Credit Repair - How to Report Rent Payments to Credit Bureaus

The only party that can report rent payments to a credit bureau is the landlord. Credit bureau policy prohibits renters from doing this directly. The landlord will need to provide a photocopy of the lease agreement to demonstrate that he has the authority to report payments. He also may have to prove that he has payment records when submitting information to the bureaus. It's a sensible idea to have your landlord report your payment information to the bureaus if you're trying to build your credit rating.

Instructions

1

Contact your landlord to request that she reports your rent payments to each of the three credit bureaus, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Landlords must subscribe to the credit bureaus as businesses in order to make regular reports. This process also facilitates future reporting. If they're substantial landlords, they probably already have an account, as landlords must use the reporting system to report evictions and other issues. If your landlord lacks an account, you may have to offer to pay the subscription for her, at least temporarily, to encourage her to follow your request.

2

Pay your rent on time every month to build up your credit rating.

3

Request copies of your credit report from each of the bureaus to ensure that your payments are being reported properly. This will lengthen your credit history if you have not borrowed money in the past and demonstrate your good payment behavior. It also may work in your favor when applying for rental apartments or houses in the future.