Rental credit checks

Quick answer: Landlords carry out credit checks to confirm your identity and see if you’re likely to pay on time. These checks are free to you and don’t affect your credit score. Landlords need your permission to do a credit check but saying no may affect your application.

Landlords will often run a credit check when you apply to rent. This helps them confirm your identity and understand if you’re likely to pay rent on time. A rental credit report check is usually a ‘soft’ check, meaning it won’t affect your credit score. A soft credit check shows your name and past addresses — as well as public records like county court judgments and debt relief orders.

A higher credit score can boost your chances of passing a renter’s credit check. One way to improve your score is by reporting rent to credit reference agencies like Experian — just make sure you pay on time or your score may go down instead.

Our guide explains the key things you need to know about credit reports for rental applications, including what to do if you think you might fail the rental credit report check.

What is a credit check for renting?

Some landlords or letting agents do a renter’s credit check when you apply to rent a property. This means they search information on your credit report like your name, address, and if there are public records saying you owe money. A renter’s credit check helps landlords understand if you’re likely to pay rent on time.

Landlords run other checks, too. You can learn about reference checks and the ‘right to rent’ check in the Citizens Advice guide to renting .

Can landlords check your credit score?

Landlords may use information from your report to calculate a score for you. But it won’t be the same as your Experian Credit Score. This is because different companies have their own ideas about how credit scores are calculated. It’s still worth viewing your credit score with Experian to get a general idea of how companies see you.

Do all landlords do credit checks?

Some, but not all. It takes time and money for landlords to check credit reports for rental applications, so some choose not to. Credit checks can be less common among private landlords who want to rent out a property quickly.

Do landlords need my permission to do a credit check?

Yes. Landlords have to get your permission to check your credit report. They might ask about this on the rental application form. If you don’t give permission, they may turn down your application. If you think you’ll fail the check, consider explaining your situation and how you’ll make payments on time.

Can a landlord charge me for a credit check?

No. Landlords and letting agents can’t force you to pay for a credit check. If they do, you can report them to Trading Standards — the Citizens Advice website explains how.

What does a rental credit check look for?

When landlords do a rental credit report check, they’re trying to understand if you’re likely to pay rent on time. Records like county court judgments or bankruptcy may make them think you’re a higher risk. A rental credit check also shows landlords you are who you say you are, helping prevent identity theft.

What can landlords see on a credit report?

A renter’s credit check is usually a soft credit check. This means the landlord will only see information from public records like:

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

Landlords and letting agents don’t see all the other things that lenders see when they do a full credit check. The landlord won’t see your current borrowings or payments to lenders. Also, a soft check won’t affect your credit score.

Can landlords see my past rent payments?

Only if they are reported and your landlord is part of the Rental Exchange scheme. If your past rent payments were reported through the Rental Exchange scheme, other landlords in the scheme may see them. The scheme lets tenants build an online history of their rent payments and report them to credit reference agencies. If you pay rent on time, reporting rent can improve your credit score and show other landlords you’re a reliable tenant.

If your rent hasn’t been reported, it won’t impact your credit report or credit score. And if your landlord isn’t part of the Rental Exchange scheme, they won’t be able to see your past rent payments.

Which credit agencies do landlords use?

Landlords can ask for credit information from any (or all) of the UK’s three credit reference agencies — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. It’s worth checking your report with all three to make sure your information is correct and up to date. Remember, each company has their own way of calculating your score, which is why your credit score is different on different sites.

Credit Score Expert

Our credit score expert says

A rental credit check is usually a soft check, so it won't affect your credit score. It's mainly used to confirm your identity and understand whether you're likely to pay rent on time. John Webb, Experian UK

How do I get a credit report for renting?

Some landlords may ask you to provide your own copy of your credit report. It’s up to you whether you agree to this. Get a free credit report for landlords with Experian — download a digital version using the Experian app or order a physical copy.

Will I pass a renter’s credit check?

You can’t know for sure until the check is done. But your credit report and score can give you an idea — and you may spot ways to improve your chances. Here are some steps to consider:

• Get your free score and report. It’s easy to view them on the go with the Experian app.
• Check for errors. The information on your report should be correct and up to date. If there’s something wrong, you can ask for a notice of correction.
• Look for records you may need to explain. These are things like county court judgments or debt relief orders. Landlords may want to understand why they happened and how you’re managing money now.
• Register to vote at your current address. Make sure your address on the electoral roll matches the one on your credit report.
• Try to boost your score. Your score is a reflection of the information on your report, so improving your score may help you pass a renter’s credit check.

Can I still rent if I fail a credit check?

It’s possible. Try explaining your situation and finding other ways to show you’ll pay rent on time, like:

• Using a guarantor — This is someone (often a family member) who legally agrees to pay rent for you if you can’t. Guarantors usually need to pass a rental credit check. Learn more about being a guarantor.
• Showing your savings or income — Bank statements or payslips may help to show a landlord you can pay them on time. Cover up your account numbers for security.
• Providing good references — Ask previous landlords for a reference if you’ve rented before. People like employers, teachers and mentors may also provide character references explaining why you’d be a responsible tenant.
• Offering more rent in advance — Only offer more if you can afford it. From May 2026, landlords can’t accept more than one month’s rent in advance and can be fined by the council if they do.

If a landlord turns you down because you failed a renter’s credit check, you can try again with another. It’s worth trying to improve your credit score in the meantime.

Did you know? Rent payments can improve your score

More companies are looking at rent payments, so we’ve updated our score to reflect this. Experian’s new 1250 score includes rent payments that are reported to us. This means you can now build your score by paying rent on time.

You can report rent yourself using a provider like

CreditLadder , Canopy , Emma , Wollit or UpliftMoney . Or you can ask your landlord or managing agent to report your rent to the Rental Exchange scheme, if you are a council or social housing tenant, or if they have more than 500 properties. Make sure to pay on time, as your score will go down if late payments are reported.

Make sure you set up reporting before you think you’ll need it. This is because 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 submit past payments. So, it may take six months to see the impact on your Experian Credit Score.

Rental credit checks: frequently asked questions

Got more questions about rental credit checks? Here are the answers to some common ones we get asked.

Do landlords do hard or soft credit checks?

Landlords generally do a soft check. This means they only see some basic information on your report, including your name, address and public records. A soft check doesn’t affect your credit score.

Can I do my own credit check for renting?

Some landlords may accept a credit report directly from you. Others may want to do their own renter’s credit check. They need your permission to do this. You’ll usually need to say yes if you want to continue with the rental application.

How to get a credit score for a landlord

Landlords often do their own credit check. But some may ask you for proof of your credit score. It’s up to you whether you decide to do this. You can get your free score and report using the Experian app.

What credit score are landlords looking for?

A higher score gives you more options, but there’s no specific score that guarantees approval. Some landlords accept people with low scores, especially if they think they’ll pay on time. Consider asking your landlord what they’re looking for. It’s worth trying to improve your score and learning more about how credit scores and renting work.

Can you rent in the UK without a credit score?

It’s possible, but you may have fewer options. There are ways to build a credit history in the UK — like registering to vote, getting a monthly phone contract, or reporting rent payments. If you’re new to the UK, consider showing a credit report from the country you lived in before. Landlords may also accept other evidence that you’ll pay on time, like references from previous landlords or payslips showing your income.