by John Imamura

Created on: November 21, 2009

Got bad credit? You are not alone, many people have experienced credit issues for one reason or another. The recent rise of foreclosures and short sales have made a lot of people looking for a place to live. Since their credit has been negatively affected, it has become increasingly difficult to find a place to rent.

The truth is that landlords want to find tenants with good credit but they may not always find the perfect tenant and may have to consider people with a bad credit history. If you have a bad credit history and are having a hard time finding a place, here are some tips that may help you get a landlord to accept your rental application.

1. Try a private landlord instead of an apartment complex, you only have to convince a landlord to give you a chance, they are people too and don't have to follow any company guidelines.

2. First, be prepared to explain your situation, If you have had your house foreclosed on, but can prove that you have the income to rent a place, you may be able to convince a landlord to give you a chance.

3. Make sure you have good references. If a past landlord or reference can speak highly of you, then you have a better chance of being accepted.

4. Look for properties that have been on the market for a while or a place that is not in the best condition. Time is money, if no one is living in the property it is costing the landlord money. They may be more desperate and will consider people with less then stellar credit.

5. Offer a higher rent then they are asking. For example, if the rent is offered at $1400, you can offer $1425 a month to let them know you really want the place. It is funny how money can get landlords to be a little less picky. You can also give them a double security deposit, which will show the landlord you are willing to risk more deposit if you don't pay rent.

6. If you can afford it, offer to pay 6 months rent in advance. There is no better assurance for a landlord if they have half a years worth of rent already given to them.

Having bad credit can make it difficult to find a place to rent but it is not impossible to get a landlord to accept you. There are many things you can do to give yourself a better chance to find a place to rent with a bad credit history.

Everybody deserve a second chance, so if you can convince a landlord to overlook your credit history, you will be able to find a place to rent, so don't stress out if you are looking for a place to live before trying some of the tips listed above. Good luck and happy renting!

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