How to Pass a Rental Credit Check to Rent a House?

Renting a house today almost always involves one important step: Passing a rental credit check. Whether you’re a first-time renter, someone rebuilding credit, or simply trying to understand what landlords look for, knowing how credit affects your rental application can make or break your approval chances.

For landlords and property investors, especially in places like Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Yukon, Moore, and Midwest City, credit checks help predict whether a tenant will pay rent on time. For renters, understanding these checks helps you prepare, avoid surprises, and improve your odds of getting approved for the home you want.

The good news? You don’t need perfect credit to rent a house. Many renters with fair or even low credit still get approved every day, if they know how to prepare.

After more than two decades of managing rental properties in Oklahoma, I’ll break everything down in this guide, so you can take action today.

What Is a Rental Credit Check?

A rental credit check is a part of tenant screening where a landlord reviews your credit history to see how you manage money. Think of it as a financial snapshot.

What Landlords Look At

Most landlords and property managers look at:

• Your credit score
• Payment history (on-time vs late payments)
• Debt amounts
• Collections (unpaid accounts sent to a collector)
• Utility bills
• Evictions
• Bankruptcies
• Rental history, such as missed rent or broken leases

They use this information to see how reliable you might be as a renter.

Why Credit Matters When Renting

Credit helps landlords answer questions like:

• Will this tenant pay rent on time?
• Are they responsible for the monthly bills?
• Is there a risk they might default?

It’s not personal. It’s simply a risk tool.

For example, if your credit shows responsible habits, you’re viewed as low-risk. If it shows frequent late payments, collections, or an inconsistent history, you’re high-risk.

What Score is Good Enough?

Here’s where renters often get worried, but the truth is: Most renters don’t have perfect credit. There is also no universal minimum score for renting a house in the U.S.; every landlord sets their own standards.

Some helpful data:

• The average credit score of renters in the U.S. is about 650-670.
• Many landlords accept scores around 600-650 if income and references are strong.
• In Oklahoma City, where rents are still affordable, landlords often focus more on income stability than perfect credit.

So if your score isn’t high, don’t panic. You have more options than you may think.

How to Check Your Credit Before Applying

Checking your credit ahead of time is one of the smartest things renters can do. It gives you time to fix issues, gather documents, or prepare explanations:

Step 1: Get your free credit reports

Use any of these:

• AnnualCreditReport.com – The only official free report (available weekly)
• Experian FICO Score – Shows your true FICO score
• Credit Karma/Credit Sesame – Free educational scores (slightly different)

Step 2: Check for errors

Common mistakes include:

• Incorrect addresses
• Duplicate accounts
• Paid accounts still listed as unpaid
• Accounts that don’t belong to you
• Wrong balances
• Old collections that should’ve expired

Step 3: Dispute any errors

You can dispute incorrect items with:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

Errors are extremely common. Fixing them can boost your score fast, sometimes in 30 days or less.

Step 4: Check your FICO score

Landlords usually use FICO, not VantageScore.

You can get FICO from:

• Experian
• Your bank
• Your credit card provider

Step 5: Review your risk areas

Ask yourself:

• Are there recent late payments?
• Are any accounts in Collections?
• Is my credit card utilization over 30%?
• Is my income high enough to qualify?

Knowing your situation helps you prepare for questions or fix issues ahead of time.

How to Pass a Rental Credit Check (Even With Low Credit)

If your credit is low, don’t stress. Many renters in the U.S., including Oklahoma, don’t have perfect credit. Landlords know this. What they really want to see is financial stability, honesty, and proof that you can pay rent consistently.

Below are the best strategies that actually work, even if your credit is still a work in progress.

1. Pay Down Small Balances

One of the fastest ways to improve your score is by reducing your credit card utilization, the percentage of your credit limit that you’re using.

Example:

If your credit limit is $1,000 and you owe $700, that’s 70% utilization. Try to get this number under:

• 30% for a basic boost
• 10% for a strong boost

Why does this work?

Credit utilization makes up 30% of your FICO score, and lowering it can raise your score in a little as 30 days.

This is also one of the first things landlords notice: whether you rely heavily on credit or manage it responsibly.

2. Remove Errors From Your Report

About 1 in 5 Americans has credit report errors. Even one false late payment or a duplicate collection can drop your score by 60-100 points.

Common errors include:

• Wrong balances
• Old accounts are still marked as open
• Late payments that never happened
• Incorrect personal information
• Accounts that don’t belong to you

Fixing these issues can instantly strengthen your rental application. Plus, when you tell a landlord you’ve recently corrected credit report errors, it shows responsibility and awareness, qualities landlords value.

3. Get Current on Past-Due Accounts

Even if you can’t fully pay off an old account, showing progress matters.

For example, paying just $20-$50 toward a delinquent balance:

• Stops additional negative marks
• Shows positive momentum
• Proves financial responsibility
• Gives landlords confidence

Landlords don’t expect perfection. They want to see that you’re working toward improvement.

4. Offer a Higher Security Deposit

Money reduces the landlord’s risk.

In Oklahoma, especially OKC, Edmond, and Norman, landlords are often willing to overlook low credit if you offer:

• 1.5 month’s deposit
• 2 months’s deposit
• An additional pet deposit if you have pets
• Pre-paid rent (1-2 months ahead)

Why this helps:

A higher deposit guarantees protection if something goes wrong. This is especially common with privately owned homes, which are very common in Oklahoma.

5. Provide Strong Proof of Income

Strong, consistent income can outweigh weak credit.

Bring:

• Pay stubs (last 30-60 days)
• W-2s or 1099s
• Bank statements
• Job offer letters (if starting a new position)
• Self-employment income summaries

If your income meets the typical requirements, usually 3x the rent in Oklahoma, many landlords approve you even with fair or low credit.

6. Get a Co-Signer or Guarantor

A co-signer is someone who:

• Has strong credit
• Agrees to cover rent if you ever miss a payment
• Reduces the landlord’s risk

Common co-signers include:

• Parents
• Siblings
• Adult children
• Close friends
• Military supervisors
• Employers (in rare cases)

In student-heavy areas like Norman (near OU), co-signers are extremely common.

7. Provide Reference Letters

Good references build trust instantly.

Ask for letters from:

• Previous landlords
• Employers or supervisors
• Military leaders
• Roommates (if they can speak to your reliability)
• Long-term mentors

A landlord who sees you have a strong track record with others is more likely to take a chance on you now.

8. Write a Short Letter of Explanation

If your credit took a dip for reasons out of your control, explain it.

Landlords appreciate honesty, especially when your situation has improved.

Examples:

• Job loss during COVID
• Medical bills
• Divorce
• Emergency expenses
• Identity theft
• Temporary financial hardship

Keep it short, polite, and solution-focused. End your letter with what you’re doing now to stay financially stable.

9. Show Bank Statements to Prove Stability

Landlords want proof that you have:

• Savings
• Consistent deposit history
• Stable cash flow

Even showing $1,500-$5,000 in savings can make a major difference when your credit score is low.

10. Use Deposit Insurance Alternatives

Some companies offer “deposit replacement” services that let you pay a small monthly fee instead of a large upfront deposit.

Examples include:

• Rhino
• Jetty
• SuretyBond-style providers
• Deposit insurance options offered by local OKC managers

These programs are designed for renters with low credit who still want access to quality homes.

Local Oklahoma Tips for Passing a Rental Credit Check

If you’re renting in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Yukon, Moore, Mustang, or Midwest City, your rental experience may feel very different from places like Dallas, Phoenix, or San Francisco.

Here are local insights that can help renters with low or fair credit get approved.

1. Oklahoma Landlords Focus Heavily on Income Stability

Credit matters, but income matters more. In Oklahoma, property owners often prioritize:

• Steady employment
• Consistent paycheck history
• A long-term job
• Reliable household income

than having a perfect credit score.

A renter who earns 3x the rent and has a stable job history will often get approved even with a score in the 580-620 range.

2. Many Oklahoma Rentals Are Privately Owned (More Flexible)

Unlike high-cost states where large corporations dominate rentals, Oklahoma has:

• Thousands of single-family rentals
• Small landlords
• Family-owned properties
• Local property managers who actually talk to you

Private landlords tend to be more flexible with:

• Credit issues
• Past late payments
• Co-signers
• Deposit negotiations
• Rental history explanations

This means you have more options, even if your credit isn’t strong. Also, great news for renters rebuilding their financial life.

3. Income Requirements Are Generally Lower Than Other States

In high-cost cities, renters must earn 4-5x the rent to qualify. But in Oklahoma:

• Most rentals require 2.5x-3x the rent in income
• Some private landlords accept 2x the rent, especially for older homes
• Affordable rent makes qualifying easier

Example:

If rent is $1,250/month, many OKC landlords approve applicants earning $2,500-$3,750/month.

4. Evictions Carry Extra Weight in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s eviction process is faster and cheaper than in many states, so landlords screen eviction history carefully. If you have an old eviction:

• Bring a letter explaining what happened
• Show proof that the balance was paid
• Provide recent rental history with no issues
• Offer a higher deposit
• Bring a co-signer

Most landlords will still consider you, especially if the eviction is 3+ years old and your income is stable now.

5. Local Property Managers Prefer Transparency

Companies in Oklahoma (like local firms in Edmond, Yukon, or Moore) value communication. They value renters who:

• Respond quickly
• Explain issues honestly
• Bring documents upfront
• Don’t hide past mistakes

Trying to hide things almost always gets applicants denied. Transparency helps you more than you think.

How to Build or Improve Your Credit Before Renting

If you have even 30-60 days before applying, you can significantly improve your rental credit profile.

Below are the fastest and most reliable ways to boost your rental credit score, with real impact. These tips work for renters across the U.S., including Oklahoma.

1. Use 30-Day Credit Boost Strategies

These quick steps often raise scores 30-70 points:

• Pay one credit card down below 30%
• Get a balance under 10% for a bigger boost
• Ask your credit card company for a limit insurance
• Pay off small medical or utility collections
• Remove inaccurate late payments

These strategies strengthen your application immediately.

2. Get a Secured Credit Card

A secured card is one of the easiest ways to build credit. How it works:

1. You put down a deposit ($200-$300).
2. The bank gives you a matching credit limit.
3. You use the card for small purchases.
4. You pay the balance off every month.

Within 3-6 months, your credit can improve enough to qualify for almost any rental home.

3. Report Your Rental Payments to Credit Bureaus

Millions of renters pay rent on time every month but get zero credit for it. You can change that by using:

• BoomPay
• RentReporters
• LevelCredit
• Experian RentBureau

Reporting 12-24 months of rental history can add 30-60 points to your score.

4. Avoid New Hard Inquiries Before Renting

Hard inquiries slightly lower your score. Avoid applying for:

• New credit cards
• Auto loans
• Personal loans
• Financing plans (furniture, phones, etc.)

Within 60 days of applying for a rental.

5. Build a Strong Payment History

Payment history makes up 35% of your credit score, the largest single factor. To build a perfect record:

• Set bills to auto-pay
• Use phone reminders
• Pay every account before the due date
• Avoid partial payments unless it’s part of a payment arrangement

Six months of clean payments can reshape your entire financial profile.

You Can Pass a Rental Credit Check, Even With Low Credit

Passing a rental credit check doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Most landlords aren’t looking for perfect credit; they just want proof that you can pay rent on time and handle money responsibly.

Whether your credit is great, average, or still a work in progress, there are always:

• steps you can take
• documents you can prepare
• strategies that improve your chances

And if you’re renting in Oklahoma City or nearby areas, the standards are often more flexible than in major cities.

Prepare well, stay honest, provide strong income proof, and you’ll be ready to secure the rental home you want.

If you’re renting in Oklahoma and need help getting approved, working with a local property manager like OKC Home Realty Services can make the process smoother.

FAQs About Passing a Rental Credit Check