I make enough money to support the rent on the apartments I've been looking at, but even though my recent credit history is fine, there are some things in my distant past (defaulted student loans...that I'm paying on, mind you) that continue to sting me. The rental market in San Francisco is dependent on credit history, to a fault. It strikes me as a bit unfair, though, because I can't be the only one in this position. There must be others who also make a good salary, but have less-than-exemplary credit. So is the reality that people with bad credit simply can't live in San Francisco AT ALL? Am I forced to live outside the city because of the errors of my youth? Or is there something I'm not doing? Something I'm overlooking? I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts on the matter.
Hi, everyone, and thanks for your responses. I would like to clarify things a bit, though: I have mentioned that I have bad credit, yes. But I also mentioned that my RECENT credit history (within the past 5 years) is fine. My credit is bad because of mistakes I made nearly 10 years ago. Because they are student loans, however, they stay on your credit report. As I mentioned, I have been paying on those loans for quite a few years now, quite diligently, but until they are completely paid, they still appear on my credit report. I wish there were some way to make all of this information apparent on the credit report, but I'm afraid there is not. You can't really get the entire picture from the credit report alone. What landlords should really be looking at is an applicant's RENTAL history; whether or not that applicant has been a good tenant: paying rent on time, no evictions, not tearing up the place, etc, etc. I am great in all those areas. (Sorry, I'm out of space now!)

With a bad credit score...I would never rent to you. I would see it this way....You have a great salary...yet you can't seem to keep up on your loans...how are you going to keep up on your rent....bad tenant.

With a bad credit score...I would never rent to you. I would see it this way....You have a great salary...yet you can't seem to keep up on your loans...how are you going to keep up on your rent....bad tenant.

SF has strict controls on landlords. If you are a flake they are stuck with you, this is why they look at credit, trying to avoid the flakes.

Try South San Francisco, Marin county or the East Bay. There is no shortage of good renters in SF, you are out of luck.