Housing Tip: Dealing With Bad Credit
Having a low credit score makes it difficult to find a place to rent. If you have bad credit, here are some things you can do to improve your situation.
Learn your credit score.
Get a copy of your credit report (and criminal background and eviction history) from My Rental History Report. If you can’t afford to make a purchase, you can view a copy of your credit report for free once a year from www.annualcreditreport.com. Review your report to find errors and work to correct them.
Improve your credit score.
Make sure you are not behind on any bills. If you are, make payments to get them current. If you have past debts that are unpaid, pay them off. If you are in danger of missing payments, contact the company and explain your situation. They may not waive penalties (e.g. late fees), but if you were a good customer to this point they may work with you to accept a smaller payment without negatively affecting your credit score.
What does the landlord require for a credit score?
Ask the landlord what credit scores they will accept. If your credit is lower, ask what solutions they will consider or offer solutions. Some common solutions include:
- Pay a higher amount for the security deposit
- Pay the first and last month’s rent up front
- Have someone with good credit act as a co-signer on your lease
CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ARE A FIT FOR BEYOND BACKGROUNDS
Beyond Backgrounds makes it more likely that a landlord will relax their screening criteria and rent to you! When a landlord rents to you, they get up to $2,000 of financial assurance if something goes wrong like damage to the unit or legal fees.
Click here to learn more about the program and see if you are a fit.