 TITLE: What Credit Score Do You Need to Rent an Apartment? CONTENT: Consider Improving Your Credit Before Applying\n----------------------------------------------\nIf credit issues are consistently preventing you from getting the apartment you want, think about pausing your apartment search and taking time to improve your credit. Of course, this strategy only works if you're in a position to postpone your move. But if you can wait—and work on your credit—you may improve your prospects. Several months or a year of making on-time payments, paying off late accounts and paying down debt can help to raise your credit score. And putting more time between any negative events like collections or bankruptcies and your rental application might help your application look more promising.\nYou might also want to take a look at Experian Boost™† . The free service from Experian connects to your bank account and adds bills such as utility, cellphone and streaming service payments to your credit report so they can be factored into your scores. The average Boost user who sees an increase improves their credit score by 12 points.\nThe credit score you need to secure a rental will vary; the higher your credit score and the cleaner your credit report, the better. You may be able to work around credit issues by finding a landlord who doesn't check credit, choosing a more modest place to live, or emphasizing financial strengths like a high income or large upfront payment.\nIn any case, if you're contemplating a move, don't wait to check your credit score and report. Going over your credit means you'll know what landlords see when they review your application. It can also help you know what steps to take to improve your credit—by paying down credit card balances, for instance. If you decide to postpone moving to work on your credit, check out free credit monitoring: You'll be able to keep an eye on your credit and celebrate your progress as it improves. END