Can paying rent build your credit?

How rent reporting works, which scores count it, and what to ask before you sign up.

How it works

Rent payments usually do not appear on credit reports unless you, your landlord, or a rent reporting service sends them to the bureaus.

Which scores count it

Newer scores, such as VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 and FICO Score 9 and 10, can use rent history. Older FICO versions, which many lenders still use, generally do not. Some mortgage programs also consider rent history separately.

Questions to ask

Which bureaus does the service report to? Does it charge a fee? Will it report past months? What happens if you pay late? A late rent payment that gets reported can hurt you.

Best for

Rent reporting helps most when you have little credit history and always pay rent on time.