Getting an apartment in LA with bad credit? (Los Angeles, Burbank: sublet, apartment complex) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

marilyn220 · 08-26-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefunkyone

Any tips for this? I moved here a few months ago and was offered a great job with a stable company. I'll be making around $22/hr to start and can easily afford my own apartment as I have virtually no other bills. However my credit is shot from a bankruptcy a few years ago. Would it help grease the wheels so to speak if I put down an extra deposit? What are your thoughts.....?

I got an apartment with a bankruptcy here with no problem.

Um, I doubt many landlords are being picky these days due to the crappy economy. There are FOR RENT signs EVERYWHERE.

Don't worry about it. The most they'll probably ask for is an extra security deposit.

thefunkyone · 08-26-2010, 09:06 PM

Cool.

Thanks guys!

gypsystar · 08-27-2010, 06:51 AM

My husband got turned down for an apartment in Woodland Hills due to crappy credit (there are no bankruptcies, foreclosures or evictions on his record), even though he made $1000/week. He offered extra deposit but they weren't having it. They told him to look for a place in Van Nuys, but that is where we were trying to get OUT of. I thought that subletting would be the way to go with bad credit, but most sublease agreements require credit checks as well. We've had a very hard time finding a decent place in L.A. with bad credit. You will most likely end up in Van Nuys, Reseda, Long Beach or other not-so-great areas for a while until you can build your credit up again. Don't expect to find anything in a desirable part of the city. Trust me, I am speaking from 5 years worth of experience. I don't think the crappy economy counts for much - there are always people with decent credit moving to L.A. and wanting to rent in a good part of town. We've struggled with this situation for a while now and have just about had it - the part of town you live in DOES matter in L.A.! You won't be happy if there are prostitutes outside your apartment or the guy next door is blaring Mexican clown music all night. Sorry to be a downer, but this is the truth. I do wish you the best of luck in your apt. search, though.

DT97 · 08-27-2010, 07:13 AM

They will require a big deposit. Perhaps 2 x monthly rent

thefunkyone · 08-27-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsystar

My husband got turned down for an apartment in Woodland Hills due to crappy credit (there are no bankruptcies, foreclosures or evictions on his record), even though he made $1000/week. He offered extra deposit but they weren't having it. They told him to look for a place in Van Nuys, but that is where we were trying to get OUT of. I thought that subletting would be the way to go with bad credit, but most sublease agreements require credit checks as well. We've had a very hard time finding a decent place in L.A. with bad credit. You will most likely end up in Van Nuys, Reseda, Long Beach or other not-so-great areas for a while until you can build your credit up again. Don't expect to find anything in a desirable part of the city. Trust me, I am speaking from 5 years worth of experience. I don't think the crappy economy counts for much - there are always people with decent credit moving to L.A. and wanting to rent in a good part of town. We've struggled with this situation for a while now and have just about had it - the part of town you live in DOES matter in L.A.! You won't be happy if there are prostitutes outside your apartment or the guy next door is blaring Mexican clown music all night. Sorry to be a downer, but this is the truth. I do wish you the best of luck in your apt. search, though.

Sorry to hear about this. I absolutely refuse to live in a crappy part of town, I value my safety a lot. I'd rather rent a room from someone in a nice part of town than have my own place in a ghetto. I've walked around van nuys a little while waiting for busses and there are some very undesirable areas I would never live in.

gypsystar · 08-28-2010, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefunkyone

Sorry to hear about this. I absolutely refuse to live in a crappy part of town, I value my safety a lot. I'd rather rent a room from someone in a nice part of town than have my own place in a ghetto. I've walked around van nuys a little while waiting for busses and there are some very undesirable areas I would never live in.

That's good, you shouldn't settle. You might have luck renting a room in a good area then. My husband and I just refuse to live with roommates, so we ended up with the lesser of the two evil situations (Van Nuys vs. living with strangers). We thought the VN apartment wouldn't be too bad since it was very close to the border of Sherman Oaks, but the prostitute situation (we lived on Sepulveda Blvd.) made us get the hell out of dodge, lol.

thefunkyone · 08-28-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsystar

That's good, you shouldn't settle. You might have luck renting a room in a good area then. My husband and I just refuse to live with roommates, so we ended up with the lesser of the two evil situations (Van Nuys vs. living with strangers). We thought the VN apartment wouldn't be too bad since it was very close to the border of Sherman Oaks, but the prostitute situation (we lived on Sepulveda Blvd.) made us get the hell out of dodge, lol.

Good plan. lol

impala666 · 08-28-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefunkyone

Any tips for this? I moved here a few months ago and was offered a great job with a stable company. I'll be making around $22/hr to start and can easily afford my own apartment as I have virtually no other bills. However my credit is shot from a bankruptcy a few years ago. Would it help grease the wheels so to speak if I put down an extra deposit? What are your thoughts.....?

Don't worry some of the richest people I know have been bankrupt and even to prison it never stopped them!!

thefunkyone · 08-28-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by impala666

Don't worry some of the richest people I know have been bankrupt and even to prison it never stopped them!!

LOL I guess i'm in the clear then.

SOON2BNSURPRISE · 08-28-2010, 08:00 PM

People get into a bind from time to time. I know of places that will not rent to people that have had a BK. I know of places that will with a heavy deposit. I know of places that just want to fill the apartment with a body. Just have to do a lot of looking to see who will rent to you.

Another option is a guest home that someone may have. Many times you can get some amazing deals on those and end up living in a better place than you would have thought possible. We have a family member that lives in a guest home at an estate. He pays $700 a month for that place and he is in a very nice neighborhood. The estate owners travel a lot and just wanted someone to be on site when they are not home. I even knew of a Mortuary that offered free rent for a 3 bedroom 2 bath place in exchange for cleaning the mortuary each night. That kind of set up isn't for everyone, but it was in a nice part of Ventura and it worked for those that moved in over the years. Sometimes you just need to be creative to get what you want.