Apartments and Credit Checks?

This would be considered my first apartment, and I am looking for ways to make it easier for me since I dont have much of a credit history. Last night, I was so bummed because I found a perfect house/apartment with 2 bedrooms for the four of us, and she wanted to run credit checks on all of us. We all have less than perfect credit and I explained that to her. Is there anyway that I could comprise with a landlord/owner so that she will wavier a credit check and trust that we will pay her the rent when it is due and all of the other bills? When we met up last night, I was explaining to her our situations, that we need to leave our house that we are living it and so on... she said she would call me with an answer and never did... I waited all night, I finally emailed her and I think she is basically telling me that since our credit is low, we will meet minuim requirements which isnt enough! What could I do to tell her that that I am very interested and trustworthy? Do landlords have to do credit checks?