Student Loan Delinquency and Renting: What Landlords See

Your income covers the rent, your bank balance is fine, and the line on your credit report that makes the property manager pause is a student loan.

What the 15% to 32% figure does not tell you

It is a 2025 number. TransUnion’s release, published December 4, 2025, gives the January and May 2025 figures and does not say what the percentage is out of (TransUnion). Its message to property managers is that applicants who once passed screening are now falling short and that credit scores were not built to predict rental performance. It gives no advice to renters.

HousingWire, summarizing the same report, adds that applicants with prime scores of 661 to 720, once seen as low risk, are moving into riskier categories (HousingWire). That tells you how screening thresholds are being squeezed, not what any one landlord will do.

When a late loan reaches your credit report

That timeline comes from a news article, not from studentaid.gov, so confirm it for your loan (WTOP). Our guide to tax refund offsets covers one of those collections tools.

Before you apply

1. Pull your credit reports and fix errors first. InCharge notes incorrect information is the most common credit reporting complaint to the CFPB (InCharge).
2. Ask whether the landlord runs a credit check at all. Small owners sometimes do not.
3. Bring proof of income and letters from past landlords or an employer before you are asked.
4. Explain the delinquency in a sentence or two, with what you are doing about it.
5. If you offer a bigger deposit or a co-signer, remember a co-signer is legally responsible for the full rent.

If you are turned down

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a landlord must tell you if a screening report led to a denial, and the notice must name the screening company. The CFPB says that requiring a co-signer, a bigger deposit, or higher rent than other applicants receive can also count. You can request a free copy of the report within 60 days and dispute errors; the company generally has 30 days to investigate, sometimes 45 (CFPB).

Still unsure? Start here

How many renters are behind on student loans?

TransUnion reports that the share of rental applicants 90 or more days delinquent on student loans rose from 15% in January 2025 to 32% in May 2025. The release does not say whether the percentages are of all applicants or only those with student debt, and it was published December 4, 2025 (TransUnion). Treat it as a 2025 snapshot, not a current rate.

Will a landlord deny me for a late student loan?

Not automatically, and we found no rule that says so. TransUnion says applicants who once met screening thresholds are now falling short, and that credit scores were built to predict loan repayment, not rental performance (TransUnion). Each landlord sets its own thresholds. InCharge says larger management companies usually run a credit report on every applicant, while small owners may not (InCharge).

When does a late student loan show up on my credit report?

An article citing federal timelines says delinquency is reported to the credit bureaus at 90 days, most federal loans enter default at 270 days, and involuntary collections may begin at 360 days. This is a secondary source, so confirm the dates on studentaid.gov (WTOP).

What can I do before I apply?

Check your reports for errors, ask whether a credit check is required, bring references and proof of income, explain the problem honestly, and consider a larger deposit or a co-signer. These are InCharge’s suggestions, and it warns that a co-signer becomes legally responsible for the full rent (InCharge).

Can they make me pay more because of my credit?

The CFPB says requiring a co-signer, a larger deposit, or higher rent than other applicants get can count as adverse action based on a screening report. You are entitled to notice, and you can ask for a free copy of the report within 60 days of the adverse action (CFPB).

How do I fix a wrong entry in a screening report?

The CFPB says to ask the landlord what in the report caused the decision, request the report from the landlord or the screening company, and dispute errors. The screening or credit reporting company generally has 30 days to investigate, sometimes 45 (CFPB).

Can I get out of default?

One article lists rehabilitation, which takes nine voluntary payments within 10 consecutive months and generally removes the default from your credit history, and consolidation, which resolves default faster but may leave it on your report for up to 10 years (WTOP). Check studentaid.gov for the current rules for your loan type.

Where can I get free help?

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling offers free or low-cost nonprofit counseling at nfcc.org or 877-360-6322. Our debt-to-income calculator can show how your debts look next to your income.

Related reading

• How to Pay Off Debt on One Income — A Two-Speed Plan (US 2026)
• Private Student Loan Sent to Collections? Check This First
• What is a Good Credit Score in the US? (2026 Guide)
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