Credit and Rent: What Landlords Actually Look At

By Zach Curtis, licensed agent, Realty Hub, SL3664129. Updated October 18, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Most South Florida landlords run a credit check, and in condo buildings the association often runs its own too. The score matters, but it is not the only thing they read. Here is what a rental screening looks at and how to put your best application forward. (For score ranges specifically, see our older post on what credit score you need to rent in Hallandale Beach.)

What a rental screening usually includes

• Credit report and score. Payment history, balances, collections and public records.
• Rent payment history. Some screening services include rent reported by past landlords.
• Eviction records. Court filings in landlord-tenant cases.
• Criminal background, depending on the landlord's or association's policy, which should be applied the same way to every applicant.
• Identity and income verification.

What landlords read beyond the score

• Rent-related debt. A collection from a past landlord or utility is a bigger red flag than an old medical bill.
• Recent late payments weigh more than old ones.
• Debt load compared with your income.
• Explanations. A short, honest letter about a past problem that is now resolved can help.

Your rights if you are turned down

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, if a landlord takes adverse action, such as denying you or asking for a larger deposit, based on information in a consumer report, it must tell you, give you the name and contact details of the screening company, and tell you about your right to get a free copy of that report and dispute errors. The Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publish guides on tenant screening reports. Screening criteria must also be applied equally to everyone; fair housing law bars treating applicants differently because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or familial status.

How to improve your odds before you apply

1. Pull your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors early; disputes take time.
2. Pay down revolving balances if you can; high utilization pulls scores down.
3. Avoid opening new credit right before you apply.
4. Bring proof of steady income and savings.
5. Line up a guarantor if your score or history is weak.
6. Tell your agent your credit range up front, so you only apply where you fit. Our lead form has an optional credit range field for exactly this.

Don't pay for applications you will not pass

Each application usually costs a screening fee, and condo associations charge their own. Ask the landlord's minimum score and income rule before paying. Zach asks the listing agent for you. Today our feed has 2237 live listings from $1,500 to $6,000 a month (median $2,500) across Hallandale Beach and nearby cities, and the requirements differ listing by listing.

Asking rents (not signed leases) from the long-term $1,500 to $6,000 listings in RentedFirst's BeachesMLS feed, calculated when this page loaded. Seasonal and short-term listings are excluded. Updated October 18, 2026.

Live lists: Hallandale Beach · Hollywood · West Park · under $2,000.

Fair housing: every listing is open to everyone. We describe buildings, prices and processes, never who lives where.

Tip: ask whether the landlord accepts a screening report you already paid for in the last 30 days. Some do, which saves a fee; associations usually run their own.

Thin credit is not bad credit

If you are new to credit, landlords may see few accounts rather than problems. Proof of steady income, savings, on-time rent history, or a guarantor can fill the gap. Ask the listing agent how the owner treats a thin file before you pay the fee.

Frequently asked questions

Find my place Tell me what you need and see live matches.