More consumers are using rent payments to boost their credit score
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Most of the rent reporting services
Rent reporting services follow a user’s rent payment history and notify them to one or more of three credit offices: Experian, Equifax and Transunion.
Sharing rent payment activities has shown that it is especially beneficial for participants “Credit visible“Or he doesn’t have any credit history, experts say.
Those who are registered generally see that credit scores have increased. When rent payments are included in the credit reports, consumers see an average growth of credit scores of 60 points, in accordance with 2021 to the transunion report.
Rent reporting services can also help young adults because they have a higher probability of having short credit history and renting.
According to Transunion’s report, in 2025, approximately 18% of Gen Zers participating in the survey reported to pay rent to credit offices. Although this drops from 26% in 2024, it is still the biggest share compared to other generations.
According to the report, approximately 16% of the millennium participating in the survey reported the rental activities in 2025.
Gen Z made 15% of Transunion’s 2,006 participants. The Millennials was 28% of the questionnaire base and the gene X represented 30%. Baby Boomers made up 27%.
5 questions you need to ask before notifying your rent payments
However, experts say that all rent reporting services do not work in the same way. For example, some only share time payments, while others notify late payments. If you fall back, this activity can also be reflected in such tools that adversely affect your score.
Chi Chi Wu, a senior lawyer at the National Consumer Law Center, consider negative consequences such as loss of work or the worst scenario before signing a rent reporting service.
Schulz accepted: “For example, if you’re worried about your job and you’re not sure you can make your rent payments after six months, maybe it’s not the best time to sign up.”
Ask yourself these five questions before you sign up.
1. Do you really need it?
You may not even have to benefit from rent payments to increase your loan.
For those with a thin or non -existent credit file, Schulz said even a small amount of positive rental history, “it may have a really important effect.” However, if you already have a long credit history and a good score, adding another data point will not make a significant change.
Check your credit score first and evaluate whether the reporting of your rent payment will make a difference, Wu said Wu.
2. What is cost?
Some rent reporting services are free, others require a fee of $ 6.95 to $ 9.95 per month. in accordance with To the apartment list. The site may request one -time registration or installation fees that may cost the services from $ 25 to $ 95.
See if the rent reporting will come to you at an additional cost, or that your landlord will cover any of the fees.
3. Does the service report to three credit offices?
Make sure that the service reports to all three of the major credit offices: Experian, Equifax and Transunion.
Experts say that sometimes rent reporting services will share data with one or two of the three offices.
This may be a problem when you apply for Schulz, loans or credit cards. If your lender checks your report from one of the offices that are not included in the service, the reported data is largely irrelevant because it will not be seen. “
4. What data does the service report?
Experts, some services only on time, exactly rent payments to credit offices, while others can notify late payments, he says. However, even if the maid declares a positive date, he said that this could be a risk.
Let’s say they pay rent for a year and then “suddenly the data stops.”
“Will a future host look at it and make assumptions?” He said.
5. What is the Cancellation Policy?
Wu said that the cancellation policies for rent reporting services will vary from the provider to the provider, as there is a lack of standardization.
Before registering, learn how to cancel the service and what the results are, “Schulz said,” Especially when talking about something about your loan. ”
