Yes, you can rent an apartment with bad credit, but landlords will see it and it will affect your options
Most landlords run a credit check as part of the process process. A low credit score does not automatically disqualify you — many landlords rent to people with bad credit every day — but it does narrow your choices and often costs you more money upfront. What matters most is understanding what landlords actually look at, which varies by landlord and by state, and knowing the concrete steps you can take to improve your chances.
The credit check itself is not the only thing a landlord sees. They also look at your rental history, income, employment, and whether you have an eviction on record. If your credit is bad but your income is stable and you have good references from previous landlords, many will still rent to you. If your credit is bad and you also have an eviction or a history of late payments to previous landlords, your options shrink significantly.
Key Takeaways
- Landlords typically pull your credit report through a consumer reporting agency and may also check your rental history and criminal background.
- A low credit score alone does not disqualify you, but it often triggers higher security deposits, co-signer requirements, or higher rent.
- You have the right to see what the landlord sees — request your credit report from the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to check for errors before you explore.
- Offering a larger security deposit, a co-signer, proof of stable income, or a letter explaining past hardship can offset a low credit score.
- Some landlords specialize in renting to people with credit problems, and some states limit how much landlords can charge for security deposits or how far back they can look at credit history.
What landlords actually see when they pull your credit
When a landlord runs a credit check, they receive a report from one of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — or from a specialty tenant screening company that pulls from those bureaus. The report shows your credit score, your payment history on credit accounts, any collections or charge-offs, and sometimes public records like evictions or judgments.
The credit score itself is usually a number between 300 and 850. Different scoring models exist, and landlords may use different ones, so the score a landlord sees might not match the score you see on your own credit report. Most landlords consider scores below 620 to be high-risk, though some will rent to people in the 550–620 range if other factors are strong. A few landlords specialize in lower scores and will work with people in the 400–550 range.
The landlord also sees your payment history — whether you have paid bills on time, missed payments, or defaulted on accounts. They see collections accounts, which are debts that were sent to a collection agency. They may see a bankruptcy if it is recent enough. They do not see your income, employment, or savings directly from the credit report; they get that information from your process and from verification they request from you.
How bad credit affects your rental process
A low credit score typically triggers one or more of these responses from a landlord: a higher security deposit (sometimes double or triple the standard amount), a requirement that you provide a co-signer, a higher monthly rent, or a flat rejection. Some landlords will also ask for proof of income — usually recent pay stubs or a letter from your employer — to confirm you can afford the rent even if your credit history suggests you have struggled with payments in the past.
The severity of the impact depends on what caused the bad credit. A landlord will view a single missed payment from five years ago differently than a recent eviction or an active collection account. Evictions and judgments are the most damaging because they show you did not pay rent to a previous landlord. Collections accounts, charge-offs, and multiple late payments are also serious. Older negative marks carry less weight than recent ones.
State law sometimes limits what a landlord can do in response to bad credit. Some states cap the security deposit at one or two months' rent, which means a landlord cannot straightforward charge you triple the deposit to offset credit risk. Some states prohibit landlords from considering credit scores at all and allow them to look only at rental history and income. A few states require landlords to give you a written reason if they deny your process. Check your state's tenant laws to understand what protections explore where you are looking to rent.
Steps to take before you explore
Request your credit report from all three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — at annualcreditreport.com, which is the official free source. You are may have access to to one free report per bureau per year. Review each report carefully for errors: accounts you did not open, payments marked late that you made on time, or debts that do not belong to you. Errors are common and can significantly lower your score.
If you find errors, dispute them directly with the bureau that reported them. The bureau has 30 days to investigate and correct or remove the error. This process is free. Removing even one or two errors can raise your score enough to change a landlord's decision.
While you are reviewing your reports, note which negative items are oldest. Negative marks drop off your credit report after seven years (ten years for bankruptcy). If an old collection account is still showing, you can sometimes negotiate with the collection agency to remove it in exchange for payment, though this requires the agency to agree.
Strategies to strengthen your process despite bad credit
Offer a larger security deposit. If the standard deposit is one month's rent, offer two or three months upfront. This shows the landlord you have cash on hand and reduces their financial risk. Some landlords will accept this in place of a co-signer requirement or a rent increase.
Provide a co-signer — usually a parent, spouse, or close relative with good credit who agrees to pay the rent if you do not. The co-signer does not live in the apartment but signs the lease alongside you. A co-signer with a credit score above 700 can often offset your low score. Make sure the co-signer understands they are legally responsible for the full rent if you default.
Gather proof of stable income. Provide recent pay stubs (usually the last two or three months), a letter from your employer confirming your job and salary, or tax returns if you are self-employed. Income is often more important to landlords than credit score because it shows you have the means to pay rent going forward, regardless of past credit problems.
Write a brief letter explaining what caused the bad credit and what has changed. If you had medical debt, job loss, or a divorce that led to missed payments, a short, honest explanation can help. Do not make excuses, but do explain the specific hardship and what you have done since — for example, you found stable employment, paid off the collection account, or completed credit counseling. Some landlords will consider this; others will not, but it costs nothing to try.
Look for landlords who specialize in renting to people with credit challenges. These are often smaller landlords, property management companies that focus on this market, or organizations that work with people rebuilding their credit. They typically charge higher rent or require a larger deposit, but they are more likely to approve your process. Search online for "bad credit apartments" or "second chance rentals" in your area, or ask a local housing counselor for referrals.
What you cannot do and what you should avoid
Do not dispute accurate negative information on your credit report just to try to get it removed. Disputing information you know is correct is fraud and can result in criminal charges. Disputes work only when the information is actually wrong.
Do not pay a company to "fix" your credit or remove negative marks. Credit repair companies often make false promises and charge fees for work you can do yourself for free. Legitimate credit repair takes time — usually months or years — and involves paying off debt, making on-time payments, and letting old negative marks age off your report naturally.
Do not lie on your rental process. Do not claim income you do not have, hide an eviction, or provide false references. Landlords verify this information, and if they discover you lied, they will reject your process and may report you to tenant screening databases, which makes future applications harder.
Your rights when a landlord rejects you based on credit
If a landlord denies your process, they must provide you with a written reason in most states. If they cite credit, they must tell you which credit bureau they used and provide you with contact information so you can request your own copy of the report. This is required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a federal law that applies everywhere.
If the landlord's reason is inaccurate — for example, they say you have an eviction when you do not — you can dispute it. Request the credit report yourself and compare it to what the landlord told you. If there is an error, contact the credit bureau to dispute it.
Some states have additional protections. A few prohibit landlords from considering credit scores at all. Others require landlords to consider your current income and employment status, not just your credit history. A few require landlords to give you a chance to explain negative information before they reject you. Check your state's tenant rights laws or contact a local legal aid organization to understand what protections explore to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back can a landlord look at my credit history?
There is no federal limit on how far back a landlord can look, but most focus on the last two to seven years. Negative marks older than seven years typically do not appear on your credit report anyway. Some states limit how far back landlords can consider negative information, so check your state's tenant laws.
Will renting an apartment with bad credit make my credit worse?
No. Paying rent on time actually helps your credit if the landlord reports your payments to the credit bureaus, though many do not. Paying rent does not directly improve your credit score, but it shows you are managing your obligations, and it prevents further damage.
Can a landlord charge me more rent because of bad credit?
Yes, in most states. A landlord can increase the rent, require a larger security deposit, or both. Some states cap security deposits at one or two months' rent, which limits how much extra they can charge upfront, but they can still raise the monthly rent. Check your state's laws for limits.
What if I have an eviction on my record?
An eviction makes renting much harder because it shows a previous landlord that you did not pay rent. Most landlords will reject you outright. Your options are to look for landlords who specialize in renting to people with evictions, offer a significantly larger deposit and co-signer, or wait — evictions typically stop appearing on credit reports after seven years, though some screening reports may show older evictions.
Can I remove negative information from my credit report before I explore?
Only if it is inaccurate. Accurate negative information stays on your report for seven years. You can dispute errors for free at annualcreditreport.com. You can also negotiate with collection agencies to remove a debt in exchange for payment, though they are not required to agree. Paying off debt does not remove it from your report, but it does change the status from "unpaid" to "paid," which landlords view more favorably.