May 19, 2026
You can find an apartment with bad credit by targeting private landlords rather than corporate property managers, offering a larger security deposit, getting a co-signer with strong credit, providing strong proof of income, and getting a letter of reference from a prior landlord. Longer-term, the most durable fix is building your credit score. For renters, rent reporting through a service like Roots Growth is one of the most efficient ways to do that, starting with the very rent payment you make in your new place.
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What Counts as "Bad Credit" for Renting?
Most landlords consider a credit score below 620 to be a significant concern. Below 580 is generally considered poor credit. The threshold varies:
Large corporate property management companies tend to have stricter, automated criteria, often a hard cutoff at 620 or 650.
Private landlords (individual owners renting out one or a few properties) tend to be more flexible and make decisions case by case.
Subsidized or income-restricted housing programs often have different or no credit requirements.
Beyond the score itself, landlords are concerned about specific items: evictions, outstanding collections to prior landlords, or a pattern of late payments. A 600 score with no eviction history is a very different situation from a 600 score with a prior eviction.
6 Strategies to Find an Apartment with Bad Credit
1. Target private landlords.
Private landlords have more flexibility than corporate managers, they make decisions personally rather than through automated systems, and they often weigh the full picture of an applicant rather than a single number.
Find private landlords through Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, "For Rent" signs in neighborhoods you want to live in, and local community boards. When you find a private landlord listing, contact them by phone rather than email.
2. Offer a larger security deposit.
A larger deposit directly reduces the landlord's financial risk. Offering two to three months of rent upfront instead of one signals financial seriousness and partially offsets concerns about your credit history.
3. Get a co-signer.
A co-signer is someone (a parent, relative, or trusted friend) who agrees to be legally responsible for the lease if you default. If your co-signer has strong credit (700+) and sufficient income, many landlords will approve the application using the co-signer's profile.
4. Demonstrate strong income.
A credit score reflects past payment behavior. Strong current income tells a landlord you have the capacity to pay going forward. Bring multiple forms of income documentation: pay stubs, bank statements, and if possible, a letter from your employer confirming your position and salary.
5. Lead with a landlord reference letter.
If you have a positive relationship with a prior landlord, ask them to write a brief reference letter. A letter that says you paid on time for two years, cared for the property, and are recommended without reservation is a powerful counterweight to a low credit score.
6. Be transparent and direct.
Landlords will find out about your credit when they run the check. Proactively disclosing it and explaining what caused it and what has changed is significantly more effective than hoping they won't notice. A short honest explanation about past financial difficulty, followed by evidence of stability since, is far more compelling than a score that shows up without context.
What to Say When Asked About Your Credit
If a landlord raises your credit score directly, address it briefly and pivot to your strengths. Acknowledge reality, demonstrate self-awareness, provide context, and offer something concrete such as pay stubs, bank statements, a prior landlord reference, and willingness to provide a larger deposit.
How to Fix Your Credit for the Next Application
The best time to start building credit is before you need it for the next application. Even if you find a place now, you'll move again. The stronger your credit is at that point, the more options you'll have.
For renters, the most efficient path:
Start rent reporting immediately. Roots Growth reports your rent to credit bureaus for $10 a month. Learn more in how rent reporting works: the complete guide.
Lower any existing credit card balances. Credit utilization is the second most influential factor in your score and the fastest-moving one.
Dispute any errors on your credit report. Pull your free report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Read how to start fixing your credit.
Set up autopay on everything. Payment history is 35% of your score.
With consistent effort, a renter starting in the 550 to 600 range can realistically reach 670 or above within 12 to 18 months. See how long does it take to build credit from scratch for the full timeline.
Start Building Your Score With Every Rent Payment
If you're renting now and want to be in a stronger position next time you apply, the highest-leverage move is turning the rent you're already paying into a credit-building event.
That's the idea behind Roots Growth. For $10 a month, members complete short financial education challenges, earn Investable Rewards™, and deploy those rewards into the Roots real estate fund, credit repair, home-purchase services, and other Growth Market partners. Rent reporting, credit monitoring, and Rooty, your AI Wealth Coach, are all part of the toolkit.
Start building with Roots Growth →
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting with Bad Credit
Can I rent an apartment with a 500 credit score?
It's possible, but your options are significantly narrowed. Private landlords are your best bet. Offering a larger security deposit, providing a co-signer, and demonstrating strong income can help offset the score.
What credit score do you need to get an apartment?
Most corporate property managers require 620 or above. Private landlords are often more flexible. In competitive markets, a score of 700 or above gives you the strongest position.
Can I rent an apartment without a credit check?
Some private landlords don't run credit checks, particularly for month-to-month rentals or in less competitive markets. Asking directly about the application process before submitting can save you a nonrefundable application fee.
Will applying for multiple apartments hurt my credit?
Rental-related credit inquiries are typically treated more leniently than loan applications. FICO scoring models group multiple rental inquiries within a short window as a single inquiry. Applying to several apartments in the same week or two is unlikely to significantly impact your score.
How can I build credit while renting?
Sign up for a rent reporting service like Roots Growth. Your on-time monthly payments get reported to credit bureaus, building your payment history (the most influential credit score factor) with every rent check.
How long does it take to improve credit enough to rent?
Moving from poor (below 580) to fair (580 to 669) typically takes 6 to 12 months of consistent positive behavior. From fair to good (670+) takes another 3 to 6 months.
About Roots Growth
Roots Growth is a micro-learning platform that helps renters turn financial education into actual wealth. When users complete short challenges they earn reward points that can be directly invested into real estate or used toward home-buying services. Roots Growth also has powerful credit-building tools, like rent reporting and real time credit monitoring. Ready to grow? Join the 29,500+ investors already building wealth today at investwithroots.com.
Disclosure: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
Last Updated: May 2026
