Apartments for Rent in Jersey City, NJ - Home Rentals | realtor.com® (2025)

FAQs

What credit score do you need to rent an apartment in NJ? ›

In general, landlords are unlikely to approve you with poor credit history, but might consider you if you can demonstrate current financial stability. The bottom line is that the score you need varies by location, but you're likely to get approved in most places if your score is at least 650.

Bidding wars and record high rents in New York are behind the price surge in Jersey City as well, with more renters looking for a reprieve across state lines. Deals can be found, with many units offering more space and coveted amenities like an in-unit washer and dryer.

It is recommended that renters spend no more than 30% of their annual income on rent. So, at that rental price, a renter needs to make $79,889 annually to comfortably afford the cost — a 3.7% increase from the $58,692 annual salary needed to afford the typical national rent five years ago, according to the report.

“A lot of folks are facing incredible, incredible pressure to be able to find and afford a place to live in New Jersey,” said Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. New Jersey ranks as the seventh most expensive, down a spot from 2021.

Can you get an apartment with a credit score of 500? Yes, you can. However, your options will be limited, and you may have to put down a higher security deposit or bring on a cosigner.

Q: What credit score will get you denied for an apartment? A: Scores significantly below 600 often lead to rental application denials. However, the threshold can vary based on the landlord and apartment type.

The traditional rule of thumb is that you should try to spend no more than 30% of your gross income on rent. According to this rule, you should be making $5,000/month to afford a $1,500 apartment. With a 40-hour workweek, this works out to $28.85/hour.

If you're looking at an apartment that costs $1,500 per month in rent, according to the 3x rule, you would need a gross monthly income of at least $4,500 (1500 x 3) to be considered a suitable tenant.

Many apartments require you to have gross monthly income of three times the rent, To figure out how much rent you can afford, list all your other expenses, subtract those from your monthly gross income, and leave a little buffer for one-off expenses.

New Jersey has no statewide rent control laws in place. However, cities and counties can enforce their own rent control laws which must be followed if you own a property in one of these areas. Typically local rent control limits rent increases to between 2-6%, though it all depends on the area.

What is the allowable rent increase in Jersey City? ›

There is no statewide limit on rent increases in New Jersey. However, several cities and counties have local ordinances that limit how much landlords can raise rents each year. For example, in Newark and Jersey City, the annual rent increase is limited to 4% or the cost of living increase, whichever is lower.

Negotiating rent with a landlord might seem like a hard battle to win, but it's entirely doable if you can prove two things: 1) the rent being charged is higher than similar units elsewhere, and 2) you're a model tenant who pays rent on time.

What is required to rent an apartment in NJ? To rent in NJ, you need a filled-out application, proof of income (like pay stubs), consent for credit and background checks, and often a rental history report.

The credit score needed to rent an apartment varies depending on the landlord and location. Landlords typically look for a credit score of 620 or higher. A higher credit score may increase your chances of getting approved and may result in better rental terms.

Find a Cosigner or Guarantor

If your credit just isn't cutting it, you could ask a family member or close friend with good to excellent credit to cosign. A cosigner, sometimes called a guarantor, signs the lease with you.

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 600 FICO^® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.