Applying and moving in
Renting with a 600s credit score in South Florida
A credit score in the 600s won't rule you out of most South Florida rentals, but it moves the focus to the rest of your application: income, rental history and what you can offer up front. FICO calls 580 to 669 fair and 670 to 739 good, so a few points can change how a landlord reads you. Pull your own reports first, fix what you can, and ask each landlord its minimum before you pay to apply.
Updated Last checked 4 min read
Quick answer
- FICO bands: below 580 poor, 580 to 669 fair, 670 to 739 good.
- Check all three credit reports free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Payment history is 35% of a FICO score and amounts owed 30%.
- Ask the minimum score before paying an application fee.
- A guarantor, a bigger deposit or a roommate can carry a fair score.
On this page
What a 600s score means to a landlord
| FICO score | FICO calls it | How a landlord tends to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Below 580 | Poor | Expect questions, and likely a guarantor or extra deposit |
| 580 to 669 | Fair | Often fine with strong income and clean rental history |
| 670 to 739 | Good | Meets most landlords' bars |
| 740 and up | Very good or exceptional | Rarely the issue |
A 640 with three years of on-time rent and a steady job often beats a 700 with a recent eviction, because what a landlord wants to know is whether you'll pay.
Start with your own reports
You can get your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. Read them before a landlord does. Look for accounts that aren't yours, late payments you know were on time, and old debts listed twice.
Dispute errors with the bureau that shows them and keep the paperwork. Screening companies pull from those files, so a fix there helps everywhere.
Quick wins before you apply
- Pay card balances down. Amounts owed make up 30% of a FICO score, so lower balances against your limits can lift it once the new balances are reported.
- Get current. Payment history is 35% of the score. Bring any past-due account current before you apply.
- Hold off on new credit. A new car loan the week before you apply adds a payment the landlord will count.
If you're moving soon, tell us your score range and we'll point you to owners who read the whole application. With a few months to spare, a plan pays off more than a scramble, so see what could lift your score and in what order.
Build the application around your score
- Bring proof of steady income at or near 3 times the rent, and bank statements showing a few months of rent saved.
- Line up references from past landlords who will say you paid and kept the place well.
- Write a short, honest note on any rough patch: what happened, what changed, how you pay rent now.
- Ask someone with strong credit to act as a guarantor.
- Offer a larger deposit, if the landlord accepts it and you can afford it comfortably.
- Apply with a roommate whose income and credit count toward the application.
- Look at homes owned by individuals, who read applications themselves, as well as large complexes with fixed cutoffs.
- Bare
- A 615 score and pay stubs at 3.1 times the rent
- Built out
- The same, plus two landlord references, a three-sentence note on old medical bills, and an offer of a second month of deposit
Ask before you pay an application fee
Find out what the landlord looks for first, such as a minimum score, income of a set multiple of the rent, or no past evictions. If a home has a firm rule you don't meet, keep the fee and move on. Condos may add their own association standards on top.
Ask before you apply
Send your budget and score range to hello@rentvana.com and an agent will tell you which listings are worth applying to. Renters never pay Rentvana.
Questions people ask
Can I rent an apartment in Florida with a 600 credit score?
Yes, many renters do. Expect to show strong income and rental history, and be ready to offer a guarantor or a larger deposit for landlords with higher bars.
What credit score do most landlords want?
There's no Florida standard. Each landlord sets its own, and many care more about rent history and income than the score. Ask before you pay to apply.
Does a rental application hurt my credit score?
A landlord's credit check is usually a soft or tenant-screening inquiry, but some pull a hard inquiry. Ask which kind before you apply to several places.
How fast can I raise my score before applying?
Paying card balances down and fixing reporting errors are the fastest moves, since amounts owed are 30% of a FICO score. Changes show once the new balances are reported.
Free help from Rentvana
Tell us your score range and budget, and we'll point you to homes worth applying for.
Renters never pay Rentvana. A licensed agent replies within 1 hour, 8am to 9pm.
Questions first? Call 888-601-8344 or email hello@rentvana.com.
Words in this guide
Sources
- myFICO: What is a FICO Score?myfico.com
- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion: free weekly credit reportsexperianplc.com
- CFPB: What is a tenant screening report?consumerfinance.gov
Checked against these sources on by Rentvana Editorial. If something has changed, email hello@rentvana.com and we'll fix it.
Questions?
Call 888-601-8344 to talk to a licensed agent, or email hello@rentvana.com and one gets back to you within 1 hour, 8am to 9pm. Renters never pay Rentvana.