Guide

Eviction and Bad Credit Options: What Actually Works

An eviction plus bad credit is the combination we see most. Here are your real options and what actually helps.

By Eviction Friendly Apartment Team Licensed Texas Real Estate Agents Images are illustrations

In this guide

Have both an eviction and bad credit? You’re far from alone. A lot of the people who call us are in the same spot. Here are the eviction and bad credit options we see work in our placements.

Why this combination is common

The money trouble that leads to an eviction usually hits your credit at the same time:

Missing rent and credit card payments in the same stretch
A job loss that cuts income and piles up debt
A medical emergency that hits your finances from every direction
Divorce or a family crisis

Screening systems count both against you. At Class A properties (newer, higher end), that combination gets denied a lot.

How to get past both

Three things can help with both problems at once:

Properties that look at income first: places that put your current income ahead of credit
Deposit alternatives: cut the cash you need for the bigger deposit that comes with bad credit
Guarantor products: cover the risk the property sees

Properties that look at income first

Look for Texas properties that:

Care more about your income (3 to 4 times the rent) than your credit score
Let the property make its own call instead of leaving it to software
Will look at your file by hand when you bring paperwork

Where we usually look:

Willow Bridge Property Company (from what we’ve seen, many of its Texas properties put income first)
RPM Living (it varies by property, and several are flexible)
Independent owners in Oak Cliff, Haltom City, Leon Valley, Round Rock, and Katy
Older mid market properties where the property makes its own call

From what we see, Class A usually won’t work with credit under 600 plus an eviction. That’s why we usually start with the places above.

Where the credit score cutoffs fall

Based on the renters we’ve placed, here’s roughly how it breaks down in Texas when there’s an eviction too:

Under 500: you’ll almost always need a guarantor, so focus on private owners
500 to 580: a guarantor helps, and Class B and mid market can work with strong income
580 to 620: can work at Class B and mid market without a guarantor, if you can prove income
620 to 650: many mid market properties approve without a guarantor
650+: Class A can be within reach with an older eviction and a strong file

Deposit alternatives that lower your move in cash

Greenlight Rent, Jetty, and Obligo give you ways around a full cash deposit:

Greenlight Rent (formerly Rhino): its deposit alternative is now called Greenlight Deposit. Pricing isn’t published, so get a quote. From what we see, it’s widely accepted at the Class A and Class B properties we work with
Jetty: similar, and it still uses the Jetty name after merging with Rhino. From what we see, fewer Texas properties take it
Obligo: you link a bank account or card, and it can use your bank balance to qualify you

On a $1,500 unit, one of these can stand in for a $1,500 to $3,000 cash deposit. You pay their fee instead. They won’t get you approved over the eviction or the credit, though.

Guarantor products for an eviction plus bad credit

OneApp (Approval Assist): after the property refers you, it does a soft credit pull and asks about your rental history, including past evictions. It’s worked for a lot of our eviction cases
Liberty Rent: a second chance approval program, and we often see it work for an eviction plus credit problems
TheGuarantors: from what we see, mostly at Class A properties. For the renters we’ve sent, it has usually wanted credit around 650 or higher and income of 4x the rent

OneApp and Liberty Rent work through partner properties. You apply at the property first. If it denies you or approves you with conditions, it can refer you. Before you tour, it helps to know which guarantor each property works with. We keep notes on that and share them with you. See our guarantor review.

How to improve your credit before you apply

Got 30 to 60 days before you start searching seriously? These steps often help. For a plan built around your own debts, talk to a nonprofit credit counselor.

Pay your credit card balances down below 30% of the limit. That alone can move your score a real amount.

Pay off small collections (under $500). Some collectors will agree to remove a collection once you pay it (a pay for delete deal). They don’t have to, so get it in writing first. Without that deal, a collection stays on your report, paid or not, for about 7 years from when you first fell behind. If a collection is old or you don’t think you owe it, talk to legal aid before you pay.

Don’t apply for new credit during this stretch. Each new application means a hard inquiry, and those can dip your score.

Dispute any mistakes on your credit report. The credit bureaus have to look into errors you report.

Get added as an authorized user on a family member’s clean credit card if you can.

Card companies usually update the credit bureaus once a month, so a lower balance can show up in your score within a month or two. Sometimes that’s enough to move you into a different tier.

Paperwork to bring for an eviction plus bad credit

The more proof of income and payment history you bring, the less credit tends to matter:

12 months of bank statements showing steady deposits
2 recent paystubs and a letter from your employer
Rent payment history from your current landlord
Utility payment history
Any prepaid rent or savings
A detailed letter explaining what happened

When a leasing office sees bad credit, it wants to know how you’ve handled things since. Say you’ve had 12+ months of clean rental history since the eviction, and you’ve started rebuilding your credit. That often counts for more than the score alone.

What it really costs to move in

Here’s an example for a $1,500 a month unit with an eviction and credit under 600. Average rents in our cities run about $1,260 to $1,650 a month (RentCafe, September 2026).

Application fees: $150
Risk fee: $400 to $500
Deposit: 2x ($3,000, if the standard deposit is one month’s rent), or a Greenlight Rent fee instead
First month’s rent and admin fee: $1,650
Guarantor: about $1,500, but check the real fee. OneApp charges one month’s base rent on a standard lease. Liberty Rent charges a $35 application fee (refunded if you’re not approved), then usually one month’s rent. At PrecisePrice properties, it’s 50% to 125% of a month’s rent.

Total with a cash deposit: $6,700 to $6,800. Total with Greenlight Rent: $3,700 to $3,800 upfront, plus its fee.

How we help with an eviction and bad credit

We look for Texas properties that put income first and take deposit alternatives and guarantors. We help with your paperwork too, so it leads with income instead of credit.

If you’d like help, fill out the form on our home page or call 888-846-7541.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent with an eviction and bad credit?

In many cases, yes. It's the most common combination we see, and there are real ways to get placed. Mostly, we look for properties that put income first, and we help you add a guarantor when you need one.

What credit score do most Texas apartments require?

Across the properties we work with, Class A usually wants 650+ and Class B usually 580 to 620. Mid market properties that put income first can go as low as 500 to 550 if your pay is strong.

Does paying down credit help before applying?

It can. Pay your cards down under 30% of the limit, and the lower balance often shows up in your score within a month or two. Clearing small collections helps too.