How to rent an apartment with no credit history
First-time renters often face steep hurdles when applying for housing because they have a thin credit score and limited income. This makes it difficult to pass standard background and financial screenings, leaving young movers stuck without a clear path to secure an apartment.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Ordering necessities online instead of walking or taking public transit to stores
- 2Using expensive rideshare services like Uber
- 3using a credit card strictly for regular bills on autopay and paying the balance off monthly
- 4using a cosigner for apartment rentals
- 5offering higher security deposits to landlords
- 6Buying a car outright instead of renting
- 7Using a secured credit card for small everyday purchases and paying it off immediately
- 8Paying higher deposits or rates for services and insurance
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“So far, we've had one problem caused by not having a credit card; after landing, we were unable to rent a car”source ↗
“my main concerns I think are that I've never rented before, my credit score is thin because I'm young and just never really built it, and just general moving jitters.”source ↗
“Hi, I was wondering if I were able to get a 3k loan from a credit union easily despite not having a “credit” history?”source ↗
“My car needs to be fixed and I don’t really want to buy another since this one’s paid off and I’m not very liquid on cash atm and have until next month before I don’t have a ride to work.”source ↗
“Unless you are staying there for the rest of your life, it may come up literally every time you rent somewhere new.”source ↗
“My employer for example has restricted covenants on carrying credit card debt while being employed.”source ↗
“I'm worried if after uni I wanted to rent and they ask for a mandatory credit score”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4How to get a mortgage without a traditional salary or employment history
- 2Why can't I rent a house instead of a commercial space?
- 2Any companies offer rental discounts?
- 2When should I hire a process server for an unresponsive tenant?
- 3How to pay credit card debt with no job and leaving the country
- 5Why are parents applying for apartments on behalf of adult children?