How rent reporting helps build credit

[UNITED STATES] Housing is the largest expense most Americans face, but for millions, the real hurdle to homeownership isn’t just saving up — it’s lacking the credit history to qualify for a mortgage. This explainer will walk you through what it means to be “credit invisible,” how rent payment reporting works, and why it’s becoming a powerful tool for improving credit access.

By the end of this guide, you’ll understand how programs like Fannie Mae’s Positive Rent Payment Reporting initiative are changing the game, what options are available to renters, and what pitfalls to watch out for when trying to boost your credit score.

What Does It Mean to Be “Credit Invisible”?

The term credit invisible refers to people who have no recorded credit file or such a thin file that they can’t generate a credit score. According to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Project REACh, roughly 50 million Americans fall into this category.

These consumers often include immigrants, Black and Latino Americans, young adults, and others who haven’t interacted with traditional credit products like credit cards or loans. Without a credit score, they face barriers to qualifying for mortgages, credit cards, or even favorable loan rates — all critical tools for upward financial mobility.

Analogy: Think of the credit system like a financial résumé. If you’ve never submitted any “work experience” (i.e., loan or credit activity), lenders can’t assess your reliability. Rent payments — a regular, recurring expense — offer a way to fill in some of those blanks.

How Rent Reporting Programs Work

In late 2022, Fannie Mae launched its Positive Rent Payment Reporting initiative, allowing renters in eligible properties to have their on-time rent payments reported to credit bureaus for free. This program has been extended through 2024 and partners with vendors like Esusu Financial, Jetty Credit, and Rent Dynamics.

Other programs, such as Experian Boost, let consumers report rent, utilities, mobile phone, and streaming service payments directly. Meanwhile, rent-reporting services like Boom, Rental Kharma, RentReporters, and Self can also report your rental history, sometimes for a modest fee, by connecting to your bank account.

Example: Florida renter Joe Grande boosted his credit score by 80 points (from below 600 to 660) within three months of joining Esusu’s reporting program. For him, it was a turning point on the path to homeownership.

How Much Can Rent Reporting Boost Your Credit?

Including rent in credit reports can significantly raise your score. A 2021 TransUnion report found an average credit score increase of nearly 60 points when rent payments were added.

Fannie Mae reports that its program has helped over 35,000 renters establish credit scores, with those already holding scores seeing improvements of up to 40 points. While results vary, experts agree that consistently reported on-time payments act like “supercharged” positive entries on your credit record — comparable to jumpstarting your credit-building efforts.

Visual Tip: Imagine a battery jumpstart: if your credit profile is dead or weak, adding 24 months of clean rent payments is like connecting to a much bigger power source to spark it into motion.

What Are the Limits and Risks?

Even with rent reporting, building meaningful credit takes time. Experts warn it typically takes at least six months of reported activity to generate a credit profile and much longer to demonstrate a solid repayment history.

Not all rent-reporting services are equal. Fannie Mae’s initiative reports to all three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — at no cost. But if you’re using other services, you should verify which bureaus they report to. Reporting to only one or two bureaus limits the full impact on your credit profile.

Pro Tip: Carefully check the fees, terms, and bureau coverage before signing up for any paid rent-reporting service. Also, remember that even a boosted score below 670 may still leave you classified as a “higher risk” borrower.

FAQ and Myth-Busting

Q: Will adding rent payments instantly give me a great credit score?
No — while it helps, you need time to build a consistent track record.

Q: Do I have to pay for rent reporting?
Not always. Programs like Fannie Mae’s pilot are free if your property is enrolled, but third-party services often charge fees.

Q: Does rent reporting replace the need for credit cards or loans?
Not entirely. It supplements your credit history, but lenders still like to see diverse credit types.

Q: Do all credit bureaus treat rent data the same way?
Generally yes, but reporting to all three maximizes your impact. Always check which bureaus a service reports to.

Why This Matters

At Open Privilege, we believe housing access and financial inclusion are closely linked. Rent payment reporting offers a practical, underused way for millions of Americans to break out of the credit-invisible trap and take steps toward homeownership. It democratizes access to credit by turning everyday payments into tools for long-term financial growth.

For curious professionals, investors, and policymakers, the rise of rent reporting signals a broader shift in how creditworthiness is measured — moving beyond rigid, legacy models to more inclusive approaches. Keeping an eye on these evolving credit tools isn’t just smart for renters; it’s essential for anyone interested in the future of finance and housing.