Do Apartments Use FICO Score Or VantageScore?

Landlords do check a credit score, but they usually see the VantageScore that the tenant‑screening agency pulls from the bureau rather than a FICO score; the three major screening services (TransUnion's SmartMove, Experian's RentBureau, and Equifax's Rental Screening) default to VantageScore 3.0 or 4.0 because it's the standard consumer‑report product for rentals,

and most landlords rely on the report they receive without requesting a separate FICO pull, although a few landlords who have a direct relationship with a bureau may request a FICO score instead.

Tenant‑screening companies most frequently run a FICO‑based credit check.

• Major vendors - TransUnion SmartMove, Experian RentBureau, and CoreLogic - default to the FICO score model because their underlying data feeds are built around FICO <https://www.transunion.com/blog/tenant-screening-fico-vantagescore&gt;
• Property‑management platforms (AppFolio, Buildium, Yardi) integrate the FICO algorithm as the standard metric for rental applications <https://www.rentecdirect.com/blog/fico-vantagescore-rental-screening&gt;
• VantageScore is offered as an optional alternative when applicants lack a FICO history or when a landlord explicitly requests it <https://www.experian.com/blogs/consumer-credit/2023/tenant-screening-fi…;
• State‑specific regulations (e.g., Colorado's 'Fair Credit Reporting Act') sometimes mandate VantageScore, but those cases remain a minority <https://www.consumerfinance.gov/blog/colorado-credit-models&gt;
• Industry surveys from 2023 indicate roughly 70 % of tenant screens use FICO, while about 30 % rely on VantageScore

Most landlords use a tenant‑screening platform that pulls Experian first, then falls back to TransUnion, and only occasionally requests Equifax data. This ordering reflects the bureaus' market share among rental‑screening firms and the ease of accessing both FICO score and VantageScore from Experian's database.

• Experian - primary source for roughly 70 % of landlord checks (see 2023 Apartment List screening survey)
• TransUnion - secondary source for about 20 % of checks, often used when a property management company subscribes to its own screening service
• Equifax - tertiary source for roughly 10 % of checks, typically when landlords require a supplemental credit pull or when the first two bureaus cannot verify an applicant

Most landlords accept a FICO score or VantageScore of 620 or higher; 660 plus is considered safe, 620‑659 is often borderline, and below 620 usually triggers a higher deposit or a co‑signer. This threshold reflects the 2023 average reported by industry surveys average credit score required by rental apartments.

When you're below the preferred range, location and property type matter: luxury complexes in major cities often set the bar at 700 +, while smaller, independent landlords may be flexible if you offer a larger security deposit or proof of steady income. As we'll explore in the next section, landlords also weigh rental history, debt‑to‑income ratio, and any past evictions alongside the numeric score.

Landlords weigh payment history, debt load, eviction records, employment stability, and prior landlord references more than the raw FICO or VantageScore.

• Consistent on‑time rent payments - landlords prioritize actual rent history over any credit number (see Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data)
• Overall debt load and credit utilization - high balances signal potential cash‑flow problems (see Experian landlord‑screening guide)
• Eviction or court records - any prior eviction or judgment instantly raises red flags (see National Association of Realtors research)
• Employment stability and income verification - landlords prefer at least three months of steady earnings (see HUD tenant screening overview)
• Past landlord references - positive letters can offset a borderline credit score (see Apartment List tenant‑screening article)

A rental credit check hurts your score only when the landlord orders a hard inquiry; most tenant‑screening services run a soft pull that does not change the FICO score or VantageScore. Soft pulls appear on your credit report but are ignored by scoring models, as explained in soft vs hard credit inquiries explained.

Hard inquiries occur rarely, typically when a landlord requests a full credit report from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion - the bureaus covered earlier. Each hard pull can drop your score 5‑10 points and stays on your file for up to 12 months, so multiple hard pulls can add up. Ask landlords whether they use a soft pull; the next section on '7 quick steps to improve your rental approval odds' shows how to manage this risk.

Boost your rental approval odds with these seven quick actions. As we explained, most landlord‑screening services pull either a FICO score or a VantageScore - most commonly VantageScore 3.0 - so improving the underlying credit profile directly helps.

1. Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus, scan for inaccuracies, and dispute any errors immediately.
2. Lower credit utilization by paying down credit‑card balances to under 30 % of each limit; the lower the ratio, the higher the score.
3. Settle outstanding collections or medical debts; a paid‑off status removes negative flags that many screeners flag.
4. Boost your cash reserves and offer a larger security deposit or several months' prepaid rent; landlords view this as low‑risk compensation.
5. Add a co‑signer or guarantor with a strong FICO or VantageScore if your own score falls below the typical 620‑740 range most landlords accept.
6. Provide verifiable income proof - pay stubs, bank statements, or an employment letter - to demonstrate you can meet monthly obligations.
7. Enroll in rent‑reporting services (e.g., Experian RentBureau reporting) so on‑time payments build positive credit history that screeners see.

These steps target the exact factors screeners evaluate, turning a borderline applicant into a confident choice for any landlord.

Even without a FICO score or VantageScore, you can still get approved for an apartment. Landlords often accept alternative evidence of reliability when traditional credit data is missing.

• Provide recent pay stubs, bank statements, or proof of steady employment; many screening services accept income verification in lieu of a credit score.
• Offer a larger security deposit or several months' rent up front; this reduces perceived risk for the landlord.
• Use a co‑signer or guarantor with a solid credit history; the tenant‑screening report will then include the guarantor's FICO score.
• Submit a rent‑payment history from a previous lease, a utility bill record, or a subscription payment summary; some landlords treat consistent on‑time payments like a credit line.
• Enroll in a credit‑building program such as The Credit People and share the reporting statements; the program can generate a limited credit file that screens recognize.

These options let landlords evaluate your financial responsibility without relying on a traditional credit score, paving the way for a successful application. Next, we'll examine how to handle errors that appear on your credit report.

When a credit report shows inaccurate information, correct it before landlords run a screening so your FICO score or VantageScore reflects reality.

• Order your free annual reports from each bureau at CFPB guide to correcting credit report errors.
• Mark every error clearly; note account numbers, dates, and the correct figures.
• File a dispute online or by certified mail with the bureau that supplied the faulty report; include copies of supporting documents.
• Wait up to 30 days for the bureau to investigate and respond.
• If the dispute is resolved in your favor, request an updated report and verify the corrected score.
• Notify any landlord or screening company that already performed a check; provide the new report so they can re‑evaluate your application.
• Keep copies of all correspondence in case you need to contest a future denial.

Definition:

If you have thin credit or recent negatives, Auto Score 2 still generates a meaningful rating because it relies more heavily on recent auto‑related activity and on the limited accounts you do have, rather than the long‑term payment history that drives the standard FICO score. The model can also treat a single recent delinquency as a smaller penalty if the rest of your auto‑lending profile is solid, something dealer bureau scores often cannot do when they lack enough data.

Examples:

A 22‑year‑old with only a student loan and two months of credit‑card use might receive a standard FICO of 'thin' or 'incomplete,' yet Auto Score 2 could assign a mid‑range number based on the timely student‑loan payments and a recent auto‑loan inquiry. A 35‑year‑old who missed one mortgage payment but has consistently paid a car loan for three years may see the missed mortgage dilute the standard FICO more than Auto Score 2, which will still reflect the strong auto‑payment streak and therefore keep the auto‑loan offer competitive.

A recent bankruptcy that cleared six months ago will weigh less in Auto Score 2 if the borrower has reopened an auto financing line and made all payments on time, whereas dealer bureau scores may flag the file as high risk due to the lack of older tradelines.

Here are three typical renter profiles and the outcomes landlords usually see when they run a FICO score or VantageScore check.

• Strong‑Credit renter - FICO 720 + or VantageScore 750 +. Landlords approve instantly, often waive the security deposit or accept a shorter lease, because the high score meets the 'good‑credit' threshold detailed in the earlier section on accepted score ranges.
• Borderline‑Credit renter - FICO 620‑699 or VantageScore 650‑749. Landlords typically request a higher deposit, a co‑signer, or a 12‑month trial lease; approval remains likely if income satisfies the 2.5 × monthly rent rule discussed in 'what landlords care about besides your numeric score.' 2023 rental‑screening trends show this middle‑ground group accounts for roughly 35 % of applicants.
• No‑Credit or thin‑file renter - little or no credit history, score below 600 or absent. Landlords often rely on alternative data (rent‑pay history, utilities) or require a guarantor; approval odds improve markedly with steady employment and strong personal references, as outlined in the 'no credit history? how you still get approved' section.