What credit score is needed to rent an apartment in 2023?

It is not a legal requirement to check your credit score before you rent an apartment. Landlords don’t have to pull your credit report before leasing the apartment to you; this is why there is not a prescribed score. Generally, landlords look for tenants that have a good FICO® score (between 670-739). This can also vary depending on the landlord and the location you’re looking at.

If you have a score above 670, your credit score ranges from good to excellent. This means you have a good chance of renting the apartment you like. But if it is a locality that is in high demand, the credit score you need may be higher.

The main thing landlords are concerned with in your credit report is whether you can pay the rent on time. For this, they look at your income-to-debt ratio, to see if you have made debt payments on time before, and if you have ever filed for bankruptcy.

Since there is no universal score that is accepted by landlords, it is best to ask them what they are looking for directly. This way you can understand their expectations if they do.