If you have bad credit or none at all, you can improve your chances of getting an apartment by doing things like:
Negotiate. Motola says that you can always try to negotiate with your landlord, especially if you have a history of paying your rent on time. Still, you might have a better chance of success if you work with a single person instead of a large apartment complex.
Pay an extra month's rent in advance. Even if your credit history isn't great, landlords may be more willing to rent to you if you can pay for another month ahead of time.
Pay attention to proof of income. If your income is stable and high enough to cover the rent and then some, the landlord may be willing to overlook a low credit score.
Get a letter in your favor. Another thing that can help is to get a personal letter from a previous landlord saying that you have always paid your rent on time.
Find a co-signer or a guarantor. Even though this happens more often in student housing where parents pay the rent, Zrimsek says you might be able to add a guarantor or co-signer with better credit to your lease to make up for your bad credit.