Rent payments have become a consideration on a growing number of American credit reports.
The share of consumers whose rent payments were reported to credit bureaus rose to 13% in 2025, up from 11% in 2024, according to a recent report from TransUnion, one of three major bureaus.
For many in the credit industry, the uptick is a net positive. Advocates for rent reporting, from nonprofits to members of Congress, have touted it as a way for those with thin or non-existent credit files to start building or boosting their creditworthiness.
“It’s a good thing that more people’s rent payments are getting reported to credit bureaus because it can really help people improve their credit,” Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, recently told CNBC.
But he and other experts say that certain consumers should tread carefully. That’s because, for certain renters, the risk of reporting a missed or late payment can render these programs’ benefits moot.
