# No Credit vs. Bad Credit When Renting an Apartment > No credit vs. bad credit when renting an apartment: why they're different problems, and which papers and questions help with each one. URL: https://nocreditcheckapartment.com/guide/no-credit-vs-bad-credit-apartment/ No credit and bad credit aren't the same thing when you rent an apartment. Tell us which one you have. Before you pay to apply, we check which criteria apply to you and which documents each community takes. ## The short answer They’re two different problems. With no credit, there’s no score at all, and you prove yourself with income and bank statements. With bad credit, the property sees a low score, and the fix usually costs money up front, like a risk fee or a guarantor. No credit is often the easier one to solve if your income is strong and you can document it. We’re the No Credit Check Apartment Team, a licensed real estate team brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC (TREC #562021). Between us we have more than 20 years in real estate, working with property managers across Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. We point renters with credit, eviction and record problems to communities whose criteria may fit them, and each property makes its own rental decision. ## What that means for you No credit means there's no score to read, so the property looks at your income, bank statements and any rent history instead. Bad credit means the property can see a low score, so it usually asks for a risk fee or a guarantor. ## How Texas communities handle it Texas property managers screen through a handful of companies, including TransUnion SmartMove, RealPage LeasingDesk, and AppFolio. Some check rent payment data from Experian RentBureau, and old apartment balances often show up through collection agencies like NCAC. Each one pulls up different information, and each management company reads it differently. A denied application usually costs $50 to $75, and those fees stack up fast when you apply without knowing how a property screens. For more on renting with no credit history, see our [no credit history page](/no-credit-history/) or the related guides below. ## What to do next Don't know where to apply, or tired of paying fees just to get turned down? Don’t guess. Send us your situation and we’ll point you to Texas communities worth a look. It’s free to you; communities pay our referral fee out of their advertising budgets. Related reading: [no credit history page](/no-credit-history/) · [bad credit](/bad-credit/) · [how to rent your first apartment with no credit history](/guide/first-apartment-no-credit-history/) ## FAQ Is no credit better or worse than bad credit? + Neither one is strictly better. With no credit, you prove yourself with bank statements and income. With bad credit, the fix usually costs money up front. Which is easier to rent with? + No credit is often easier to solve, as long as you have strong income and the paperwork to show it. How do I know which bucket I'm in? + If the credit check comes back with no score, that's no credit. A FICO score needs [at least one account open six months](https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/faq/scores/fico-score-requirements) and one reported in the last six months. A brand new card won't give you a FICO score yet. If there's a score under the 550 to 620 minimums many communities set, that's bad credit. ## Related guides [### Alternative Proof: Bank Statements and Employment Verification Many Texas communities may take alternative proof: bank statements, employment verification, and private landlord history. You'll still need to meet the income minimums.](/guide/bank-statements-employment-verification-rent/)[### How to Rent Your First Apartment With No Credit History No credit history? You may be able to rent your first apartment with bank statements, a job offer, savings, or a cosigner where communities accept alternative verification.](/guide/first-apartment-no-credit-history/)[### Renting in Texas as an International Worker Without US Credit No US credit file? Some communities accept foreign credit reports, visa docs, and employer letters, and we track which ones.](/guide/renting-as-international-worker-texas/) ## Want us to look at your situation? Send us your screening issue and target city. We typically get back to you the same day to go over your form, and your community list usually takes 24 to 48 weekday hours. Weekend requests most likely hear from us Monday. Free. [Start Your Free Search](/find-apartments/) ## Put this advice into practice - [Plan your move-in budget](/calculators/move-in-budget-planner/) - [Prepare your application checklist](/calculators/application-readiness-checklist/) - [See renter resources](/renter-resources/)