Credit Score Requirements for Renters: What's Reasonable?

A credit score is a useful signal, but it's one piece of the picture — a low score with a clear explanation (medical debt, a single late period years ago) reads very differently from a pattern of recent collections and missed payments.

What a typical credit minimum looks like

There's no legal standard number, but many landlords set a minimum somewhere in the 600s, sometimes lower for otherwise strong applicants (solid income, good rental history) and higher for competitive units with many applicants. Vantage and FICO scores aren't identical, so make sure you know which model your screening provider reports before setting a threshold.

What to look at beyond the number

The score is a summary — the report itself tells the real story:

• • Payment history — recent late payments matter more than old ones
• • Collections accounts, especially any tied to a previous landlord or utility
• • Overall debt load relative to income
• • Recent hard inquiries, which can indicate the applicant is opening new credit or applying for multiple rentals at once

Apply the same threshold to everyone

Whatever minimum you choose, apply it consistently. If you're willing to make exceptions (a co-signer, a larger deposit, proof of savings), define that exception policy in advance and offer it to every applicant in the same situation — not selectively.