What Credit Score Do You Need to Rent a Home?

Landlords look past the number—here’s how to pass screening even if your score isn’t perfect.

Worried your score will sink your rental? The truth: most places don’t use a single cutoff. Here’s how credit fits into screening—and what to do if you’re not at 700. For readers in Phoenix, Arizona, notices, deposit options, and appeal steps can vary—use local guidance to plan your approach.

Start here: what to do first

• List your strengths: stable income (typically 2.5–3× rent), on-time bill history, solid references, no evictions, clean criminal court records. You’ll use this to balance a “just-OK” score.
• Pull your own credit reports and fix errors before you apply (disputes can remove wrong addresses, duplicate collections, or paid debts).
• Build a simple “renter packet”: ID, last 3 pay stubs, offer letter or benefits award, last 2 bank statements, past landlord contacts, and a 1–2 paragraph cover note explaining anything unusual.
• Have plan B ready: a co-signer/guarantor, larger deposit, or a few months of rent in savings can offset a middling score.
• If you’re credit invisible/thin file, bring proof of positive history (on-time utilities, phone, or rent receipts) and consider rent-reporting to build score over time.

There’s usually no hard minimum: how rental risk scoring actually works

Tiny scenario: Two applicants both show “650.” One has medical collections from years ago but steady income and clean rentals; the other has recent missed payments and high debt. The first may get approved faster.

• Property managers may use rental-specific models (e.g., a “resident score”) that weigh factors differently than standard credit scores.
• Many screens look at patterns—recent delinquencies, high credit utilization, or unresolved collections matter more than an old paid account.
• Income and debt-to-income can weigh heavily; some buildings require a specific income multiple regardless of score.
• Evictions/judgments and open bankruptcies are bigger red flags than a single low number.
• Expect variation by market and building class: corporate-managed buildings may set higher thresholds than small landlords.
• If you’re denied, you have a right to an adverse action notice telling you which report/score was used and how to request it.

Renting with less-than-perfect credit: practical ways to say “yes”

Tiny scenario: Your score is 605 after a rough patch. You offer a co-signer, provide two months’ bank statements showing cash cushion, and agree to enroll in autopay; the landlord approves with a slightly higher deposit.

• Strengthen the file: stable income letters, proof of emergency savings, and clean rental history references.
• Offer risk-reducers: larger deposit (where legal), a few months’ rent upfront, autopay, or a co-signer/guarantor (understand fees and obligations).
• Target the right listings: smaller owners may review the whole story; large complexes may be stricter but offer “conditional approvals.”
• Time your application: apply right after a paycheck hits and credit utilization dips (balances lower = often a small score bump).
• Explain the “why”: a brief, factual note about medical bills, divorce, or a one-time lapse—paired with proof of current stability—can matter.
• Build as you go: enroll in rent reporting so on-time payments help your profile for future moves.

FAQs for Phoenix, Arizona

References

*This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up through one, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. It helps support this site and keeps our resources free.