Can You Get an Apartment if You Have Bad Credit?

If you’ve had credit issues in the past, you may find that renting a new apartment is not as easy as you think. A credit check is a common part of a rental application, and what’s on it can affect your chances of being approved for an apartment, even if you’ve always paid rent on time.

Getting Approved for an Apartment with Past Credit Problems

Some landlords may automatically deny your application if you have some problems with your credit report, but others may be willing to discuss reasons for past credit challenges. The best approach is to be completely honest about the problems you have had in the past and why they happened. The new landlord may be willing to overlook a less than favorable credit report if you have a good reason why you had difficulty paying your bills, such as losing your job or having health problems.

Other things that you can do that may help you get approved for an apartment include:

• ‍Look for apartments that aren’t in prime locations. This may mean moving outside the city and dealing with a longer commute.‍
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• Look for private landlords. Instead of looking for an apartment in a large commercially-owned complex, look for one that isn’t owned by a large corporate group.‍
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• Provide references. If you have always paid your rent on time, ask former landlords to provide a reference letter or a document that shows detail regarding your rental history.Giving this information to a potential landlord can help strengthen your application.‍
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• Offer a higher security deposit. If you’re able to pay a higher security deposit up front, it will give the landlord more protection against potential financial losses. They may also be willing to work with you if you can pay two or three months’ rent in advance.

Another thing you could try is to ask a friend or relative with good credit to serve as a co-signer. Your co-signer is responsible if you end up falling behind on the rent or breaking the lease, so you may turn to this option only if others won’t work for you.

Preparing to Apply for Apartments

If you have at least a few months before you’re going to apply for a new apartment, spend this time working on your credit. If you don’t already know your credit score or what’s on your credit report, it’s important to find out this information sooner rather than later.

Your credit reports are available for free onAnnualCreditReport.com. Check the reports for errors. If any items arei naccurate or unfair, dispute them as soon as possible.

Lastly, if you aren’t in the habit of paying your bills on time, it’s time to get started. Catch up on any bills that are past due and try to keep your credit card utilization under 30 percent.

As a rule of thumb, landlords typically expect a credit score of 620 or higher. Dovly can help you take the steps needed to improve your score. Dovly is an advanced credit repair engine thattracks, manages, and fixes your credit. Get started today.

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