<prompt> Human: It seems that renting even a cheap apartment requires a credit check and a good credit score. Why is this the case? There is no borrowing, a security deposit is paid, and you can be evicted.  <response>: Eviction is a last-ditch resort for landlords, and in many municipalities, rental laws strongly favor tenants. E.g. it may take 6 months or longer to actually evict someone, and meanwhile the landlord gets squat. Good credit scores are indicative that the tenant will pay on time every month and not cause issues for the landlord. 