Do you have to have good credit for affordable housing

Question

I live in MD, and I would like to move to Sacramento, CA in January perhaps, but my credit sucks. I am a full time student, employee, and mother of 2. I've seen how much most of their apartments are and I can afford them, I make 2 1/3 times the rent, but I was wondering if my credit score can get me denied or if I would just have to pay a larger deposit. And please don't tell me to start paying off things on my credit because right now I don't have the money for that. Thank You for all your answers

Answer 1

It is up to each individual landlord to check your credit.  The Housing Agencies don't check it in advance. /

Answer 2

I am from the Sacramento area and you will have trouble.

Standardly you need 3 times the rent, and reasonable credit.

I do not look at the numbers but do not rent to anyone with a charge back or more then about 10% of their accounts bad.   If you have lots of you bad you need lots of good too.

And no eviction or law suits.

Answer 3

If you are going through a property management company, then you will be forced to meet their credit and income requirements even if it is affordable housing.  My advice would be to start off by doing one application someplace you are interested in.  If you are approved then great, if you aren't then at least you know not to put in applications other places because it will only bring your credit score down.

Your best bet would probably be look for a private owner, like someone who owns a small house for rent or their own apartments.  I would try looking on craigslist, and just searching through the houses for rent.  Be up front with the owners, and go from there.  The bottom line is that you never know what is going to happen until you try.  Good luck!