Credit scores and renting

Quick answer: Landlords sometimes run credit checks to decide if they’ll rent to you. A higher credit score improves your chances, but you can still rent with a lower one. Reporting your rent to credit reference agencies, like Experian, can help you to improve your score.

Some landlords will do a credit check to help them decide whether to rent to you. This means they look at some of the information on your credit report. Having a higher credit score means you’re more likely to pass the check. It’s possible to rent with a low credit score, but you may have fewer options. There are several ways to improve your score, like adding on-time rent payments to your report. There are other ways to show you’ll be a good tenant — for example, using a guarantor or providing references.

Our guide covers what you need to know about credit scores and renting. We’ve answered several common questions, including what credit score is needed to rent a house and what you can do if you want to rent with a ‘bad’ credit score.

Do credit scores affect renting?

Landlords don’t see your credit score, so there’s no ‘magic number’ which guarantees you’ll be approved but your score does reflect the information on your credit report. Some landlords do a credit check when you apply. If you have a higher score, they’re more likely to see your information in a positive light.

Applying to rent soon? Check your free score and report with the Experian app.

What credit score is needed to rent a house?

There’s no specific credit score needed for renting. What matters is how landlords view the information on your credit report. Some may be stricter about what they accept than others. For example, some landlords may think you’re too much of a risk if you have a county court judgment. But others may still consider your application — especially if you can convince them you’ll pay rent on time.

It’s still worth checking your score. While there’s no minimum credit score for renting, a higher score is likely to mean that you have more options. There are several ways to improve your score — including reporting rent payments made on time.

What can landlords see on a credit report?

Landlords usually run a soft credit check. A soft credit check won’t affect your credit score. It also means that landlords won’t see as much information as credit lenders typically would. A soft check shows public records like:

• Your name and address on the electoral roll
• County court judgments (CCJs)
• Bankruptcies
• Individual voluntary arrangements
• Debt relief orders

This information helps landlords confirm your identity and understand if you’re likely to pay rent on time. They won’t see your payments or borrowings from lenders.

How to improve your credit score when renting

If you rent, there’s a new way to build your score without having to take out credit. Your Experian 1250 Credit Score now includes reported rent payments — pay on time and you should see your score go up. You can report rent using a Rental Exchange scheme partner. You will need to submit six months of payment history, or a valid tenancy agreement, before your payments are reported to Experian. You can’t add past payments. So, it may take six months to see the impact on your Experian Credit Score. Make sure you set up reporting before you think you’ll need it.

For other ways to improve your score, check out our guide to improving your credit score.

Credit Score Expert

Our credit score expert says

You can now add rent to your credit report and improve your Experian Credit Score by paying on time. John Webb, Experian UK

Renting a house with a bad credit score

Renting with a low credit score can be done. Not all landlords do credit checks. Others may let you rent with ‘bad’ credit if they’re confident that you’ll pay on time. It can be helpful to:

• Check your credit report. Make sure your information is correct and up to date. Ask for a notice of correction if there’s an error. Improve your score if you can.
• Use a guarantor — This is someone, often a parent, who agrees to pay your rent if you can’t. They usually need to pass a rental credit check. Learn more about being a guarantor.
• Show your savings or income — Bank statements or payslips can help show landlords you can afford the rent. Cover up your account numbers for security.
• Provide references — This might be a previous landlord, your current employer, or even a teacher or mentor who can explain why you’d be a good tenant.
• Show past rent payments — If you have a history of paying rent on time, your bank statements, or rent book (if you have one) may prove this. If you reported rent to the Rental Exchange scheme, you can also show the payments on your credit report.
• Offer more rent in advance — Only if you can afford it. From May 2026, landlords aren’t allowed to accept more than one month’s rent in advance.

Shelter's guide to renting with poor credit provides more advice on how to find the right landlord, get help from your council and deal with debts.

Can I rent without a credit score?

It’s possible to rent without a credit history, but you’ll have fewer options. It can be helpful to use a guarantor, provide references, or show proof of income or past rent payments. If you’re new to the UK, consider showing a credit report from the country you lived in before. It’s also worth building your credit history in the UK.

Rent reporting: frequently asked questions

Got more questions about how credit scores and renting work? Here are the answers to some common ones we get asked.

Do you need a good credit score to rent?

You don’t need a good credit score to rent a property, though it can make it easier. Landlords won’t see your score, but your score shows how landlords are likely to view you. Some landlords don’t do credit checks, and some may accept you with a low credit score. But they may ask for more proof you’ll pay them, like a guarantor or references.

Do landlords check credit scores?

Landlords won’t see the credit score you see unless you share it with them. But some landlords check information on your credit report, including public records like county court judgments and debt relief orders.

Can you use rent payments to build your credit score?

Yes, you can report rent payments to credit reference agencies like Experian through a Rental Exchange scheme partner. Paying rent on time improves your Experian Credit Score, while paying late lowers it. You can report rent yourself using services from CreditLadder , Canopy , Emma , Wollit or UpliftMoney .

Can I rent if I have a CCJ?

It’s possible to rent with a CCJ, but sometimes harder. A county court judgment (CCJ) is when a court orders you to pay money you owe. It’s recorded on your credit report and stays there for six years. Landlords will see your CCJ if they do a credit check when you apply to rent. They may think you’re less likely to pay rent on time — so it can be helpful to explain what happened and how you’re managing payments differently now. Consider offering a guarantor or proof of paying rent on time in the past.