Which FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) Score Do Landlords Use?

Landlords usually see the FICO Score 8 that a tenant‑screening service pulls from the three major credit bureaus, though some services have shifted to FICO 9 or older versions such as FICO 5.

• Most screening platforms (e.g., RentTrack, Cozy) report the FICO 8 model because it balances payment‑history weight and recent‑activity sensitivity.
• A minority of landlords who use newer services (e.g., TransUnion SmartMove) receive the FICO 9 version, which discounts medical debt more aggressively.
• If a service still runs older algorithms, it may show FICO 5 or 6; these scores tend to be higher for borrowers with thin credit files.
• Many landlords rely on the 'credit‑based score' supplied by the screening company rather than pulling the report themselves, so the exact version depends on the vendor's default.
• When a landlord requests a custom report, they can ask for a specific FICO version, but this is uncommon unless the property is high‑value or the applicant is a corporate tenant.

• Many landlords prefer FICO Score 8 because it balances payment history and newer factors, and it's the version most screening services provide FICO Score 8 prevalence.
• Some property managers opt for FICO Score 9 when they want a stricter view of recent credit behavior, yet they still accept Score 8 as comparable.
• A minority of landlords still use older versions such as Score 5 or 4 if their software hasn't updated; they usually translate those numbers to the modern 300‑850 scale.
• The exact version landlords see hinges on the tenant‑screening service chosen; the next section details how those services pick the score landlords view.

Tenant‑screening companies pull the credit file, then decide which version of the 300‑850 FICO score to show landlords, usually based on the service's default model and any landlord preferences.

1. Identify the credit bureau - Most platforms partner with Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Each bureau supplies the same consumer's credit data but may calculate different FICO versions (Score 8, 9, etc.).
2. Apply the service's default scoring model - Services such as RentPrep or Cozy use a proprietary rental‑score algorithm that translates raw credit data into a single 'rental score.' TransUnion's SmartMove, for example, delivers its own credit‑based rental score, not a FICO Score 8.
3. Map the proprietary score to a FICO range - To keep landlords comfortable, the platform converts its internal rating into the familiar 300‑850 scale, labeling it as a 'FICO‑style' score.
4. Honor landlord‑requested versions - Many providers let landlords specify a preferred FICO version (e.g., Score 9) or request the raw bureau report. If the landlord opts in, the service pulls that exact score instead of the default.
5. Present the final number - The chosen score appears on the screening report alongside other details (payment history, debt‑to‑income). Landlords then compare it to the cutoffs discussed in the next section.

(See TransUnion SmartMove rental‑score overview for how the proprietary model works.)

The only reliable way to see the exact number a landlord will receive is to generate a tenant‑screening report from the same service the landlord uses. Sign up with a reputable tenant‑screening service - for example, The Credit People tenant‑screening portal - and request a 'landlord‑view' credit report. The report displays the landlord‑view score (often a FICO Score 8 or FICO Score 9 variant) that the screening company will share with the property manager.

Because most screening firms apply a proprietary 'landlord' or 'tenant' version of a FICO model, that score can differ from the soft‑pull FICO you see on your personal credit statement. To align the numbers, request the full landlord‑view report and compare the model label (e.g., FICO Score 8 - Tenant version) with the version shown on your consumer report. If they match, you now know the exact figure the landlord will see; if not, you understand the expected variance and can explain it during the application.

Landlords usually set one of five FICO score thresholds when screening applicants.

• 620 or below - many landlords label this 'high risk' and often reject the application outright. Apartment List explains the 620 cutoff.
• 621‑649 - commonly considered 'borderline'; landlords may request a larger security deposit or a co‑signer.
• 650‑679 - typically seen as 'acceptable'; most standard leases approve applicants at this range.
• 680‑699 - often regarded as 'good'; landlords feel comfortable offering standard terms without extra protections.
• 700 and above - frequently viewed as 'excellent'; tenants usually qualify for the best rates and minimal deposit requirements.

Landlords look past the raw FICO number and read the credit profile that produced it. They commonly examine payment history, credit‑utilization rate, length of credit history, recent hard inquiries, and the mix of revolving versus installment accounts; a 680 score with 45 % utilization may flag risk even though the numeric value sits in the 'fair' range.

Tenants with a FICO Score 8 of 750 or higher typically secure a lease almost immediately, while those around 640 often face higher deposits or must provide a co‑signer.

Typical rental outcomes by FICO range

• 750  -  850: Landlords usually approve within one day, offer standard security deposits, and grant access to premium units.
• 700  -  749: Approval is common; landlords may require a modestly higher deposit (often 1½ months' rent).
• 660  -  699: Many landlords still approve, but they often ask for a larger deposit (up to 2 months), a guarantor, or a shorter lease term.
• 620  -  659: Approval becomes conditional; landlords frequently request a co‑signer, a sizable deposit (2  -  3 months), or proof of higher income.
• Below 620: Many landlords decline outright, or they will only consider the applicant with a strong guarantor and a deposit of three months or more.

These patterns come from industry analyses such as TransUnion's rental‑screening guide and Zillow Rental Manager's FICO cutoffs study.

Understanding how low scores are viewed sets the stage for the next section on what landlords actually see when your FICO is below the typical cutoffs.

Landlords receive a specific FICO® score - not a vague 'credit rating' - and most tenant‑screening services today report the FICO® Score 8 or one of the newer mortgage‑focused models (FICO® Score 2, 4, 5) that range from 300 to 850; many set a cutoff around 620 before they consider an applicant further.

Beyond the three‑digit number, landlords typically see the underlying credit report details the screening service provides: recent late payments, collections, charge‑offs, and the length of credit history; they use these data points to gauge risk even when the score sits in the low‑600s, often weighing a clean recent history more heavily than a single early‑career miss.

You can still secure a rental even if your FICO score sits just below the usual landlord cutoff.

1. Show strong income - Provide recent pay stubs or a job‑offer letter that demonstrate a rent‑to‑income ratio of at least 30 %. Many landlords weigh income higher than a borderline score.
2. Offer a larger security deposit - Propose a deposit equal to two months' rent; this often convinces landlords to overlook a score in the 630 - 660 range. (NAR research on deposit flexibility)
3. Explain credit gaps - Write a brief note clarifying any recent medical debt, student loans, or a single missed payment. A clear explanation can shift a landlord's focus from the raw number to the overall story.
4. Add alternative credit - Submit utility, phone, or rent‑payment histories from services like Experian Boost. These data points can push the effective score upward in the eyes of many landlords.
5. Secure a co‑signer - If a family member or friend with a solid FICO Score 8 or 9 signs the lease, landlords often accept applicants with scores as low as 600.
6. Maintain low credit utilization - Keep revolving balances under 30 % of the total limit; even a modest reduction can raise a borderline score by 20 - 40 points.
7. Request a 'soft' pull - Ask the screening service to run a soft inquiry rather than a hard one; this avoids further score damage during the application process.
8. Provide positive references - Supply letters from previous landlords or employers that attest to reliability; many landlords give weight to these references when the FICO number is borderline.

Landlords that encounter a prospective tenant with no traditional credit file typically rely on alternative data sources to assess risk.

• Rental‑payment history from previous leases or services like TransUnion Rental Insight (commonly preferred)
• Verified utility, phone, or cable bill payments (many landlords accept three‑month streaks)
• Bank‑account statements showing steady income and low overdraft frequency (often required for 30‑day review)
• Alternative credit scores such as Experian Connect or FICO Score 2 (used by many screening platforms)
• Employment verification and recent pay stubs (typically required for applicants without credit)
• A co‑signer or guarantor with an established credit profile (frequently offsets lack of personal credit)

Co‑signers let many landlords treat a low tenant FICO score as less risky by adding the co‑signer's credit profile to the screening report; the landlord usually sees both scores and may apply the higher one to meet their cutoff.

For example, if a tenant's FICO 8 is 620 and the co‑signer's FICO 9 is 750, many landlords will approve the application because the combined file satisfies the common 650 - 700 threshold they use (see the '5 FICO cutoffs landlords commonly use' section). Some landlords require each party to meet the cutoff, while others accept the co‑signer's score alone if the tenant's score falls below the limit. In a borderline case - tenant 640, co‑signer 710 - landlords often request a higher security deposit instead of rejecting the lease, reflecting how the co‑signer improves the overall risk perception.

Conversely, if both scores are low (e.g., 580 and 590), the co‑signer provides little benefit and the landlord may still decline or ask for a guarantor with stronger credit. This dual‑score view carries over into the 'if your FICO is low, what landlords actually see' section, where the presence of a solid co‑signer can shift the landlord's decision from 'reject' to 'conditional approve'.

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• Many landlords skip the FICO score altogether and rely on documented cash flow, such as recent pay stubs or a full‑time employment verification, to gauge an applicant's ability to pay rent.
• Commonly they request a rent‑payment history from a prior landlord or a third‑party service like TransUnion Rental Screening, which shows on‑time payments even when no traditional credit exists.
• Some property managers accept bank statements covering the last two to three months, using the average balance and regular expense patterns as a proxy for creditworthiness.
• Utility‑bill records or telecom payment histories are often used as proof of regular payments; many landlords treat a six‑month streak of on‑time electricity bills as equivalent to a modest FICO score.
• Personal or professional references, especially from former landlords or employers, are frequently weighted heavily; many landlords consider a strong reference chain enough to waive the credit check.