Rent & utility loans · $200 – $5,000Keep the keys.
Keep the lights on.
Rent is the bill with the hardest deadline. If this month has a gap — a short paycheck, a deposit on a new place, a shutoff notice — here is how the clocks actually run, who to call first, and how to borrow only the gap.
Soft credit check · Fixed monthly payments · No fee to apply
Two clocks, and where to stop them
Eviction and shutoff both move in stages, and both can be paused at almost every stage by paying or by making an agreement in writing. Timelines vary by state and lease.
Rent Typical sequence
- Rent due
Most leases include a grace period of 3–5 days before a late fee.
- Late fee
Capped by state law in many states. Paying now usually ends it here.
- Pay-or-quit notice
The landlord's formal demand. You can almost always cure by paying the full amount within the notice period.
- Court filing
Only now does it become an eviction case. A written payment agreement before this point stops the filing.
- Hearing, then writ
Even here, many courts allow a pay-and-stay. Local legal aid is free.
Utilities Typical sequence
- Bill past due
Nothing happens yet. Call now and most utilities will set a plan at no cost.
- Disconnection notice
Required by most state commissions. Payment plans and medical-certificate protections start here.
- Seasonal protections
Many states bar shutoffs in cold months or heat waves. Ask the utility directly.
- Shutoff
Reconnection usually requires the balance plus a fee. A plan before this point is far cheaper.
General sequence only; notice periods, grace periods and protections are set by your state and your lease or tariff. Your state's legal aid site has the exact numbers.
Help that doesn't have to be repaid
- 211Connects you to local rent and utility assistance, emergency grants and churches with funds. Free, every state.Rent + utilities
- LIHEAPFederal energy assistance run by your state — heating, cooling and crisis payments for eligible households.Utilities
- Your utility's hardship fundMost utilities run a customer-funded program and a medical-certificate hold. Ask by name.Utilities
- Emergency rental assistanceMany counties and cities still run rent programs; your housing authority or 211 knows which.Rent
- Your landlord, in writingA dated payment agreement — even partial — stops most filings. Landlords prefer it to a vacancy.Rent
Borrow the gap, not the rent
The loan should cover what's missing after your paycheck and any assistance — not the whole month. A $1,400 rent with $900 in hand is a $500 problem, not a $1,400 one.
- Pick a term that ends before the next lease renewalSo one gap doesn't follow you into the next year.
- Deposits for a new place: ask about the refund timelineMost states require return within 14–30 days of moving out of the old one.
- Use it once, then build a half-month bufferMost rent emergencies are a $300 surprise that landed in the wrong week.
Asked with a notice in hand
Can I get a loan for rent with bad credit?
Yes. No minimum credit score; lenders weigh income and checking-account history. Rent is the most common use of a $500–$1,500 loan in our network. Bad credit loans
Can the loan be paid to my landlord directly?
Funds go to your checking account, usually the next business day; you then pay the landlord by whatever method your lease allows. Keep the receipt or confirmation — it's your proof the notice was cured.
Will the utility wait if I show I've applied?
Often, yes — call and say a payment is coming on a specific date. Most utilities will note the account and hold a disconnection for a few days. Get the representative's name.
Should I borrow for a security deposit on a new place?
If the move saves money or you have no choice, yes — and ask the old landlord about the refund timeline so the loan can be paid down fast. Many states require deposits returned within 14–30 days with an itemized statement.
Cover this month. Pay it back in steps.
Soft check, real offers, funds next business day — after you've called the people who might cover it for free.
Checking your rate does not affect your credit score.