Depends on the region, of course, I should have put that as a disclaimer. Where I live you absolutely can't get an apartment from anyone unless you submit to a credit/background check (and pay for it yourself of course). This wasn't the case a few years ago but that's how it is now.
Perhaps you should clarify apartment landlords, since many houses are owned by individual real estate investors who lease out the properties, and who have a different set of requirements when it comes to single-family dwellings.
Not accurate, though it may be true for a typical apartment complex.