What Credit Scoring Is Needed For Apartment Renting?

By Dave Nyam •  Updated: 01/12/24 •  5 min read

Locating a South African property to rent may be pretty troublesome, especially if you have to go through several evaluations and references before being authorized to lease an apartment. One of the most usual and paramount assessments is the credit check, which is the tenant’s fiscal background record and creditworthiness. But what is a good credit score to rent an apartment? And how can you improve your credit score before renting the apartment? In this writing, we will answer both queries and share tricks and details for tenants and landlords.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

What Credit Scoring Is Needed For Apartment Renting?

Credit assessments are allowed under the Rental Housing Act 50 of 1999 but only with the tenant’s written consent and may only be processed by the landlord/letting agent. A financial dossier, the credit score details the tenant’s capital score, payment history, and outstanding debts, amongst other associated material.

A credit score is a rating from 0 to 999 or 0 to 1200, showing your credibility of credit valued against your financial behavior. Generally, this can be considered good if it is above 650 and extra good if it is above 700. Scores that are this high influence rental approval odds, influence tenants to ask for lower deposits or rent based on their eligible eviction protection, and enjoy better terms, among other basic reasons.

However, it is not all about ratings. A string of positive credit information like long credit history, low credit utilization ratio, and different credit types can offset a low score. On the other hand, limited or negative credit history, high credit utilization ratio, and single credit type can hinder loan approval.

Does Paying Rent Build Credit?

Punctual rent payments can boost your credit score, but only if reported to credit bureaus. Not all landlords do this, leaving tenants unable to leverage their timely payments. However, there are solutions. Renting through a professional agency that reports to credit bureaus like TPN or PayProp ensures your payments are recorded. This data is shared with other bureaus, reflecting your creditworthiness. Alternatively, request your landlord or agent to report your payments or manually join a rental reporting program. This might require proof of payments and a fee, but the potential credit score boost and future benefits could make it worthwhile.

Steps To Using Bad Credit To Rent An Apartment

Poor credit may make house hunting difficult, but not impossible. Consider these alternatives:

How To Increase Your Credit Score Before Renting An Apartment

Enhancing your credit grades before renting might be realized via these moves:

Is A Good Credit Score Needed To Rent?

This is not a query with a yes or no straightforward response but generally relies, going forward, on different aspects that enclose your rental case, such as the landlord, the letting agent, the rental field, and the rental apartment. However, having a good credit score could be needed to help the tenant rent an apartment as it indicates, to some degree, the financial condition or the creditworthiness of a tenant. The tenant can also be able to access better deals where, with a good credit score, they can reduce their deposit, the required rent, and interest.

However, apart from a good credit score, it is not the sole factor critical while renting an apartment. Landlords and letting agents consider the tenant’s income, employment history, rental history, landlord or agent references, guaranteed rent, and personal circumstances. So, while the potential tenant may possess a positive credit score, other requirements for documents and information to assure their suitability and compatibility status for the prospective rental property are crucial. Similarly, a tenant with a bad credit score may still be able to rent an apartment if they can present other evidence and assurances to pay for and take care of the property.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Keep Reading

How To Check Credit Scores On Standard Bank App

How To Check Credit Scores On Standard Bank App

We’ll also explore how to increase your credit limit within the app and provide tips if your home loan application is declined.

How to Check My Credit Limit on Edgars Account

How to Check My Credit Limit on Edgars Account

This article explains everything you want to know about checking your credit limit on your Edgars account. 

How Fast Can Credit Score Improve

How Fast Can Credit Score Improve

Our focus is to enlighten, educate and inform our readers about positivity. And this includes ways to improve your credit score; it is all about making your credit score look good.

Credit Score Auto Loan Calculator

Credit Score Auto Loan Calculator

The eligibility measure, how to utilize a credit rating auto loan calculator, a good credit grade for an automobile loan, the bottom-level credit grades to purchase a vehicle in South Africa

How Do Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score

How Do Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score

We will share some insight on how student loans affect your credit score and some of the related credit score issues with student loans.

How to Remove Hard Inquiries From Your Credit Report

How to Remove Hard Inquiries From Your Credit Report

You can remove the hard inquiries from your report. Read on to learn how to remove hard inquiries from your credit report.   

Why Is My Credit Score Different on Equifax and TransUnion?

Why Is My Credit Score Different on Equifax and TransUnion?

Today we will explain why in depth, and help you to better understand these differences. 

How Is Business Credit Score Calculated?

How Is Business Credit Score Calculated?

Join us as we take you through the composition and how business credit score is calculated.

How Many Points Does A Credit Check Take Off?

How Many Points Does A Credit Check Take Off?

in today’s blog post, our focus will be much more on credit checks and the number of points it takes from your credit score.   

How to Pay Credit Card Bills to Increase Credit Score

How to Pay Credit Card Bills to Increase Credit Score

This article explores the steps you can take to pay your credit card to increase your credit score.  

Do Multiple Bank Accounts Affect Your Credit Score?

Do Multiple Bank Accounts Affect Your Credit Score?

If you're one of the people wondering if multiple bank accounts affect credit score, we've you covered in this article.     

When Do the Credit Bureaus Update Credit Scores?

When Do the Credit Bureaus Update Credit Scores?

Today, we will look deeper into this often ill-defined and fuzzy aspect of credit scores.

How Do I get a loan Without A Credit Score?

How Do I get a loan Without A Credit Score?

In this blog post, we will take you through how a loan can be obtained without a credit score. We will delve into more topics on the absence of credit scores and its effect on securing a loan. 

When to Perform a Credit Check in South Africa

When to Perform a Credit Check in South Africa

Today, we will unpack some of the mystery around credit scores, when (and how) to check your own

How to Update Credit Score Information

How to Update Credit Score Information

You may calculate your credit score by looking at your credit history, which includes details such as the number of accounts you have