What credit score do you use as a qualification?

[Alyssa Paros]

We own in a triplex where the rent is $500-600/mo. Should we stick the standard in The Book on Managing Rental Properties? What credit score do you use as the qualification threshold?

[Nathan Gesner]

I'm not concerned with the score as much as I am with their recent history. I see a lot of low-income renters applying for apartments in that price range and they often have bad scores due to medical bills, loss of employment, and other drama that takes place when someone lives paycheck-to-paycheck.

More important to me is how well they paid their last Landlord, their car debt, or their utilities.

Don't forget: if you reject someone or change the rental requirements (e.g. increased deposit) because of a credit score, you have to provide them with an Adverse Action Letter.