Rent and applications
Does applying for an apartment hurt my credit score?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Usually not much, and often not at all. Many tenant screening checks are soft inquiries, which do not affect your score. Some landlords run a hard inquiry, which can lower your score by a few points for a while. Several hard inquiries from many applications can add up, so ask which type the landlord uses.
A soft inquiry is like checking your own credit: it is visible to you but not to lenders and has no effect on your score. A hard inquiry happens when a business checks your credit as part of a lending decision, and some landlords' screening works the same way.
The effect of one hard inquiry is small and fades over time. The concern is if you apply for ten apartments in two weeks and each runs a hard check. Unlike mortgage or car loan shopping, rental checks may not be grouped together by scoring models.
- Ask each landlord or screening company whether the check is soft or hard.
- Apply only for places you would actually take and are likely to qualify for.
- If you are about to apply for a mortgage or car loan too, time your apartment search to avoid stacking hard inquiries.
Checking your own credit report before you apply is always a soft inquiry and never hurts your score.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting Your First Apartment: Applications, Leases and Move-in Costs.