My family and I are trying to get into an apartment and the manager won`t even show it to us because of our credit. She actually hung up on my husband. I don`t know what to do.
2007-02-23 15:40:57 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
I'm assuming the agent has enough knowledge of your credit situation, such as pulling your credit report or your having shown it to her, that she knows for sure she can't do business with you.
Why waste your time and hers on a lost cause - unless you can:
a) offer a guarantor (co-signer)
b) pay increased security deposit
c) pay advance rent
d) some combination of these to induce the landlord to take the risk.
The agent/landlord isn't obligated to rent to you if you fall outside of their qualification criteria - so you need to ask if there is something (such as the above options) that would make it possible to do business with you. If not, look elsewhere. The landlord must be uniform in the way tenants are qualified - so you'll have to do something extra if your credit won't pass muster.
2007-02-23 18:33:33 · answer #1 · answered by njc_flhtc 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the only reason the landlord is denying you the chance to rent an apartment is your credit no lawyer would be able to help you.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from discriminating against protected classes. Race, religion, etc., etc.
Poor credit is not a protected class. Unless you can prove that the landlord in question approved a rental application, and allowed someone else with a credit score the same as yours (or worse) to move in you really do not have any type of case against the landlord.
If the landlord is refusing to show you an apt. you may mention "Equal Opportunity Housing" (EOH). They SHOULD then show you an apt. But just because they show you an apt. does not mean you will qualify to rent the apt.
ALL legitimate landlords should have a "cut & dry" policy concerning rental requirements. Either you meet the requirements or do not. When landlords "bend" the requirements for one individual/family and not for another is when the open themselves up to litigation.
Many landlords will allow co-signers. If you know anyone with "good" credit that will trust you enough to make the rental payment to sign their name & risk their credit history on it, the landlord SHOULD accept it. But if noone you knows trusts you enough to sign their name to it, why should the landlord?
I hope this helps.
2007-02-24 00:18:24 · answer #2 · answered by Dave S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are being denied because your credit indicates you are not fond of paying bills, or you maybe get more than you can afford. Try finding a private person to rent from. While most will check credit, the background and criminal check will be more important to them. If they know about screening!
2007-02-23 23:45:22 · answer #3 · answered by batwanda 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Landlords do not have to rent to anyone, they can choose their tenants . . .(only religion and race as a basis of turndowns are illegal, credit is a legal choice for them)
And not even OJs lawyer can change your credit.
If it is bad , only you can turn that around and most landlords are NOT renting to credit problems or require mega deposits.
Keep shopping for a place until you find someone who does not do credit checks.
2007-02-23 23:54:42 · answer #4 · answered by kate 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you have Pre-Paid Legal Service? If so start there I know that they handle situation like that. If you don't have it you might look into getting it. It is only $25 a month and you have one of the largest law firms in your area on retainer at all times.
2007-02-23 23:48:35 · answer #5 · answered by Sam 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋