How to find no credit check apartments and rent with no credit

In 2025, 15% of Americans had a FICO® Score in the poor range, according to a report from consumer credit reporting company Experian. In a recent FICO report, about 18% of consumers had credit scores below 600, which is generally considered poor credit.There are numerous reasons why a person can end up having bad credit, from poor financial habits to falling into a time of hardship and needing to work their way back.

Having poor credit makes your life more difficult in a variety of ways, but one that often gets ignored is renting. Before you start looking, a few pointers can help you direct your apartment hunt and make it as efficient as possible.

But how do no credit check apartments factor into this conversation?

The majority of apartment rentals out there include a credit check. From a landlord’s perspective, this is designed to rent to tenants who are likely to pay their lease on time every month.

From a tenant’s perspective, it can seem like another hill to overcome.

However, there are rental homes and premium apartments designed to help with this issue. These are no credit check apartments.

Here’s what they are and how you can find them.

Key takeaways

• Most renters with poor or no credit get approved by making the rest of their application strong, not by finding a landlord who skips the check entirely.
• Proof of income, like pay stubs, bank statements, or a signed offer letter, often carries more weight with landlords than a credit score.
• A cosigner, a larger deposit, or a few months of prepaid rent can make up for a low or missing score.
• Never pay for a “no credit check” apartment before you’ve seen it and have a written lease in hand.
• A flexible furnished stay, like a Blueground apartment for 30 days, gives you a home right away while you build rental history and credit.

Scenarios faced when looking for a no credit check apartment

The struggle of renting with bad credit

It has become an industry-wide measure of tenant suitability to look at credit scores. Like when taking out a credit card or a loan, having a quick indicator of whether a prospective tenant can make rent is a worthwhile qualification factor.

No credit check apartments are not strictly for people with a history of financial hardship.

There are examples of people who may have money to afford the monthly rent, but simply don’t have the credit history to demonstrate it.

Examples of these include:

• Former students and recent graduates who have relocated to another city for a good job with little credit history
• Foreigners in the U.S. who are coming to the U.S. for work with no credit history established
• People starting over after a divorce or separation, especially if most of the household credit was in a partner’s name

Credit requirements also vary by property and by city.

There’s no set standard, so you can find a place that will accept your poor credit score and let you rent. As a rough guide, many landlords look for a score of 620 or higher. Competitive buildings in high-demand cities often want 650 to 700. Below 600, most traditional landlords will ask for a cosigner, a larger deposit, or both.

Resources to help you find no credit check rentals

Here are some ways to start finding an apartment with no credit check policies or with appropriate workarounds.

Focus on smaller apartment complexes that are privately owned

Generally, larger properties are run by management companies that are more likely to have set policies, including mandatory credit checks or a minimum credit score.

From D.C. to Chicago, from no credit score homes in small towns to no credit check apartments in NYC, think small and privately owned. An owner who manages their own building can meet you, hear your story, and make a judgment call.

You’re most likely to find these property types through online platforms like Craigslist or the classified section of a newspaper, where you can contact the landlords who post there. The downside is that the quality of apartments can really vary.If you are a corporate traveler who needs to stay in the city for a few months, it may be difficult to work with a landlord who is used to dealing with tenants who sign yearly leases. In that case, another option may be best for you.

Work with a real estate agent

A local rental agent knows which landlords in the area are flexible on credit, which is information you won’t find in a listing. They can steer you away from buildings with strict minimum scores and toward owners who accept a cosigner or a larger deposit instead.

An agent can also speak up for you. Before you apply, they can explain your situation to the landlord and present your proof of income and references, so the application lands with context instead of just a score.

To get the most out of working with one:

• Tell the agent about your credit upfront, along with what you can offer, like a cosigner or extra deposit.
• Ask which landlords they’ve placed renters with low or no credit with before.
• Share your budget, move-in date, and must-haves so they only show you places that fit.
• Ask who pays the agent’s fee before you start. In some cities, renters pay a fee of up to a month’s rent or more. In New York City, the FARE Act now generally requires whoever hires the broker to pay.

Connect to local resources

If you are struggling with poor credit, there are local branches of government designed to help people find housing that will meet their needs. Check the city website where you are looking to stay for more guidance.

Watch for red flags in no credit check listings

Listings that advertise “no credit check” attract renters who have fewer options, and scammers know it. Be cautious if a landlord:

• Asks you to wire money or pay with gift cards before you see the apartment
• Can’t show you the unit in person or on a live video call
• Lists the rent far below what similar apartments nearby cost
• Pressures you to pay a deposit the same day
• Won’t give you a written lease

A legitimate landlord may skip the credit check. They won’t skip the viewing or the lease.

Choose your housing provider wisely

Because of these issues, you’ll want to work with a landlord or company that has an understanding of your situation.

For example, Blueground generally caters to people moving to a new city for work, study, or a life change, including international professionals and students who haven’t built US credit yet.

Its apartments in cities around the world host guests with a range of credit scores and offer extra flexibility when booking. Each one comes fully furnished with a full kitchen, linens, and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Because these are part of the company’s tenant community, they understand how to provide apartments that will meet your needs and preferences, without credit serving as a roadblock.

With a majority of properties located in the downtown core and near major multinational HQs, their furnished apartments are a perfect match for those needing an apartment with flexible lease terms.

In place of a poor credit score or unavailable credit score, a security deposit and the first month’s rent are due upfront.

With this guarantee, tenants can arrive at their apartment with all furnishings and utilities ready to go.

From D.C. to Los Angeles, Blueground has furnished apartments that can be booked online without realtor fees or extensive paperwork.

How to rent an apartment with bad credit or no credit at all

A credit score is one data point. Landlords also weigh:

• Income. Many want gross monthly income of about 2.5 to 3 times the rent. In New York City, a common rule is an annual salary of 40 times the monthly rent.
• Job stability. A steady employer or a signed offer letter shows the income will keep coming.
• Rental history. On-time payments to past landlords count, even if they never showed up on a credit report.
• Background and eviction checks. Many landlords still run these when they skip the credit check.
• Debt-to-income ratio. High monthly debt payments can count against you, even with a good salary.

If your credit file is thin, the steps below help you make every other item on this list as strong as possible.

Show proof of income

Proof that you can pay is often more convincing than a score. Bring recent pay stubs, two or three months of bank statements, or last year’s tax return.

If you’re relocating for a new job, a signed offer letter on company letterhead that lists your salary and start date can stand in for pay stubs you don’t have yet. Freelancers and remote workers can use client contracts, 1099s, or bank statements that show steady deposits.

Get a cosigner

If you can get a family member or friend to co-sign with you, this will be sufficient for most property owners.

Landlords usually want a cosigner with good credit and an income well above the rent. Some also require them to live in the US.

Just understand that this makes the cosigner responsible if you can’t make your rent payments.

Be sure to give this some serious thought.

When your credit score improves, it’s possible to remove the cosigner (or lease guarantor).

In such a case, you may have to draw up a new lease for your rental.

Use your references

In a similar vein to a cosigner, having strong references will help prove you are a good tenant to a potential landlord. Past landlords and employers are good people to use for this.

In addition, if your poor credit score is due to an issue outside of your control, like illness, they can corroborate your story.

Offer a larger deposit or pay rent upfront

A bigger deposit lowers the landlord’s risk, and that can matter more to them than your score. Offering an extra month’s deposit is a common starting point.

If you have savings, you can also offer to prepay a few months of rent. Some states and cities cap how much a landlord can collect upfront, so check the local rules first. Get any prepayment written into the lease.

Plan for extra costs

Without credit, expect to bring more cash to the table. A traditional unfurnished rental can ask for all of this before you get the keys:

• Application and screening fees for every place you apply
• A security deposit
• First month’s rent, and sometimes the last month too
• Broker or agent fees in some cities
• Furniture, kitchen basics, and internet setup

Add these up for each apartment you’re considering. If you’re applying to several places at once, the application fees alone can reach a few hundred dollars.

Rent with a roommate

Applying with a roommate who has established credit and rental history can strengthen your application. You’ll both usually be on the lease and responsible for the full rent, so choose someone you trust.

Splitting a two- or three-bedroom apartment also lowers your share of the rent, which makes your income look stronger next to what you owe each month.

Slowly improve your credit

In all fairness, your credit score isn’t going to show any radical changes overnight.

However, showing an upward trajectory in your score can be enough to convince some property owners that you will be a good tenant. Be sure that you regularly pay any bills you incur and make sure you don’t bring on any more debt during your apartment search.

A few other steps can help a thin or damaged credit file:

• Open a secured credit card, use it for one small recurring bill, and pay it off every month
• Keep your balances below 30% of your credit limits
• Ask a family member with good credit to add you as an authorized user on their card
• Use a rent reporting service so your on-time rent payments appear on your credit report

Typically, it takes about 24 to 72 hours for a landlord or property management company to process your credit check.

Also, be sure to factor in extra time for other clerical work or background checks that they may do on your application or when comparing you to other potential candidates.

Start with a flexible stay to build rental history

If you’re new to a city or to the U.S., you may not have a landlord who can vouch for you yet. A furnished stay of a few months gives you a local address, a record of on-time rent, and a landlord reference while your credit catches up.

Blueground stays start at 30 days and can be extended month to month. You don’t have to commit to a full year before you know the neighborhood.

What to do if your application is denied

If a landlord turns you down because of something in your credit report, they’re required to send you an adverse action notice. It names the screening company they used.

You can then request a free copy of that report within 60 days and dispute anything that’s wrong. Look for accounts that aren’t yours or debts listed as unpaid that you’ve already settled.

After that, focus on landlords whose requirements match where your credit is today instead of reapplying to the same kind of building.

Partner with an understanding landlord or housing provider

Be ready to be candid about your credit score, why it’s particularly low, and what steps you’re taking to improve it.

It helps to put this in writing. A short note with your application that explains your situation and what you can offer, like a larger deposit or a cosigner, gives the landlord context before they see the score.

Seek out private landlords and companies like Blueground that understand the unique limitations of tenants with underdeveloped or poor credit. Ready to make a big move? Find your apartment →

How Blueground makes renting easier while your credit catches up

Blueground apartments are hand-picked homes in sought-after neighborhoods, and getting one doesn’t involve a long application process. You search live listings with real-time prices, sign your contract electronically, and pay securely online. Then you schedule a digital check-in and arrive to a welcome gift.

Paying by bank transfer also skips the surcharge that comes with paying by credit card.

Once you’re settled, the Guest App handles the day-to-day. You can request maintenance, book a cleaning, or order fresh linens from your phone, with 24/7 support in every Blueground city.

Apartments range from studios to four bedrooms and up, and some buildings welcome pets. Start with a month, extend for as long as you need, and if you decide to stay, leases of a year or more come with added savings. Ready to make a big move? Find your apartment →

Frequently asked questions about no credit check apartments

Does a landlord’s credit check lower my credit score?

It depends on the type of check. Many tenant screening services use a soft inquiry, which doesn’t affect your score. Some landlords run a hard inquiry, which can lower your score by a few points for a short time. Ask which kind they use before you apply, especially if you plan to apply to several apartments.

Can I use credit history from another country to rent in the U.S.?

Usually not. U.S. credit bureaus don’t see credit history from other countries, so most landlords will treat you as having no credit. Some services can translate a credit report from certain countries into a U.S.-style report, but not every landlord accepts it.

If you’re an international student, Blueground’s Studentground doesn’t require a guarantor or a credit check.

Can my employer help me get approved for an apartment?

Often, yes. If you’re relocating for work, ask HR whether your package includes temporary housing. Many companies book furnished housing for new hires directly, so the booking is in the company’s name and your credit doesn’t come into it.

Your employer can also write a letter confirming your salary and start date. Blueground for Business houses employees for companies in more than 50 cities.

Do no credit check apartments cost more?

Sometimes. A landlord who skips the credit check is taking on more risk, and some make up for it with higher rent, a bigger deposit, or extra monthly fees. Ask for the full list of fees in writing before you sign.

Can I set up utilities without a credit history?

Yes, but utility companies run their own credit checks. New customers with no history are often asked to pay a deposit. Some providers will waive it if you bring a letter showing on-time payments to a previous utility company.

In a Blueground apartment, utilities and Wi-Fi are already set up and included, so there’s nothing to open in your name.

How quickly can I move in if I don’t have credit?

With a traditional landlord, plan for a few days to a couple of weeks once you count the application, screening, cosigner paperwork, and lease signing.

A furnished apartment you can book online is faster. With Blueground, you book, sign, and pay online, then check in digitally. Some apartments are available within 24 hours.