What credit score do you need to rent an apartment?

Is there a minimum credit score to rent an apartment?

No. There is no legal or industry-wide minimum credit score to rent an apartment; each landlord or management company sets its own cutoff. Experian, one of the three national credit bureaus, says applicants tend to have better approval odds with a score of at least 600 to 650, and that many landlords prefer scores above 600.

That range is a starting point, not a rule. A luxury building in a tight market may want much more. A small landlord with one duplex may care more about your pay stubs and your last landlord’s reference. And a score below the cutoff rarely means a flat no: it often means a conditional yes, with a co-signer or a bigger deposit.

Score range	What it usually means when renting
650 and up	At or above the range Experian says improves your odds; expect standard screening
600 to 649	Inside that range; approval likely if income and rental history are solid
500 to 599	Approval possible, often with a co-signer, guarantor or larger deposit
Under 500, or no score	Lean on income, savings, references and a guarantor

These bands are a general guide, not a promise. The only cutoff that matters is the one in the listing’s written screening criteria, so ask for it before you pay an application fee.

Credit score ranges by scoring model

Landlords may see a FICO Score or a VantageScore. Both run from 300 to 850, but they label the bands differently, so the same number can read as “fair” on one and “near prime” on the other. These are the ranges Experian publishes for FICO Score 8 and VantageScore 3.0.

FICO Score 8 band	Score range
Poor	300–579
Fair	580–669
Good	670–739
Very good	740–799
Exceptional	800–850

VantageScore 3.0 band	Score range
Subprime	300–600
Near prime	601–660
Prime	661–780
Super prime	781–850

Experian’s 600 to 650 renting range sits at the top of FICO’s “fair” band and across VantageScore’s “near prime” band. You don’t need a “good” score to rent, but each step up widens the list of landlords who will approve you without extra conditions.

How do tenant screening scores differ from FICO scores?

Many landlords never see your FICO score at all. They see a tenant screening score built to predict rent outcomes, not loan defaults. The CFPB notes that a screening report can include a risk score or recommendation based on criteria the landlord picks.

TransUnion’s ResidentScore is a common example. It runs from 350 to 850, the same top end as a FICO score, but TransUnion says it is designed to predict lease outcomes such as eviction, more than three late rent payments and paying less than the full amount owed. Your screening score and your FICO score can therefore differ, even when both come from the same credit file.

Two practical effects:

• Rent history can count more. A past eviction or rent debt in collections hurts a screening score badly.
• You may not see the score. The FTC notes that a report can include a score or recommendation you may not get to see.

What do landlords look at besides your credit score?

Landlords look at the whole report, plus your income and rental history, not only the three-digit number. Experian lists what landlords commonly review:

• Payment history: late payments, especially recent ones
• Debts: balances and minimum monthly payments, and how much of your credit limits you use
• Negative items: collections, defaulted loans, bankruptcies and repossessions
• Income: often checked against the rent; showing three to four times the rent may help
• Rental history and evictions: past landlords and housing court records
• References and background checks

The FTC adds that screening reports can include criminal records, lawsuits and missed rent payments. Most negative items, including eviction cases, generally drop off after seven years; bankruptcies can stay for 10.

Income is the factor you can check yourself before you apply. Our rent calculator shows what rent your income supports, and the rental application guide lists every document to bring.

How to rent an apartment with bad credit

You can rent with bad credit by giving the landlord another reason to trust you’ll pay. Match the offer to your situation.

Your credit situation	What to offer
Score in the 500s, steady job	Proof of income at three times the rent or more, plus a letter explaining what happened
Recent late payments or collections	A co-signer with good credit, and a reference from your current landlord
Past eviction	A guarantor or co-signer, proof the judgment is paid, and a written explanation
Bankruptcy	Proof of steady income since, bank statements and a larger deposit where legal
No US credit history	Bank statements, an employer letter and a lease guarantor company
Thin file (few accounts)	Rent reporting, references and a co-signer

Co-signer or guarantor. A co-signer, often a parent, signs the lease and becomes responsible for rent if you don’t pay. Experian notes that a co-signer with good credit can boost your approval odds. A roommate with solid credit can help in a similar way.

Lease guarantor companies. If no one can co-sign, a company can act as your guarantor for a fee. Insurent, for example, generally requires annual income of 27.5 times the monthly rent, or liquid assets of 50 times the rent, plus decent credit. Its fee for a one-year lease is typically 70% to 90% of one month’s rent for US renters. If you default, you still owe the company what it pays the landlord.

Larger deposit or prepaid rent. Experian says some landlords ask for one to three months’ rent up front from applicants with weaker credit. Many states cap security deposits, so a landlord can’t always accept more. Our security deposit guide covers state limits.

Proof of income and savings. Recent pay stubs and bank statements showing a few months of rent in reserve speak directly to the landlord’s real worry.

References and a letter. A short note explaining a medical bill or job loss, and how things have changed, plus a landlord reference, can tip a borderline case.

Renting with no credit

No credit history isn’t the same as bad credit; you simply have no record, so the landlord has to judge you on other evidence. Bring pay stubs, an offer letter, bank statements and references.

Rent reporting can help build a file for next time. HUD research summarized in a 2022 HUD webinar found that adding rent payment data dramatically reduced the number of renters who were unscorable, and that for on-time payers it raised scores much more often than it lowered them. Ask your current landlord whether they report rent, or look at reporting services; Experian notes Experian Boost can now include rent payments.

Your rights if you’re denied because of credit

If a landlord turns you down, asks for a co-signer or charges a bigger deposit because of a credit or screening report, federal law requires an adverse action notice. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the FTC says the notice must tell you:

• That a report was used, and the name and contact details of the company that made it
• Your right to dispute inaccurate information
• Your right to a free copy of the report if you ask within 60 days

The screening company must investigate a dispute within 30 days and send you the results in writing. If it corrects the report, you can ask for an updated copy to go to the landlord. The landlord’s decision must also follow the Fair Housing Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability.

How to check your credit report for free

Check your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com before you start applying. The FTC says it is the only site authorized to provide the free reports you’re entitled to by law, and all three bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, now let you check for free every week.

You’ll need your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. You can also call 1-877-322-8228. Look for accounts you don’t recognize, late payments you made on time and old debts that should have aged off, and dispute errors with the bureau. A report is not a score, but fixing errors on the report is what moves the score.

Does your credit affect renters insurance too?

In most states, yes. The NAIC says FICO estimates about 85% of homeowners insurers use credit-based insurance scores where it’s allowed. These scores are built to predict insurance claims, not loan repayment, so they aren’t the same as your credit score.

Some states restrict the practice. Experian reports that California and Massachusetts don’t allow credit to set homeowners insurance rates, Maryland bars basing rates on credit history, and Michigan and Oregon limit using credit to cancel or refuse to renew a policy. A weaker credit history can raise your premium elsewhere; our renters insurance cost guide shows how big that effect can be.

Bottom line

There’s no single credit score you need to rent an apartment, but 600 to 650 or higher improves your odds, according to Experian. Landlords also weigh income, rent history and evictions, often through a screening score built for renting. With bad or no credit, offer what answers the landlord’s worry: a co-signer or guarantor, proof of income and savings, and references. If you’re denied, get your free report, dispute errors and check your state’s rules on deposits.

Laws change and vary by state and city. This guide is general information, not legal advice.