Can I require a certain credit score to rent?

Question

Is it legal to require a certain credit score along with filling out a credit app, for prospective tenants?  Thats one way Ive thought of keeping my rentals trouble free.

Account Closed · Answer

You can use the credit score, but I suggest that you don't use a cut-off number.

I've had applicants with low scores that didn't have much wrong with their financial behavior.

Some one who pays all their bills but doesn't have any credit cards will have a low score. I just rented to a tenant who has a "no score". He doesn't have a single blot, but doesn't use credit. His landlord and job references were sterling. You wouldn't want to reject him because he didn't have a 700 score.

I had one applicant with 18 collections still show a score of 730. What? Sometimes the score doesn't make any sense.

My written criteria says that the applicant must have a credit report that assures the landlord the rent will be paid on time. That's legal and also very flexible.

Bill Gray · Answer

Yes, you may as long as you are consistent with all applicants.  This is to comply with Fair Housing.

Sean Williamson · Answer

more important to know where there money is coming from. part the reason they are probably renting is credit.

Jon Holdman · Answer

Sure.  People with bad credit are not a protected class.

That said, bad credit seems the one common attribute to almost every application I've screened.