Renting a house, need help/ info?

At least according to people I know BUYING a house, getting a loan and all that required a average-above average credit for them to accept you, also considering how long you have been working at your job as a requirement to determine. I am new to renting, I have rented a appartment with my fiancee, my fiancee ended up getting fired from a very well payed job recently to hire temps in place of him. We have been unable to find work within this city, we are moving to a different city to get new/ better work for me and him, to get back on our feet. I absolutely hate appartments for the sake of lack of privacy considering neigbors. I recently found rentable housing in the city we are heading towards for about 1,000 a month ...this is a 4 bed , 1.75 bath. Renting a measly appart.. is about 750$ a month. I find the renting or a house more beneficial but I am hoping the same rules don't apply really like it would to BUY a house like that. Do we have to have incredible credit? I had no credit and payed my bills till we had problems, then cable bills weren't payed so I am worried that made mine bad or something. Also do we have to work at one job for like a long time or whatever in order to get it?