03/01/2025
π‘ Credit Tip
π° Pay Rent with Credit β Turn Rent Into a Credit Booster!
Most landlords donβt report rent payments to credit bureaus, which means youβre missing out on one of your biggest expenses helping your credit score. But the good news? You can change that with rent-reporting services!
π₯ How It Works
β’You sign up with a rent-reporting service.
β’They verify and track your monthly rent payments.
β’They report those payments to one or more credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion).
β’Over time, your credit history and score improveβespecially if youβre building credit or recovering from past issues.
π³ Top Rent-Reporting Services
1.) PiΓ±ata β Free to join, rewards you with gift cards for paying rent, reports to Experian & Equifax.
2.) BoomPay β Reports rent history up to 24 months to all 3 bureaus, low-cost option.
3.) RentTrack β Works with landlords and tenants, reports to all 3 bureaus.
4.) LevelCredit β Reports both rent & utility payments to Experian & TransUnion.
5.) Esusu β Great for those who want long-term credit building, used by many property managers.
π How Much Can It Help?
If you have a thin or no credit file, you could see a jump of 30-60 points within a few months!
Consistent on-time payments improve your payment history, which makes up 35% of your credit score.
Some services allow you to backdate rent payments for the last 1-2 years, which can give you an instant score boost!
π‘ Pro Tip
If your landlord isnβt signed up for rent reporting, you can still register on your own.
Paying rent with a rewards credit card (if the platform allows) could earn you cash back or points, but be sure to pay it off in full each month to avoid interest!