How to add rent to your credit report: 16 rent-reporting services

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice.See Lexington Law’s editorial disclosure for more information.

The only thing worse than having to pay rent is having nothing to show for it on your credit score. Unlike mortgage loan lenders, landlords are not required to report your rent payments to the major credit bureaus, so your credit report won’t automatically reflect them. But the good news is that you can learn how to add rent to your credit report to build your score.

In this guide, we teach you how you can build credit with rent payments through rent-reporting services. You’ll learn how these reporting services work, which companies provide these services and what to look for.

Does paying rent build credit?

Paying your rent each month doesn’t help you build credit on its own. It costs your landlord money to report your payments to the credit bureaus, which is why many landlords don’t report. 

Rent doesn’t help you build credit, but it’s helpful to know how your renting can negatively affect your credit. When you initially fill out a rental application, your credit score can temporarily decrease if the landlord runs a hard inquiry into your credit report. Your credit score can also decrease if you owe the landlord money and it goes to collections. This can happen if you owe money after moving out or when breaking your lease agreement.

Which rent-reporting services help build credit?

There are a few different ways to report your rent to help you build credit. Some companies charge for rent reporting, but you can also find services that do it for free. As more landlords learn about the benefits of reporting rent, many are beginning to provide it for tenants. A recent TransUnion® report found that 27 percent of landlords who know about rent reporting have adopted the practice.

Below, we list some of the best rent-reporting services. As you’ll see, some services only report to specific credit bureaus.

Free rent-reporting services for tenants

• Experian Boost®: Experian Boost is a free rent reporting service created by the major credit bureau Experian. This app allows users to report all monthly bills to Experian, from rent payments to video streaming services.
• Piñata: This app bills itself as the solution to make rent rewarding for its users, and it is partnered with TransUnion.
• Self: Self has a free plan that allows tenants to report their rent payments. With the upgraded paid service, you can report your utility and cell phone payments. Utility payments are only reported to TransUnion.

Paid rent-reporting services for tenants

• Boom: This service is an app for renters to track their payments and boost their credit score by reporting payments to all three bureaus.
• Credit Rent Boost: This is a paid service tenants can use to report their credit scores to TransUnion and Equifax®. You will have to pay a la carte every time for past and ongoing rent payments.
• RentReporters: This service is a one-time fee and will add 24 months of past rent payments to your credit report immediately for a quick boost. This service reports to Equifax and TransUnion.
• Rental Kharma: Rental Kharma charges a one-time setup fee and a monthly subscription. They report all of your past history for your current address to TransUnion and Equifax. For an additional fee and monthly charge, you can add a roommate or spouse.
• PaymentReport: This service reports to Equifax and charges a small monthly fee. You’ll need to link your bank account so they can verify your payments. They also have a free option if you can provide landlord verification.
• Rock the Score: After an enrollment fee, you pay monthly for reporting to TransUnion and Equifax. You can pay an additional fee for up to two years of your rental history.

Rent-reporting services for landlords

• Esusu Rent: With Esusu Rent, a landlord will collect rent payments through the Esusu online portal. Then, Esusu will share tenants’ payment history with every major credit bureau.
• Rent Dynamics: This is a CRM for landlords to create and manage renter profiles, implement omnichannel communication services and help their residents build credit through the Resident Retention program.
• PayYourRent: Landlords or property management pays the fee to report to all three credit bureaus. Tenants can choose to opt in or out at any time.
• ClearNow: Landlords can provide this service to take rent out of tenant checking or savings accounts. ClearNow reports to Experian® only.
• Bilt Rewards: This service is specific to Bilt Alliance properties that participate. Tenants receive the option to use this service upon move-in and can earn points using the Bilt credit card. Bilt Rewards reports to all three bureaus.
• Azibo: Azibo reports to all three bureaus and allows tenants to make free ACH bank transfers for their rent payments. Tenants also have the option to pay by debit or credit card for a 2.99 percent convenience fee.
• Jetty Credit: This is part of a pilot program from Fannie Mae and is free to renters at participating properties. It adds two years of previous rental history and also reports on-time utility bills. Jetty Credit reports to all three bureaus.

How to report rent to credit bureaus

While there aren’t any self-rent-reporting methods to send your rent payment history directly to the major bureaus, you can use third-party reporting services. Your payment history is worth 35 percent of your credit score, so a rent-reporting service can be instrumental when trying to improve your credit score. Typically you connect to your bank account to verify you’re paying your rent. Some can link to credit cards as well.

Each rent-reporting service is different and will have different costs, so it’s beneficial to research and compare the options. Once you find a service to use, you should continue to check your credit report to ensure the payments are showing.

It may be helpful to talk to your landlord prior to choosing a service. Some landlords report rent because it helps them screen tenants and can incentivize renters to pay on time to avoid lowering their score. If they see how it can benefit their business, they may decide to provide rent reporting.

What to look for in rent-reporting services

You have multiple options for rent-reporting services, and the right one depends on your unique situation. There are both free and paid services, so your budget is something to take into consideration. Just remember, the least expensive option may not be the best one.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when choosing a service that reports your rent:

• Cost: The price should be within your budget.
• Additional reporting: Some services offer additional reporting for utilities and other regular payments.
• Credit bureaus: Ideally, you want your rent reported to all three credit bureaus.
• Rental history: Services sometimes add up to two years of previous rental history on signup.
• Cancellation policy: See if the service will let you cancel at any time or if there’s a fee.
• Reviews: It’s always helpful to see what current and previous customers say about the service.

Can your personal credit score benefit from rent reporting?

One challenge many people face is that they don’t know if their credit score needs a boost from rent reporting because they’re unsure where they stand. Here at Lexington Law Firm, you can receive a free credit assessment.

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