How to Rent with Bad Credit in the UK

Do landlords check your credit score?

Yes — most do. The majority of landlords use a tenant referencing service (such as Homelet, Goodlord, or OpenRent's built-in checks) that includes a credit check. But here's the important distinction: landlords don't see your credit score number.

When a landlord or letting agent runs a credit check, they typically see County Court Judgements (CCJs) from the last six years, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) or bankruptcy orders, missed or late payments on credit cards, loans, or other credit agreements, electoral roll registration, existing debt levels, and recent credit search history.

They don't see your salary, your savings, your rent payment history (unless you've specifically reported it through a service like Wollit), or your spending habits. A tenant referencing credit check is usually a soft search — it won't appear on your credit report and won't affect your score. Only a full credit application triggers a hard search.

Why bad credit makes renting harder

Landlords use credit checks as a risk signal. From their perspective, a tenant with a history of missed payments or unpaid debts may be more likely to fall behind on rent. Whether that's fair or not — and it often isn't, since a single financial setback years ago doesn't define your reliability — it's the reality of the current system.

The impact depends on where you're renting. In competitive markets like London and Bristol, landlords can afford to be selective and may receive dozens of applications per property. Bad credit gives them a reason to pick someone else. In less competitive areas, landlords may be willing to overlook credit issues if you can demonstrate reliability another way.

Crucially, a failed credit check doesn't automatically mean a failed application. Most referencing services flag issues to the landlord, who then decides what to do. Many landlords will accept tenants with credit issues if they can offer additional security.

Seven practical ways to rent with bad credit

First, be upfront with the landlord or agent. If you know your credit report has issues, mention it early — ideally at the viewing or in your initial application. Explain the circumstances briefly. A surprise failed credit check feels like deception; a proactively disclosed issue, accompanied by evidence of recovery, demonstrates maturity.

Second, offer a larger deposit up to the legal maximum. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords in England can charge a maximum deposit of five weeks' rent (for annual rent under £50,000). If you're currently offering less, the full amount signals commitment.

Third, offer to pay rent in advance. Paying three to six months upfront reduces the landlord's risk significantly. The Tenant Fees Act doesn't cap advance rent payments — only deposits. This is often the single most persuasive thing you can do.

Fourth, get a guarantor. A guarantor agrees to cover your rent if you can't pay, and they'll need to pass their own credit checks — usually earning at least 2.5 times the annual rent. If you don't have a UK-based guarantor, services like Housing Hand or Guarantid offer paid guarantor insurance.

Fifth, target private landlords over letting agents. Letting agents almost always run formal credit checks as standard. Private landlords who manage their own properties are more likely to make decisions based on meeting you and checking references informally. Look on OpenRent, SpareRoom, and Gumtree for properties let directly by landlords.

Sixth, provide strong references from other sources. Get written references from your employer, a previous landlord, or a professional contact such as an accountant or solicitor. If your credit report is the weak point, strengthen everything else.

Seventh, show proof of consistent rent payments. Bank statements showing six to twelve months of regular, on-time rent payments tell a landlord more about your reliability than a credit score ever could.

How to improve your credit score before you start looking

If you have a few months before you need to move, you can make meaningful improvements to your credit report. For quick wins, register on the electoral roll at gov.uk/register-to-vote — this is the single biggest quick improvement. Check your credit report for errors using the free services from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, and dispute anything incorrect. Pay down credit card balances to keep utilisation below 30% of your limit, and stop applying for new credit to avoid hard searches.

For medium-term strategies, use a credit builder service like Wollit, which reports to all three UK credit reference agencies for £9.99 per month. It works even if you've been declined for credit cards. You could also get a credit builder credit card from providers like Aqua or Vanquis — use it for small purchases and pay the full balance every month. Reporting your rent payments through services like Wollit also adds positive data to your credit file.

Consistent positive payment behaviour builds a track record visible to referencing companies over time. Results depend on your individual circumstances.

What to do if you've been rejected

First, don't panic. A rejected rental application isn't the end of the road. Ask why — you have the right to know if the decision was based on information from a credit reference agency, and which agency they used.

Check your holding deposit rights. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, if a landlord rejects your application after you've paid a holding deposit, they must return it within seven days — unless you provided false or misleading information or failed a Right to Rent check.

Get your full credit report to understand exactly what the landlord saw. You can get free statutory reports from all three agencies. Then start fixing the issues — whether that's registering on the electoral roll, disputing errors, or starting a credit builder.

For your next application, consider a different approach: a guarantor, rent in advance, or targeting private landlords. Citizens Advice and Shelter both offer free guidance if you're struggling to find accommodation due to credit issues.

Your rights as a tenant with bad credit

Landlords are legally entitled to consider credit history when choosing tenants. However, they cannot discriminate based on protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 — race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age, or pregnancy. If you believe you've been discriminated against on protected grounds, contact Citizens Advice or Shelter.

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords and agents in England cannot charge tenants for referencing checks. If an agent tries to charge you for a credit check, they're breaking the law. Report this to your local council's Trading Standards team.

You also have the right to see what's on your credit report. Each of the three credit reference agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — must provide you with a free statutory credit report on request. If you find errors, they have 28 days to investigate and respond to your dispute.

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