Having a bad credit score can be one of the most disappointing and frustrations situations to get yourself into. On top of the stress that you already have about paying your debts and getting yourself out from under all that interest, you find it affecting other areas of your life like being able to find a home.
It doesn’t have to mean you can’t be approved, however. All it takes is some perseverance and trying an alternative angle. Here are some tips for working around the challenge of having a bad credit score when you need to find a new place to live.
Ask Your Friends and Family
Before going straight to a rental agent or scrolling through Craigslist, consider reaching out to your network about whether anyone has any leads or if they themselves might be renting something. Social Media can be a fantastic tool when it comes to things like needing recommendations or leads.
People that know you and trust you are much more likely to overlook your credit score since they know you are good for your word. If you reach out to your friends and family and no one comes back with anything that works for you, then you can rule out that possibility and move forward with looking in other places outside of your circle.
Provide Letters of Recommendation
Try asking people that hold a high opinion of you, or ideally, an old landlord to write a letter recommending you as a tenant. It should include positive points about your reliability and the fact that you are gainfully employed, honest, and responsible.
This doesn’t always work but it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. It’s worth trying whatever it takes when you want something bad enough. Your friends and family will most likely be delighted to help out and if anything it will be a nice boost to your self-esteem to see such nice things written about your character.
Offer To Put Down Several Months of Rent Upfront
If your potential landlord says something along the lines of “I would love to accept you as a tenant but unfortunately your credit score is just too low.” Don’t accept no for an answer! Offering to pay future rent upfront if you can.
If you don’t have the money, consider waiting to look for places to live until you have some savings put aside and can afford to make this kind of offer.
The last thing you want to do, however, is borrow money or take out a loan to be able to put down several months of rent. Remember, borrowing irresponsibly is how you got yourself into the mess in the first place!