reports, such as late payments or delinquencies, you are likely to see a jump in your scores quickly if you knock down your balances to or close to zero.
Overall, Credit Karma may produce a different result than one or more of the three major credit bureaus directly. The slight differences in calculations between FICO and VantageScore can lead to significant variances in credit scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.