Which scores count rent
Most landlords do not report rent, so for most renters it never reaches their credit reports. Even when it does, not every score looks at it.
| Score | Counts reported rent? | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| FICO Score 8 | No | The most widely used FICO score for cards, personal loans and retail credit |
| FICO Scores 2, 4 and 5 | No | The "Classic FICO" scores used for most mortgages |
| FICO Score 9, 10 and 10T | Yes | Some lenders; less common than FICO 8 |
| VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 | Yes | Free credit apps, some lenders, and now some mortgages |
FICO says reported rent counts only in its newer scores, and not in the scores used for mortgages. VantageScore says all of its versions use rent when it is on the credit report.
This is why a free app might show your score go up after you add rent, while a card issuer using FICO 8 sees no change.
Rent and mortgages
Mortgages are where rent history can matter most, in two ways.
The score
Since September 2026, every lender approved by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can choose either Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 on a loan, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Classic FICO ignores rent, while VantageScore 4.0 can count it. You usually do not get to pick which one your lender uses.
The underwriting system
Fannie Mae's automated system, Desktop Underwriter, can look for 12 months of rent payments of $300 or more. It checks your credit report first, then your bank account data if you allow it. It is aimed at borrowers with limited credit history, no credit score, or no mortgage on their report, and a missing rent history does not count against you. Fannie Mae explains the rules here.
Freddie Mac's system can also consider positive rent history for first-time homebuyers, using bank account data. So if a mortgage is your goal, paying rent from a bank account, on time, every month already helps, even if no service reports it.
Ways to get rent reported
Through your landlord
Ask first. Some property managers already report to one or more bureaus, often through a partner such as Esusu or Bilt, and it may cost you nothing. Some report only to Experian RentBureau, which adds on-time rent to your Experian report only. Renters cannot sign up for RentBureau themselves.
On your own
If your landlord does not report, a service can verify your payments, usually by linking the bank account you pay rent from, and report them for you.
| Service | Cost | Past rent | Bureaus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilt | Free for Bilt members | Past on-time rent on your current lease, if paid through Bilt | All three |
| Self (LevelCredit) | Free rent reporting for Self users; $6.95 a month to add bills and monitoring | Up to 24 months for $49.95 one time | All three |
| Experian Boost | Free | Uses your linked bank history | Experian only |
| Boom | $5 a month, billed $60 a year | Up to 24 months for $25 one time | All three |
| Esusu | $59 a year as a direct member | Up to 24 months included | All three |
| Kikoff Basic | $5 a month (rent is one of several features) | Up to two years for $50 one time | Equifax and TransUnion |
| RentReporters | $94.95 setup, then $10.95 a month (or $105 a year) | Up to 2 years on your current lease | All three |
Prices checked November 2026 on each company's own site.
Cost versus benefit
Here is the honest math. Rent reporting can give someone with no credit file something to score, and it can add months of history at once if you pay for past rent. But if the lender you care about uses FICO 8, a new rent account will not move that score.
Paying $60 to $200 or more a year only makes sense when you have a specific reason. A free option, or a service you already use, is a low-risk add-on.
One more risk: once rent is on your reports, a late payment could be reported too. Before you sign up, ask the service what it does if a payment is late or missed.
When it is worth it
- Worth turning on: your landlord or app offers it free, you pay rent on time from a bank account, and you have a thin file.
- Worth paying for: you have no other credit yet, you plan to apply for a mortgage soon, or you know your lender uses VantageScore or FICO 9 or 10. Reporting past rent can add up to two years of history right away.
- Probably not worth paying for: you already have a few years of on-time card or loan history. Rent adds little on top.
- Not a fit: you pay rent in cash or by money order, or you sometimes pay late. Most services need to see the payment leave a bank account.
Before you sign up
- Ask your landlord. Find out whether they already report, and to which bureaus.
- Check your reports. Get them free at AnnualCreditReport.com and see whether rent already appears. Our guide on how to read your credit report shows where to look.
- Start with a free option. Bilt, Self's free rent reporting or Experian Boost costs nothing.
- Pay for past rent only if you need history fast. A one-time lookback fee is cheaper than months of subscription.
- Pair it with a card or loan in your name. Rent is a bonus. A secured card or a credit-builder loan counts in every score.
General information only, not financial or legal advice. Terms change often; confirm the current terms on the provider's own site before you apply. Some links may pay us a commission. Disclosure.