However, not all property managers will deny your application simply because you have a poor credit score. By following this handy guide, there’s a big chance that you can convince a landlord to rent you an apartment, even if your credit score is far from stellar..

Whenever you inquire about an apartment for rent, landlords don’t just check your capability to pay the rent; they will look at your actual score and the varying factors that make up that number. They will be checking for negative information such as tax liens, past violations, late payments, and even utility bills that have been turned over to collection agencies. According to most property managers, a poor credit score isn’t quite as unfortunate as having a bad history of poor credit and recurrent collections activity.

Luckily, federal law provides you with the right to review your credit history for free at least once a year. So, it’s always a good idea to take advantage of this and review your credit history to help you avoid any surprises when looking for an apartment to rent. It allows you to prepare to answer any questions that the property manager might have. If you find any mistakes in your credit history, you also have the right to contact the credit reporting agency to correct mistakes.

One of the most important factors that a property manager will look for is whether you have enough monthly income to pay your rent on time. Therefore, you need to show proof of income. Be prepared to provide your recent pay stubs, as well as the contact information of your employer. If your paychecks are paid directly into your bank account, via direct deposit, you might want to get a printout of your most recent bank statement to prove to your property manager that you have a steady monthly income. 

Big rental companies often have a standardized process for choosing and approving their tenants. Unfortunately, this may sometimes limit the property manager’s ability to make exceptions when reviewing your application. Be open and honest with them, and ask if there is a chance for approval with a consignor or an extra deposit. If they still are unable to approve your application, consider contacting individual landlords to view apartments. Small-time landlords may have a little more flexibility to make exceptions, as long as you can prove that you have a regular monthly income.

If you want to reassure your prospective landlord that you’re a worthy tenant, try offering an incentive to entice them to say yes. Ways to do this could be by offering a larger deposit than what’s being asked for, or by volunteering to pay an extra month’s rent upfront. Paying rent in advance will significantly reduce the landlord’s risk and leave them feeling much more confident that you’re worth approving, even if you have a poor credit score.

Giving a letter of recommendation to your prospective landlord, is another great way to help attest to your character and your ability to manage your finances. This can help reassure your landlord that you’re worth approving, especially when your credit score history isn’t especially good. Remember that a letter of recommendation will be more persuasive if it comes from a previous landlord. However, getting it from a bank or employer can also be a good way to prove that you’re capable of paying your monthly rent.

Another opportunity for you to help convince your prospective landlord to approve your application is to explain your situation clearly. With this in mind, it is recommended that you write a personal statement explaining why your credit score is poor. Explain to your prospective landlord openly and honestly, and don’t forget to include the steps that you’ve taken to help re-establish your credit problems. You can explain further at the end of the letter why you can be counted on to pay your rent on time.

A poor credit score doesn’t always mean that it’s impossible to rent an apartment. You only need to be a bit more proactive in providing the right documents to reassure a prospective landlord that you’ll be a great tenant.