How to Rent an Apartment Without a Credit Check

Finding an apartment can feel frustrating when you have poor credit or no credit history. Many landlords run credit checks to evaluate your application and determine whether they will approve you. High income, reliable references, and a willingness to pay a higher security deposit may help you stand out.

Can you rent an apartment without a credit check?

Yes, you can rent an apartment without agreeing to a credit check, though it depends on the property and your state. Property management companies and large apartment communities often require a credit check as part of the standard application. Private landlords and smaller property owners tend to have more flexibility and may focus on factors like your income and rental history.

What they're weighing is the pattern, not the number. "There is a meaningful difference between someone with a thin credit file or an isolated financial setback and someone with a repeated pattern of unpaid obligations," says Michael Kelczewski, a broker at MAK Realty in Arizona. "Recent payment history and overall financial stability can sometimes tell you more about the applicant than the headline credit score."

Unfortunately, many larger communities won’t waive the credit check, often because screening rules are set at the corporate level rather than the local manager. The good news is that there are ways to qualify, even if your credit score is on the low end. If you are set on avoiding a credit check altogether, keep your options open and be willing to contact a few more landlords. There are no-credit-check apartments out there, but they may be tough to find.

What landlords can and can't do

Screening isn't entirely up to a landlord's discretion, and the limits often work in your favor. Fair housing rules require landlords to apply the same criteria to every applicant, which means a landlord generally can't bend the rules for you, but also can't quietly tighten them because of who you are.

"Weak credit, or even bad credit, is evaluated against the same documented policy for every applicant," says Amelia Misenheimer, a wealth-building strategist who spent a decade managing rental properties. "Fair housing really restricts the 'making an exception' that is so tempting to do on a human level."

That's why a complete, documented application does more than a persuasive explanation. The goal is to meet the written criteria they're required to apply to everyone.

If you have a housing voucher, many states and cities go further and make it illegal to refuse you based on your source of income. Those rules can also limit how income requirements are applied to you.

"Vouchers also change the math considerably. If the housing authority is paying a large portion of the rent each month, that matters far more to me than the applicant's headline credit score," says Mike Plactere, a landlord and owner of We Buy Long Island Homes Fast. "A tenant with a 580 score and a voucher covering 60% of the rent may be a more dependable payer than someone with a 700 score who has to cover the entire amount out of pocket. Generally, I require annual income equal to at least 40 times the tenant's monthly portion of the rent. For a voucher holder, that means their share — not the full contract rent — which is consistent with New York's source-of-income rules."

How to rent an apartment without a credit check

If you're looking for no-credit-check apartments, consider these options and confirm they're legal in your state.

Offer a larger security deposit

Check your state's laws first. Many states cap what a landlord can collect at one or two months' rent. Where there's a cap, offering more won't strengthen your application.

Where larger deposits are allowed, putting more money down is one way to reassure the landlord. Larger property management companies might offer discounted security deposits to applicants with good credit and steady income. However, if your score is lower, you could put more money down to lower risk to the landlord.

"New York limits security deposits to one month, so there's no option to simply demand a much larger deposit when credit is shaky," says Plactere. "The screening itself has to carry the weight. If income comes up short, a qualified guarantor may bridge the gap, but I verify that person's finances the same way."

Provide proof of income

Strong proof of income is a positive indicator to landlords and property management companies. They want to see that you earn enough to cover rent, utilities, and other living expenses.

There's a reason income carries more weight than a score here. "A thin credit file is very often just a young renter, a recent immigrant, or someone who's been paying rent, which doesn't build credit, rather than servicing debt, which does," says Gregory Lee, COO of Spot Easy. "Rent-to-income ratio tells you far more about ability to pay than a score built mostly on credit card and loan history the applicant may have deliberately avoided."

If you’ve been with the same employer or in the same field for at least several years, that can also be a positive sign.

Talk to the property manager about proof of income requirements and how you can meet them. This simple move can make the application process much smoother.

Get a co-signer or guarantor

If you can’t get around the credit check and your score isn’t strong enough to qualify, a co-signer or guarantor may help. A co-signer signs the lease alongside you and is equally responsible for the rent. A guarantor signs a separate agreement and is only liable if you stop paying your rent.

For either a co-signer or a guarantor, you’re asking someone to put their own credit and finances behind your lease. If you fall behind, the landlord can require them to pay what you owe. Make sure the person you ask understands what they’re signing, and be honest with them about your situation.

Adding a co-signer with a high credit score works in your favor beyond approval. Some landlords will reduce the security deposit when a co-signer or guarantor has good to excellent credit.

Read more >> What credit score do you need to rent an apartment?

Show references from previous landlords

Presenting references from previous landlords can demonstrate that you are a good and responsible tenant. Ultimately, property managers want tenants who take care of the property and don’t cause trouble for other residents. A few references can help you establish yourself as a good tenant that the property manager wants to lease to.

Look for private landlords instead of property management companies

Property management companies often require a credit check as part of the application process. Even if a local property manager wants to waive the credit check for you, they may not be able to do so due to organizational rules.

Private landlords can make that decision independently. Look for properties that are managed privately and talk to the landlord about alternative application requirements. You may be able to qualify using the strategies listed here, such as putting more money down or showing proof of income.

Try rent-by-owner listings

Individual owners may skip formal screening or handle it themselves, since it’s them making the final call. These landlords may evaluate you based on your total financial picture, rather than just a credit score.

Reading the lease carefully and understanding your state’s rules is important when renting from an individual owner. Consider talking with a trusted financial professional before signing.

Look for no-credit-check apartments

Some apartments don’t run credit checks. These locations allow you to apply and rent based on other factors, such as your ability to pay the deposit. You may have to call around to find places that offer no-credit-check options. Note that no-credit-check listings usually still screen for eviction history and income.

" 'No credit check' doesn't mean no screening," says Lee. "A renter with damaged credit improves their odds most by showing up with verified income, verified identity, and a documented rental history — the things that actually predict payment."

Offer to prepay rent

You can offer to prepay several months of rent to offset a landlord’s concerns about your credit, especially when dealing with a private landlord. If you decide to use this approach, prepare to prepay anywhere from three to six months of rent, depending on your state’s laws.

Build your credit so future rentals are easier

The reality is that many property management companies require a credit check, and sometimes there is no way around it. Sure, putting more money down or paying a higher security deposit can help you qualify for an apartment with less-than-stellar credit, but you’ll still have to submit to a credit check in these instances.

Building credit over time may make it easier to qualify for an apartment in the future. When the property manager mentions a credit check, you won’t hesitate because you’ll feel confident that your score qualifies.

Instead of limiting yourself to no-credit-check apartments, you can explore all options in your budget and desired area. You may even qualify for perks like no security deposit, which can cut down on your moving costs.

Read more >> Can you rent an apartment with poor credit?

Increase your eligibility for no-credit-check apartments with Kikoff

If you have time to work on your credit before you start apartment hunting, building your credit first opens up better apartments and often lower deposits. Kikoff’s Credit Account reports your on-time payments to all three credit bureaus, so you can start establishing a credit history now and walk into your next application with a record to show.