How to rent a house with bad credit

Learn how to rent a house in the UK with bad credit. Discover insights on credit checks, preparation, and improving your chances of approval.

Written by Hayley Bevan and Victoria Smith

Published: 22/12/25Published on December 22nd, 2025

Last reviewed: 22/12/25Last reviewed on December 22nd, 2025

8 mins read

Renting a house with bad credit can be challenging, but it isn’t impossible. Even if you have bad credit, you might find other ways to demonstrate sensible financial behaviour.

Whenever you make an application to rent a property, landlords or property management companies will usually run a credit check to assess your likelihood of making payments on time.

If there are reasons for concern in your report, it could be the case your application is rejected. Or, in more lenient instances, you might be asked to prove your creditworthiness in other ways.

If you have bad credit but want to rent a house, you’re not alone. As well as considering a credit card for bad credit, there are other actionable steps you can take to secure a property.

What is a rental credit check?

A rental credit check is part of a screening process landlords and property management companies usually action to get a sense of your borrowing behaviour.

As well as indicating your current debt, the check also highlights your credit card utilisation ratio, payment history, and any negative information such as loan defaults.

Who requires a rental credit check?

Before a landlord or property management company give you the keys to a property, they need to feel confident payments will be made on time. Especially if the rent is needed for mortgage repayments.

Where a credit check is part of the screening process, the landlord or property management company will legally need your permission to proceed as it involves processing personal data.

What is looked for in a rental credit check?

As part of the rental credit check, landlords and property management companies will have access to a range of information, such as:

· Credit utilisation ratio (percentage of the total available credit you’re using)

· Current debt accounts (including balances and minimum monthly payments)

· Payment history (which includes late and past-due payments)

· Loan defaults and any existing accounts currently in collection

· Records of bankruptcy, foreclosures, and repossessions

When is a rental credit check conducted?

A rental credit check is usually conducted after an application is submitted, but before the tenancy agreement is finalised. Depending on landlord policies and preferences, they could occur at other stages in the process.

Whenever a rental credit check is required, you’ll usually receive a request from a credit reference agency who has been instructed by the rental party. Before you approve the check, it’s important to read the terms and understand what’s involved.

Do you need to pass a credit check to rent in the UK?

It’s not always the case you need to pass a credit check to rent in the UK. Although a good credit score and healthy financial history is often a priority, it isn’t necessarily the only financial indicator a landlord or property management company will consider.

In some instances (particularly in the private rental market), a more flexible approach might be taken to consider your overall financial situation and rental history. So, even if you can’t prove your creditworthiness with a report, there could be other ways.

As part of your search for a rental property, you might feel it’s best to have a conversation with a potential landlord or property management company – especially if your bad credit has been caused by an isolated event such as a job loss.

By gaining an understanding of rental requirements and whether the screening process has room for flexibility, you’ll be in a better position to decide whether it’s worth making an application.

Can I rent in the UK if I have bad credit?

Despite what some credit myths might suggest, it’s still possible to rent in the UK with a bad credit score. Here are some options to consider:

Private landlords
Unlike larger rental companies, a private landlord might be more lenient in the screening process. So, even if you have bad credit, they might ask you to demonstrate your creditworthiness in other ways, such as providing proof of a steady income.

Co-signer or guarantor
If a landlord is insistent on a good credit history, you could ask a friend or family member with healthy credit to be a co-signer or guarantor. With this option, a co-signer is responsible for missed payments while a guarantor is usually required if you break or default on a lease agreement.

Offer a larger security deposit
To strengthen your application, you could offer to pay a larger security deposit or more than the first month’s rent upfront. Not only will it limit the initial financial risk for your landlord, but it also demonstrates a level of assurance and ongoing commitment to pay rent on time.

Find a roommate
If you’re worried bad credit might get in the way of renting a property, you could find a trusted roommate with a better credit score. As well as saving you money with split rent, it could also give you the financial breathing space to get your credit score back on track.

How to Prepare for a Rental Credit Check

Before you make an application to rent a house, it’s best to check whether there are any negative factors pulling down your score. Taking the time to strengthen your score could be the difference between securing the keys or having your application rejected.

Check your credit report

In some instances, credit reports may include errors such as misspelled personal information, incorrect payment statuses, or inaccurate late payment records.

If you spot an error on your report, you should submit a Notice of Correction to a credit reference agency which could go a long way to improve your score and chances of renting a house.

To obtain a copy of your credit report, get in touch with a trusted credit reference agency, such as TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax.

Pay off outstanding debt

As part of the screening process, landlords and property management companies might review your existing debt to better understand whether you’re likely to pay rent on time.

While there’s no guarantee, reducing your credit card debt as much as possible could get you in the door of a rental property. Not only by improving your credit score, but by demonstrating to landlords you’re committed to making payments on time.

Gather strong references

If you don’t have a strong credit history, rental parties might ask for references to prove your financial reliability and payment history. Depending on the reference request, you could call on a former landlord or current employer to put a good word in for you.

Show proof of income

Whether it’s a private landlord or a national property management company, both will likely request proof of a stable income and financial stability. Even if you have bad credit, your application could be strengthened by sharing payslips, bank statements, or an employment contract.

How to fix bad credit to rent in the UK

Even the smallest changes in your financial behaviour can have a big impact on your credit health and overall appeal to landlords. Here’s how to fix bad credit before you make an application:

Make payments on time

Making payments on time is one of the most significant factors to improve your credit score. Not only does it demonstrate to landlords your finances are under control, but it also suggests you can be trusted when it comes to paying rent.

Reduce your credit card balance

Sitting on a high utilisation ratio might suggest to landlords you’re dependent on credit to make ends meet. By consistently maintaining a utilisation of no more than 30%, you’re in a stronger position to improve your credit score and heighten your chances of securing a property.

If you currently have significant credit card debt accumulating monthly interest, you could also consider a balance transfer credit card to take advantage of a 0% APR promotion.

Avoid new hard inquiries

Applying to rent a property could lead to a hard search which stays on your report for up to two years. As well as temporarily lowering your credit score, multiple hard searches could also suggest to landlords you’re struggling with your finances. For that reason, limit the number of inquiries wherever possible.

Consider professional financial support

If bad credit is restricting your options and you’re not sure how to get things back on track, it might be worth seeking support from a financial adviser or credit counselling service. Although it might not offer a quick-fix solution to securing a property, you could walk away with a financial strategy to support you in the long run.

Having bad credit doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t rent a house. But by improving and maintaining a healthy credit history, you’ll typically have more options available to you.

If improving your credit score is a priority, a credit card for building better credit could be right for you. With an Aqua credit card, you also get expert tips and advice from Aqua Coach, plus the ability to track your score 24/7 from our app.

To get started, take our free eligibility check with no impact on your credit score.

Representative 39.9% APR (variable) on Aqua Classic

Contributors

Hayley Bevan

Hayley is an editor at Aqua.

Victoria Smith

Victoria is an editor at Aqua.