There are actually two sides to this topic:
Having good credit to get approved for a rental.
Keeping good credit after moving out from an apartment.

Because we work with people to build better credit scores for whatever their financial goals are, most of our site has information that can be used toward getting good credit.

This article offers suggestions specifically toward those people in an apartment or rental property on how to keep their good credit after moving out.  We have seen countless credit reports with collections and judgments listed from apartment management and utility companies and so many of the stories sound the same.  So here are some tips to keep your good credit.

1) Before you sign a lease, request a clause that lets you terminate early with no penalty for whatever reasons you can foresee as possibilities.
           Home Purchase
           Medical Issues
           Work Transfer or Relocation 
           Loss of Job or Reduction in Hours
           Need to be Caretaker for Parents

2) When moving out, give notice as early as possible.  Check your lease for the minimum time required and try to do it even earlier if you can.  A written letter with a follow-up phone call are the best ways to give notice.

On your letter, put your full address and unit number and be sure it is dated. Then put the address of your manager or landlord.  In the body of the letter include lots of detail: what day you'll be moving out, whether you will be getting another tenant (if your lease allows) and if you plan to to the cleaning to get your deposit back.

Be sure to have all involved roommates sign the letter and also provide a forwarding address to which your security deposit can be sent. Keep a copy of your letter and either deliver it in person, send it certified mail or get delivery confirmation.

3) If there are maintenance or repair issues that are not resolved and you must move to protect the health of you and your family, document it.  Take photos with that day's newspaper in it to prove the date that the issue occurred.  Keep detailed records of every attempt you make to report it and what you were told in return.  This historic record showing you tried to resolve it with good communication and by following the established procedure can be very helpful down the road if they try to collect the rest of the lease from you.

4) Do the walkthrough yourself and take pictures while you're with the landlord.  You can put a newspaper in the photo to show the date it was taken.

5) Get everything in writing. It doesn't matter that you've become friends with the property manager and that they said "don't worry about it".  You need to protect yourself with written statements of anything that is in your favor.  This includes a sign off that the property is in good/acceptable condition and that you will receive your deposit back.  It also includes their agreement to release you from the contract early with no penalties.  And of course, you want something that shows you are paid in full with no balance due on anything.

6) Follow up with the utility cancellations.  When you call to cancel all of your utilities, including the cable company, get something in writing showing the last date of service in your name and something that shows you are paid in full with zero balance due.  If they have to send you a final bill, be sure to give them a new address to mail it to. 

7) Do everything yourself.  Take copies of the utility cancellation statements to the office when you turn in your keys.  Get a written receipt that you turned them in and are no longer liable for the unit. 

Know your tenant rights.  The government provides a site with links to each state's information for consumers.  You can also see this previous article on this topic by clicking here. 

Be sure to check your credit report three months after you move out just to be sure there are no erroneous collection accounts listed for anything to do with your former residence.

If you need additional assistance in correcting errors on your credit reports, our Individual Consulting Services may fit your needs.  Our services range from $250 to $850 and start with a no-obligation credit report review to determine how we can be most effective for your credit building needs.  Contact us today for more information.