Renting with bad credit can make a property search more difficult, but a poor credit history does not automatically mean you will be unable to rent. Landlords and letting agents may look at several factors when assessing an application, including current income, affordability, references, rental history and, where appropriate, a credit check.
The strongest approach is usually to understand what may appear during referencing, prepare evidence showing what you can currently afford and explain relevant financial circumstances honestly.
It is also important to use up-to-date advice.
In England, rental rules changed significantly on 1 May 2026. In particular, landlords and agents can no longer simply rely on large upfront-rent demands as a solution to referencing concerns, and they must not discriminate against applicants simply because they receive benefits.
This guide provides general advice for renters across the UK, while clearly identifying rules that apply specifically in England.
What Does “Bad Credit” Mean When Renting?
There is no universal minimum credit score that every UK landlord requires.
Different landlords and referencing providers may use different criteria.
A poor credit history might involve issues such as:
missed loan or credit-card payments;
a County Court Judgment;
an Individual Voluntary Arrangement;
bankruptcy;
defaults;
limited UK credit history; or
information that makes affordability harder to demonstrate.
Shelter notes that landlords and letting agents can ask credit reference agencies about your credit history, but they need your permission to carry out the credit check.
A credit problem should therefore be treated as one part of the application, not automatically as the entire decision.
What Tenant Referencing May Involve
Tenant referencing can involve several different checks.
A landlord or letting agent might consider:
your identity;
current address;
income;
employment;
affordability;
previous landlord references;
rental history;
credit information;
a guarantor where needed; and
relevant legal checks.
For properties in England, landlords must also carry out applicable Right to Rent checks for adult occupiers.
Right to Rent is an immigration-status check rather than a credit check, and it applies only in England.
Check Your Credit Record Before Applying
If you already know your credit history may create questions, check your own record before applying for properties.
Shelter identifies the three main UK credit reference agencies as:
Experian;
Equifax; and
TransUnion.
The information held by each agency may not always be identical.
Look for:
information that is incorrect;
old addresses;
financial links that should no longer exist;
judgments you did not expect;
incorrect payment information; and
anything else you may need to query.
If information is wrong, contact the credit reference agency or lender and ask for it to be corrected.
Knowing what is on your record also means you are less likely to be surprised halfway through an application.
What Can a Landlord See in a Credit Check?
For ordinary tenant referencing, landlords and agents cannot simply examine every detail of your financial life.
Shelter explains that they can only carry out a soft credit search with your permission.
This can show public information such as:
County Court Judgments;
bankruptcy; and
certain formal debt arrangements.
It does not normally show every individual payment you have made or whether you previously missed a rental payment. Previous rental behaviour may instead be explored through references.
A soft tenant-referencing search also does not itself lower your credit score.
Be Honest About Financial Problems
If you know something significant is likely to appear during referencing, hiding it can make the situation worse.
You do not need to provide your complete financial life story.
Instead, explain the relevant issue briefly and, where possible, show why your current circumstances are different.
For example:
“I had financial difficulties two years ago following a period without work. I am now in permanent employment and can provide current income evidence and a previous landlord reference.”
The emphasis should be on facts.
A past credit problem can be more understandable when the landlord can also see stable current income and a good rental history.
Shelter specifically recommends being honest if you expect difficulties with a credit check.
Prepare Strong Proof of Income
Current affordability can be one of the most important parts of the application.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to provide appropriate evidence such as:
recent payslips;
an employment contract;
an employer letter;
bank statements where reasonably requested;
self-employment accounts or evidence of income;
pension evidence; or
evidence of benefits.
Landlords and agents commonly use this information to determine whether the rent appears affordable.
Do not send more personal information than necessary, particularly before you have verified that the property and landlord or agent are genuine.
If You Are Self-Employed
Self-employed applicants may not have conventional payslips.
Instead, you may need to demonstrate affordability through other evidence.
Depending on what is reasonably requested, that could include:
accounts;
tax information;
business income records;
recent bank statements; or
an accountant’s confirmation.
Ask the landlord or referencing provider what evidence they will accept before applying.
This can prevent delays later.
Benefits Must Be Considered Fairly in England
This is one of the most important 2026 updates.
Since 1 May 2026, landlords and anyone acting on their behalf in England must not disadvantage someone simply because they receive benefits.
If an affordability assessment is carried out, benefit income must be included in the same way as other income.
This can include income such as:
Universal Credit;
Housing Benefit;
Personal Independence Payment;
Employment and Support Allowance;
State Pension or Pension Credit;
Child Benefit;
Carer’s Allowance; and
other qualifying benefits.
A landlord can still decide that a renter genuinely cannot afford a particular property.
What they cannot do is simply say:
“We don’t rent to people on benefits.”
Nor should a referencing company ignore benefit income when assessing affordability.
The new rental-discrimination rules apply in England and have applied since 1 May 2026.
Use Rental References to Strengthen Your Application
A good previous rental history can be useful when your credit record is weaker.
A previous landlord or letting agent may be able to confirm matters such as:
that you genuinely rented from them;
tenancy dates;
whether rent was generally paid as agreed; and
relevant information about the tenancy.
A reference showing a history of paying rent reliably may provide useful context alongside a poorer credit record.
If possible, tell your previous landlord that somebody may contact them so they are expecting the request.
Employment References Can Also Help
Some landlords or referencing providers may ask to verify employment.
That might involve confirming:
your employment;
salary;
employment start date; or
whether the position is permanent or temporary.
Make sure the information on your application matches the documentation you provide.
Simple inconsistencies can cause delays even when there is an innocent explanation.
Consider a Guarantor
A guarantor can be one of the most practical options if a landlord has concerns about affordability or credit history.
A guarantor agrees to meet specified financial obligations if you do not.
This commonly includes unpaid rent.
Landlords may ask a guarantor to provide their own:
income information;
identification;
affordability evidence; and
credit information.
Shelter notes that guarantors are often requested where somebody cannot pass affordability, referencing or credit checks.
Make Sure the Guarantor Understands the Agreement
Being a guarantor creates a genuine legal commitment.
The guarantor should receive and read:
the tenancy agreement; and
the guarantor agreement.
They should understand:
what they are guaranteeing;
how long the guarantee lasts;
when they can be asked for payment; and
how the arrangement works if there is a joint tenancy.
Do not pressure somebody into becoming your guarantor without understanding the commitment.
If You Do Not Have a Family Guarantor
Not everybody has a parent, relative or friend who can act as guarantor.
Shelter notes that some councils and charities operate rent-guarantee schemes, and commercial guarantor services also exist.
Commercial services normally charge, so understand:
the fee;
what the service covers;
whether the landlord accepts it;
whether there are renewal costs; and
what happens if a payment is missed.
A landlord or letting agent may suggest a guarantor provider, but Shelter advises that renters should understand the terms and available alternatives before agreeing.
Build a Strong Rental Application
If your credit history is weak, make the rest of the application as clear and organised as possible.
Prepare:
☐ proof of current income
☐ employment information
☐ previous landlord details
☐ rental references
☐ identification
☐ guarantor information where relevant
☐ explanation of any significant credit issue
☐ realistic affordability calculation
An organised application can help the landlord assess your current position rather than focusing entirely on an old credit problem.
Budget Before Applying
Passing referencing is only useful if the property is genuinely affordable.
Calculate your likely monthly costs.
Include:
Rent
Council Tax or local rates
Gas and electricity
Water
Broadband
Transport
Insurance
Other essential household expenses
For example:
Rent: £1,000
Council Tax: £130
Energy/water: £140
Broadband: £30
Transport: £180
Estimated housing-related monthly cost: £1,480
A property that looks affordable at £1,000 per month may therefore require a much larger real monthly budget.
If the numbers are already extremely tight before you move, taking on the property may make future financial problems more likely.
Do Not Rely on Large Upfront Rent Payments in England
Older renting advice frequently suggested overcoming poor credit by offering six or twelve months of rent upfront.
From 1 May 2026, a landlord or letting agent cannot ask for, accept or encourage rent before both sides have signed the tenancy agreement.
After signing but before the tenancy begins, they can usually request no more than:
one month’s rent where rent is paid monthly; or
28 days’ rent for shorter rental periods.
Limited exceptions apply, including certain council homelessness placements and social or supported housing.
Once the tenancy has started, a renter may voluntarily choose to pay rent early, but the landlord cannot generally require them to do so.
Do Not Borrow Large Amounts Just to Pass Referencing
Trying to solve one financial problem by creating another can be risky.
Avoid taking on expensive borrowing simply to create a temporary appearance that the rent is affordable.
Focus instead on:
realistic rent;
genuine income;
references;
a guarantor where appropriate;
explaining your circumstances; and
choosing properties within a sustainable budget.
The goal is not simply to secure the tenancy.
It is to be able to afford it throughout the time you live there.
Consider Properties at a Lower Rent
If you repeatedly fail affordability checks, reconsider the price range you are targeting.
Reducing the rent by £100 per month means:
£1,200 less rent over a year.
Reducing it by £200 means:
£2,400 less over a year.
A slightly smaller property or different neighbourhood may be easier to qualify for and much more comfortable financially.
RentWizz’s 15 Affordable UK Cities With Lower Rent Than London guide can help if your location is flexible.
Consider Shared Accommodation
Renting a room rather than an entire property can also reduce the monthly housing commitment.
For example:
Whole flat: £1,300 per month
Room in shared property: £800 per month
Difference:
£500 per month
Potential annual difference:
£6,000
Shared accommodation will not suit everybody, but lower rent can make affordability easier to demonstrate.
Explore Rooms to Rent on RentWizz if sharing is an option you would consider.
New to the UK or Have Limited Credit History?
A limited UK credit file is not necessarily the same as poor financial behaviour.
People who have recently arrived in the UK may simply have very little information recorded.
Likewise, young renters and people who have never borrowed money may have a limited credit history.
If this applies to you, explain it.
Alternative evidence such as current income, employment and appropriate references may help the landlord understand your circumstances.
Shelter notes that credit histories from another country do not usually transfer directly into UK credit scoring, which can create difficulties for people who have recently moved to the UK.
Be Careful With Holding Deposits
Do not pay a holding deposit simply because you feel pressured to secure a property quickly.
Understand the referencing requirements first.
In England, Shelter advises that renters who fail credit or referencing checks should generally receive the holding deposit back provided they were honest about their circumstances and supplied accurate information.
That is another reason not to conceal a credit issue that you already know is likely to appear.
Protect Your Personal Information
Referencing can involve sensitive information such as:
income;
addresses;
financial history;
identity documents; and
bank information.
Only provide information to a genuine landlord, agent or referencing provider.
Before sending important documents:
verify the property;
verify the person requesting them;
understand why the information is required; and
check how documents should be submitted.
If something about the property or payment request seems suspicious, read RentWizz’s Rental Scams UK: How to Stay Safe When Renting before proceeding.
Renting With Bad Credit: Application Checklist
Before Searching
☐ Check your credit record
☐ Correct obvious errors
☐ Calculate your realistic rental budget
☐ Gather proof of income
☐ Identify a potential guarantor if needed
Before Applying
☐ Ask what referencing involves
☐ Check the affordability criteria
☐ Prepare employment or income evidence
☐ Prepare previous landlord references
☐ Explain significant credit issues honestly
☐ Understand any holding-deposit terms
If You Receive Benefits in England
☐ Include benefit income in your affordability evidence
☐ Do not accept a blanket “no benefits” rejection as normal
☐ Keep relevant adverts and messages if you believe discrimination occurred
If Referencing Is Unsuccessful
☐ Ask what caused the application to fail
☐ Consider a guarantor
☐ Provide additional legitimate affordability evidence
☐ Reconsider your rental budget
☐ Consider shared accommodation
☐ Do not assume you need to offer months of rent upfront
What If You Think You Were Rejected Because You Receive Benefits?
For properties in England, landlords and agents cannot simply reject somebody because they receive benefits.
If you believe this has happened, keep evidence such as:
the property advert;
emails;
messages;
referencing correspondence; and
details of what you were told.
GOV.UK advises renters to contact the local council where the property is located if they believe they have experienced prohibited rental discrimination because they receive benefits or have children.
Councils can investigate and can issue fines of up to £7,000 where a breach is established.
Final Thoughts on Renting With Bad Credit
Renting with bad credit can require more preparation, but a credit problem does not automatically make renting impossible.
Start by understanding your credit record.
Then strengthen the parts of the application that show your current circumstances:
realistic affordability;
stable income where available;
proof of benefits where applicable;
previous landlord references;
employment evidence;
a suitable guarantor; and
honest explanations for significant past financial problems.
For applicants in England, two 2026 changes are particularly important.
First, landlords and agents cannot simply exclude someone because they receive benefits, and affordability assessments must treat benefit income appropriately.
Second, the old advice to overcome poor credit by offering six or twelve months of rent upfront is no longer suitable for ordinary assured tenancies. Current rules significantly restrict when landlords can request or accept rent in advance.
Focus on demonstrating what you can afford now, rather than trying to hide what happened in the past.
A clear, honest and well-prepared application gives a landlord a much better picture of your current ability to sustain the tenancy.
This article provides general renting information and is not financial or legal advice. The specific rent-in-advance and benefit-discrimination rules discussed above apply to England. Rental law differs across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
