 TITLE: How to Get an Apartment With Bad Credit CONTENT: What Do Landlords Look For on a Credit Report?\n----------------------------------------------\nWhile you're doing all you can to show potential landlords that you are a worthy applicant, you should also be aware of what they are looking at on your credit report. Even if you've used the strategies above and have rented an apartment, it's important to find ways to make your next experience smoother while also building your credit. Knowing what a landlord is looking for on your credit report and why is an important first step.\n*   **Payment history**: Creditors report your payment history every month. A landlord can look at your credit report to track your payment habits and determine whether they can expect your rent payment on time, every month.\n*   **Rental history**: If previous landlords reported your payment information to the credit bureaus, your landlord can review your entire rental history. They can also see if you have any outstanding debts, evictions or unpaid rent to a former landlord. These are red flags you'll want to settle right away.\n*   **Debts**: Too many credit cards, loans, medical bills or unpaid taxes are warning signs to landlords and property managers. If a spotty payment or rental history calls into question your ability to pay on time, too many debts call into question your ability to afford monthly rental payments at all.\n*   **Bankruptcy status**: Bankruptcies can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years. Landlords often review bankruptcies to see if the canceled debts were from previous landlords. The upside is that if your bankruptcy is already discharged, you are considered a lower risk to a landlord compared with someone going through a bankruptcy.\nYour payment history, rental history, debt and bankruptcy status are all important parts of your consumer profile. Landlords and rental companies will weigh all these factors to determine whether a tenant-landlord relationship makes sense.\nSo before you apply, take the necessary measures to improve your credit and thus improve your chances of approval. Here's how to do it. END