Can Your Credit Score Affect Section 8 Eligibility?

 

 

Section 8 housing applicants will deal with private landlords if their application is approved. For this reason, HUD allows landlords to screen prospective tenants. A screening process is often exactly the same as the one unsubsidized renters go through when applying for housing.

By undergoing the screening process, a tenant may have his background and/or credit checked. Landlords do this to check for criminal history as well as to see if the prospective tenant is up-to-date with his bills, etc. If you will be able to provide your updated credit check without any errors, etc., that can definitely help you avoid any surprises, and go through the screening process much faster!

Although there is no required minimum credit score number to be approved for section 8 housing, a landlord is within his rights to allow or refuse rent to a tenant based on the information contained in his credit check. This information may include but is not limited to how much outstanding debt the tenant currently has, or whether he is making his payments on time.

We HIGHLY recommend that you check your most recent Credit Score & Report to make sure that there are no errors, etc! The last thing you want is a problem in your credit check you weren’t even aware of that can prevent you from renting a particular unit. Clear up any problems before it’s too late and check your Credit Report & Score ASAP! It will only take a few minutes of your time but can save you many months of headaches in the future! And remember – checking your own credit will NOT affect your score!