Credit scores have no business being part of the rental application process. These arbitrary numbers often punish people for past medical debt, student loans, or temporary financial setbacks that have nothing to do with their ability to pay rent reliably. It’s particularly unfair to young adults just starting out, people recovering from identity theft, or those who’ve faced hardships but are now back on their feet. With a homelessness epidemic, and rent having gone up 30-50% in the last 4 years, we should be making it easier, not harder, for people to have a place to live.
What really matters is whether someone can consistently pay their rent, which comes down to two simple factors: Do they have enough steady income right now, and do they have a history of paying rent on time? If someone makes 3x the monthly rent and has references from previous landlords confirming they’re a responsible tenant, why should their credit score stand in their way? Many reliable renters maintain perfect rental histories while rebuilding their credit - these people shouldn’t be locked out of housing opportunities.
The current system needs to change to focus solely on income verification and rental history checks. Landlords and property managers should be able to verify employment, income streams, and contact previous landlords - that’s completely reasonable.
By removing credit checks from the rental process, we can create a fairer housing market that judges people on their actual ability to pay rent rather than their credit score baggage.