Rent Payment & Credit Reporting

Why is my rent on my credit report?

As of December 2010, Experian began loading rental payment histories into consumers’ credit reports, creating an opportunity for consumers to establish a positive credit history with continuous on-time rental payments.

What type of rent information is on my credit report?

Only positive rental history has been added to your Experian credit report.  If available, Experian will display the 25 most recent months of rental payment history information.  Experian RentBureau will not add derogatory information because any negative information, such as collection account, is already reported to credit reporting companies through collection agencies.

How will lenders use my rent information?

Lenders may use your rental obligation as one of the factors when determining your ability to pay any new debt.  Because your rental payment history is now part of the standard credit reports, it may also be incorporated into credit scores used by lenders to make credit-granting decisions.  Each credit grantor decided what standards you must meet for it to grant your credit.

Will rent payments affect my credit score?

Because your rental payment history is now part of your standard credit report, it may be incorporated into certain credit scores, such as VantageScore and Experian's PLUS Score.  This will allow many who previously didn't have a credit history to become "scoreable" for the first time and begin building and rebuilding credit through the responsible payment of rent.

Why are my rent payments not on my credit report?

In order for your rental payment history to show up on your credit report, your property management company must submit your payment information to Experian RentBureau.  We would be happy to speak with your property manager regarding integrating your rental payment data into your credit report. Please refer your property management office to Experian’s Rent Bureau. 

Can I submit my own rental payment information?

No, you cannot report your own rental payment history. Only property management companies can report rental payment data to Experian at this time.

Why does my rent appear as an installment loan?

Your rent is intended to be similar to an auto lease, which is considered installment credit. Installment credit consists of paying regular installments of a fixed amount over a set period of time, usually measured in months or years. An installment loan does not imply that loan proceeds were received by the consumer as part of the transaction.

Why does my credit report show a credit limit for my apartment lease when it is not a line of credit?

Experian calculates an “original loan amount” which represents the sum of the total payments over the entire period of the lease agreement. For example, a 12-month lease with a $1,000 monthly rent payment would add up to $12,000 (12 months x $1,000). We are aware that some credit report systems display this amount as credit limit. Note: This does not imply that the consumer received loan proceeds in the amount of $12,000 or have revolving debt of that amount.

Why does my credit report show any outstanding balance for my apartment lease when I don’t own any money?

An outstanding balance or “current balance” amount on your rental payment history represents the sum of all rental payments left on the lease. The balance denotes the total amount for which the consumer will be responsible over the remainder of the lease. As you pay your rent each month, the outstanding balance will continue to decrease.

For additional information, please visit the Experian website's Credit Report FAQ