What is an acceptable credit score for renting?

Asked by: Geovany Hansen  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.3/5 (9 votes)

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.

What credit score do you need to rent?

Typically, the minimum credit score required to rent is 650. However, that number can vary based on the market. If you're searching for an apartment in a competitive rental market, you may need a higher credit score and a higher income (use our rent calculator to determine how much you should pay monthly).

Can I get an apartment with a 500 credit score?

In short, yes! A credit score of 500 is low, but it's not insurmountable. It would be best if you planned some extra time for your apartment hunt with scores this low, but you can still rent an apartment. ... With a low credit score in the 500 range, you should expect to pay slightly more for an apartment.

What is a good credit score to rent a house?

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.

Is a 700 credit score good to rent an apartment?

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.

What’s Considered A Good Credit Score Range For Potential Tenants | Landlord University

22 related questions found

Can I rent a house with a 630 credit score?

Typically, a credit score of 620 or above will enable you to obtain an apartment lease with relatively little trouble. Apartment leasing sources state that credit scores lower than 620 receive a "high risk of default" rating along with a leasing denial.

Can I rent an apartment with a 590 credit score?

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.

Can I rent a house with a 580 credit score?

While a FICO credit score from 580-669 is considered fair credit, 620 is often the minimum credit score you'll need to rent an apartment. ... And if you have a credit score lower than 580, which is considered poor or bad credit, you will likely find it very difficult to rent an apartment.

Can I get an apartment with a 600 credit score?

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.

Is 660 a good credit score to rent an apartment?

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.

Can I get an apartment with a 540 credit score?

The credit score you need to rent an apartment is at the discretion of the landlord. The majority want a score of 620, but some landlords will go as low as 540 -- again, it all depends on the landlord. If a landlord does make an exception, she may charge a higher deposit for allowing your application to pass through.

Can I rent a house with a 530 credit score?

Is Bad Credit an Automatic Rejection? By most landlords' standards, the minimum credit score to rent an apartment is 620. But many landlords look past the credit score and search for specific activity on a potential tenant's credit report.

Can I get an apartment with 530 credit score?

There's no universal standard for the minimum credit score needed to rent an apartment, but according to a recent tenant screening study, rental applicants approved in 2017 had an average credit score of 650.

Can I rent with a low credit score?

If you have a credit score that's lower than the 650 minimum or you do not have credit at all— don't worry. Your chances of successfully renting your dream apartment aren't in the gutter. The good news is that many landlords won't discount a tenant solely because of the results of their credit check.

How long does it take to get a 650 credit score?

It will take about six months of credit activity to establish enough history for a FICO credit score, which is used in 90% of lending decisions. 1 FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850, and a score of over 700 is considered a good credit score. Scores over 800 are considered excellent.

Is 670 a good credit score to rent an apartment?

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.

Can I get an apartment with a 579 credit score?

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.

Can you rent an apartment with a 638 credit score?

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.

What can I get approved for with a 630 credit score?

As someone with a 630 credit score, you have just crossed over into the “fair” territory of credit score bands. You can qualify for financial products, like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with better credit.

Do landlords check your credit score?

Credit report and credit score: The landlord can check your credit report and credit score, looking for a history of on-time payments and red flags such as past-due accounts, accounts in collections and bankruptcies.

Can't rent due to CCJ?

Can I Rent With A CCJ? ... If you've had a CCJ previously, but more than six years have passed since it was issued, it should no longer appear on your Credit Report. As such, a landlord won't be able to decline your application on that basis.

Do private landlords do credit checks?

Credit checks

Your letting agent and some landlords will do a credit check to see if you've had problems paying bills in the past. They must get your permission first. It's less common for private landlords to do credit checks because they can make it take longer to rent out a property.

Is a 615 credit score good?

A FICO® Score of 615 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 615 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. ... Consumers with FICO® Scores in the good range (670-739) or higher are generally offered significantly better borrowing terms.

Which FICO score does apartments use?

Most landlords use FICO credit scores to determine if an applicant qualifies for an apartment. The typical categories for those scores are: Exceptional: 800 to 850. Very Good: 740 to 799.

Is 699 a good credit score?

A 699 FICO® Score is Good, but by raising your score into the Very Good range, you could qualify for lower interest rates and better borrowing terms. A great way to get started is to get your free credit report from Experian and check your credit score to find out the specific factors that impact your score the most.