Do you need a good credit score to rent?

You don’t need a specific credit score to rent a property, but a good credit history can make renting easier. Find out more about renting and credit scores, the checks landlords make and building up your credit.

Key takeaways

  • Before renting you their property, landlords might ask to run a ‘soft’ check on your credit history. This will help them to judge if you may have trouble paying the rent.
  • You don’t need a minimum ‘good’ credit score to rent a house or flat. But in general, building better credit may give landlords confidence that you will pay the rent.
  • A poor credit score on its own won't necessarily prevent you from renting. Landlords will also look at other factors – like your income, references and whether you have a guarantor.

In this guide:

How does a credit score affect renting?

What credit score do you need to rent a house?

What do landlords see when they check your credit score?

How can I improve my credit score for renting?

Can I still rent with a poor credit score?

More frequently asked questions

Understanding credit scores

How does a credit score affect renting?

When you’re looking to rent a house or flat, the landlord may request a credit check as part of their checks to see if you're likely to pay the rent.

But what is a credit score?

Your credit score is a number that helps show how well you’ve managed credit before. Lenders may use it to help them decide whether to lend to you. It’s worked out by organisations called credit reference agencies, based on things like how well you’ve kept up with bills and loan repayments in the past.

A good credit score can suggest to lenders that you’re more likely to pay back what you owe on time. Which could mean you get approved for the lending you need at a potentially better rate.

For landlords, a successful credit check can give them more confidence that you'll pay the rent.

What credit score do you need to rent a house?

There isn’t a minimum credit score you need to rent a house or flat. Every landlord will view your credit history differently. Even if you have a low credit score, there may be other factors - like references from previous landlords – that will reassure them that you will pay the rent.

But generally speaking, if you have a ‘good’, ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ credit score you may find it easier to rent.

What’s a good credit score?

A ‘good’ score will be different depending on which credit reference agency created it. See some examples from the credit reference agencies Lloyds use.

If you’re a Lloyds customer, you can check your TransUnion credit score using online banking or your mobile app. Or you can also ask for your credit report by contacting one of the credit reference agencies.

What do landlords see when they check your credit score?

If you agree to a landlord carrying out a credit check, it will normally be what’s called a ‘soft check’. This means they won’t see your actual credit score – or any specific details about your finances – but they will get an assessment of your potential suitability, along with some relevant, publicly held information about you, including:

  • your name and address on the electoral roll
  • county court judgments (CCJs)
  • bankruptcies
  • individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs)
  • debt relief orders.

How can I improve my credit score for renting?

It can take time, but there are steps you can take to improve your credit score, and potentially increase your chances of renting. In general, it's worth thinking about the things that affect your credit score and how you might deal with them. This can include:

  • paying all bills on time – including credit repayments, utility and other household bills
  • managing accounts well – stay below your credit limits and try to reduce balances whenever possible
  • limiting applications – whether or not you’re accepted, ‘hard’ credit searches could affect your credit score, especially if you make a number of full applications in a short period of time
  • registering to vote – it may boost your credit score if you’re on the electoral register.

Can I still rent with a poor credit score?

Yes, you can rent with a poor credit score, but it depends on the landlord and how they view your situation.

While having good credit will often help, you don’t need a particular credit score to rent a house or flat. Even if you have a poor credit history – for example, if you’ve defaulted on a credit card or received a County Court Judgment (CCJ) before – there are things you can do to help improve your chances of renting.

For example, you might:

  • give evidence of your salary and savings to show your financial situation has improved
  • use a guarantor – this is someone else who agrees to pay the rent if you can’t afford it
  • ask to see the credit report to check for any errors
  • share proof of rental payments made before 
  • give references from a previous landlord or your employer.

If there’s something that doesn’t look right in your credit report, you can raise a dispute to Transunion through our app.

Check your score for free

View Your Credit Score anytime in the app, without impacting your score.

 

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Let’s look at the details

  • Landlords want to know that you’re going to pay your rent in full and on time. Their confidence in your ability to pay can depend on a number of things, including your track record with borrowing money and paying bills. A credit check helps them to decide if there’s a risk you might miss future payments.

  • Landlords may ask for references from your employer and a previous landlord, if you have one. This can help them to see that you’re in a stable financial position, and that you have a track record of being a good tenant. This might be enough to convince a landlord to rent to you, even if you have poor credit. 

  • Yes, but it will depend on the landlord. Some landlords may view a CCJ as a sign that you might not be a reliable tenant. Others might disagree, especially if you can give other reasons to believe that you can keep up with the rent – such as references, details of your current salary or a guarantor.

  • Yes, but it’s always up to the landlord and you’ll usually need to give other evidence of your ability to pay the rent. This will normally include proof of your salary as well as references from your employer or a previous landlord. You may also need to find a guarantor who will agree to pay the rent if you can’t.

  • Yes you can. Sharing rent and bills can take the pressure off your finances. If your partner or roommate has stronger credit than you, it could help to reassure potential landlords. All applicants will still be checked and joint tenants will be jointly responsible for the rent. If you’re ready to move in with a partner, or have a friend who needs a place too, you could think about finding a place together.

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Important legal information

Lloyds and Lloyds Bank are trading names of Lloyds Bank plc. Registered office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales No. 2065. Lloyds Bank plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 119278.