I know Roy asked the question but I am sure that there are many others who wonder about how well each of the various credit scores performed at least with me over the years. Many years ago, I complied over a seven-year data base of credit reports from folks who have sense moved out of my 41 unit place I used to own. Please understand that rural Pa doesn't have the crazy tenant protections that larger cities do so if you have rentals still in those goofy locations, adjust your policies and rethink your business model after you smack yourself a few times.

Credit 520 and below - only about a 30% probability of completing the initial one-year lease. These folks were an automatic NO for all my units. When you would get rid of these head aches, almost all of the time the deposit was eaten all up.

521-579 very high risk acceptance if you elect to accept these folks. Above about the 565, people began managing their own lives instead of the other way around. Above 560 in a class C apartment, I would consider possibly accepting them if they had a co-signer or extra deposit saved up. No special programs. Typically, below 560 I didn't accept them unless it was the middle of off season, and afterwards I would commonly regret it.

Above 580 - regular acceptance in class C apartments. About a 80% completion rate. Sometimes life does jump in their way, but they tend to start to manage things better.

For class C Houses, I typically add about 30-40 points to my minimum requirements. The lease completion rate skyrockets upward and people stay longer.

For Class B places - You will need at least a 650 credit score and that is if I didn't just overhaul the place. If I just took that place out of phase maintenance, I add at least 20 more points to my minimum.

People tend to stay long term on my class B and C houses. It is measured in yeas or even occasionally decades. Long term in an apartment is different than long term in a house. I have had people stay decades in apartments before, but they are far fewer.

So I find there is a balancing act that gets performed between rent raises, vacancies, tenant credit scores and apartments vs houses.

Hope this helps some folks out there. If you state has silly laws, what you do is on you. Blaming the applicants doesn't improve YOUR business model. Work on your business and stop working in your business.

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Thank you, Ray.

Scores are meaningless. What's on the report is important.

I have a minimum of 650 for SFH and 620 for a duplex because I don't want the drama.

If there is some reason your score is below that I don't really want to know because I am not going to deal with it.

Sid says the score is meaningless. I disagree.

I absolutely disagree with Sid and I have quite a few doors and quite a few years.

The only score I use is FICO and I don't consider anyone below 650. My average score is well over 700. I still make sure the public records and don't rent to anyone with a recent BK or any eviction.

I guess the timeframe is important...

I'll say it again .... to me credit reports only tell a part of the story. I require three months of bank statements so I know how much money they actually make, where it goes (child support and some other obligations often don't show up on credit reports), how much they have left after paying their obligations, etc....

Try it...you'll like it!!!

I have shared many examples of the person who had charge off accounts and collections with FICO scores nearing 700 and also those with a history of paying their bills as agreed with FICO scores in the low 600’s.

Your experiences don’t necessarily replicate across the board. In my case I have never seen an applicant with a high credit score have any recent negative history.

Obviously we still review the other standard criteria.