Credit Advice

Really it depends how much the agent is willing to use his brain.  If your FICO is the only way they approve renters then you may be SOL (**** outta luck).   

 In most cases they are only checking if you skipped out on rent before.

Some places don't check your credit report at all.

so...should i be up front and let them know it is low or just risk it.  most of the things affecting my credit score are like 5 years old except a few medical bills, 1 late car payment, and student loan issues. 

 credit report scores are up to each individual landlord to cope with... everyone has there own way of doing things. speaking for myself, I check criminal backgrounds and credit reports with every application I take, and the possible tenant pays $25 application fee for that cost. now i dont see the credit report, I just get the scores, a landlord report that tells me if youve ever skipped before, and a crimianl backgorund check that tells me if anyone on your rental app has ever been convicted of a felony, or currently wanted... Alot depends on someones rental app and down payment. the scores and background check are just one piece of the puzzle... if you walk in with first and last months rent security depost and a decent job your had for years, that looks a lot diferent than someone that has had several jobs in the last few years, who wants to pay me the deposit on friday..  in either case, if the criminal background check comes back with a hit, or I cant verify what you wrote on your rental app or your former land lord says you are a deatbeat, that is a much bigger problem than your credit scores...

In my experience... I've lived at a few different apartment complexes. Most never check your credit score unless stated. They always check rental history though to see if you've ever been evicted or made late/missed payments.

We went through the same thing. My advice is to rent from private parties, stay away from management companies. Be up front about your credit and if the landlord says they'll still have a look your chances are better. If they don't even want to look you already have your answer. We eventually found a landlord who (after being advised our credit was less than stellar) said she'd have a look anyways and then let us move in with a signficant deposit.