Why Doesn’t My Rent Show Up on My Credit Report?

 If you’ve been paying rent on time for years, it might come as a shock to learn that your rental history isn’t boosting your credit score. Here’s why: 

Unlike banks and credit card companies, most landlords and property managers are not registered with credit bureaus. Becoming a “data furnisher” requires meeting strict federal standards—something many landlords simply don’t have the time or resources to do 

Credit bureaus like TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian don’t collect rent payment data on their own. They rely on third-party “data furnishers”—banks, lenders, and other approved entities—to report payment activity. Most landlords and property managers are not registered data furnishers, and becoming one requires a time-consuming application process and strict compliance with federal regulations (like the Fair Credit Reporting Act)

 Rent is considered a private agreement, not a credit-based obligation. That means your rent payments don’t automatically count toward building credit like loans or credit cards do. 

There’s no universal system for reporting rent to credit bureaus. Unless your landlord uses a specialized platform—and opts in to report—your on-time payments go unrecognized. 

 The good news? You can take control. Through a trusted third-party service for RentReporting, you can add up to 24 months of on-time rental payments directly to your credit file with TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. 

You pay your rent. Now it’s time to get credit for it.

Start reporting your rent today!