The short answer
Many Texas communities that use a minimum set it somewhere from 550 to 620. But the only answer that counts is the one for the property you want. Keep a note of any conditions, like a risk fee or bigger deposit, before you pay.
When a property has a minimum score, we note how it uses it and which report it pulls. A general Texas range is no substitute for the property’s own written rules.
What that means for you
Where your score lands against the minimum decides whether you get an automatic denial or a conditional approval. The minimum itself changes with the building, from newer luxury properties down to older ones.
Hard cutoff vs. full review communities
Some apartment complexes have a strict cutoff. If your score is below their minimum, usually somewhere from 550 to 620, their software denies you automatically.
Full review communities read your whole application: income, savings and rental history next to the credit check.
We point renters to these communities first, so one number is less likely to sink the application.
How income and risk fees move the line
If you're a little below their target score, a full review community will often offer a conditional approval.
Landlords charge risk fees to cover themselves when a score falls under their minimum. A monthly add on, if there is one, adds up over a 12 month lease, so ask before you sign.
Here's what a conditional approval usually asks for:
- A one time risk fee, often a few hundred dollars.
- A small monthly add on to the rent at some communities.
- A larger security deposit paid upfront.
- A guarantor or cosigner who backs the lease.
If you work for yourself, strong tax returns can help you get past a credit dip. Solid savings can cover a bigger deposit too.
Why there's no one minimum everywhere
Every management company decides how much risk it'll take, and local demand plays a big part. In busy city areas, minimums often sit near the top of that range. Suburban and older communities more often set the line lower in the range.
We keep track of where each community sets its line, so you can apply where your score may already fit.
How Texas communities use your credit score
Texas communities run your credit through screening software, and many of those systems give you their own risk score instead of a plain FICO.
Property managers use a mix of screening companies, including TransUnion SmartMove, RealPage LeasingDesk, and AppFolio. Some check Experian RentBureau rent data too. Each one pulls up different information, and each management company reads it by its own rules.
What Texas Law Says About Screening
Texas Property Code Section 92.3515 has been on the books since 2008. Under it, landlords have to make their screening criteria available in writing when they give you an application. The criteria cover things like credit, income, rental history, and criminal history, but the law doesn't make them list an exact score. If a landlord denies you and never made the criteria available, they owe you your application fee back.
Know the criteria before you pay. That's the part we handle for you. Guessing costs $50 to $75 per rejected application.
How the Screening Companies Compare
Each company leans on a different part of your financial history, and that changes which paperwork helps.
| Screening Company | What It Focuses On | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| TransUnion SmartMove | Predicting evictions | Uses its own ResidentScore instead of a regular FICO score. |
| Experian RentBureau (rent data) | Rent payment history | Shows rent payments that property managers report to it, so on time rent can help. |
| RealPage / AppFolio | Overall risk | Built into the property management software many communities already run. |
For more, check out our guide on renting with bad credit.
What to do next
Don't guess at which communities your score clears. Applying blind wastes fees, and some screening companies pull your credit as a hard inquiry.
We'll usually reach out the same day with a few questions, and within 24 to 48 weekday hours we'll tell you which Texas communities may be worth a look for your situation. It's free to you. Communities pay us the referral fee out of their marketing budgets.
Here's a quick checklist to get ready before you apply:
- Pull your current VantageScore and FICO scores.
- Gather two years of business tax returns if you run your own business.
- Have your last two or three months of bank statements ready.
- Send us the buildings you're looking at and we'll check how each one screens.
Related reading: bad credit · hard cutoff vs full review screening