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Tenant Guide to Rent Reporting - Build Credit History and Strengthen Your Credit Score
Tenant Guide to Rent Reporting - Build Credit History and Strengthen Your Credit Score

Learn more about how to build your credit history and strengthen your credit score as a tenant by using TurboTenant for rent payments.

Luciano Vizza avatar
Written by Luciano Vizza
Updated over a week ago

By using TurboTenant’s online rent payments, you can strengthen your credit score and build your credit history!

Getting Started -

Are you already paying rent online through TurboTenant? If not, the first step is to click the Request to Pay Online button in your Dashboard. We’ll send your landlord an email letting them know you want to pay rent via TurboTenant.

Even if you don't pay online through TurboTenant, your landlord can track payments that you make in their TurboTenant account. We'll still report each on-time payment to TransUnion, our trusted credit bureau.

How to get set up -

If you are already using TurboTenant for rent payments, you will likely see an option to set up Rent Reporting in the To-Do and Payment tabs. Simply click the Get Started button and confirm a few details about yourself such as your name and address history:

Another way to access Rent Reporting is by clicking on Settings in your left-hand menu, then navigating to the Billing tab. Here, you can set your Rent Reporting settings:

TurboTip: Your past address should be a place you've lived at for at least 6 months. If you did not complete a screening report through TurboTenant, you will be asked to enter your social security number and date of birth in order for us to accurately report your information to the credit bureau, TransUnion. Your identity information is kept secure and only used in order to report information about your on-time payments to TransUnion.

Tracking Payments -

Once your landlord creates a charge, or if you're already using rent payments, you will see in the Payments section that Rent Reporting is on! When you enable Rent Reporting, all on-time payments you make through TurboTenant or that your landlord records as paid will be reported to TransUnion.

TurboTip: No payments you made prior to setting up Rent Reporting will be reported.

You can check the status of Rent Reporting and turn the feature off or on at any time in your Billing Settings.

Rent Reporting FAQ

How will Rent Reporting impact my credit score?

TurboTenant only reports your on-time payments to TransUnion, one of the three major credit bureaus in the U.S. Although TurboTenant cannot track or guarantee a particular change in score, renters with a lack of credit history or low scores typically see the highest increase in credit score when using Rent Reporting.

Remember, there are a number of factors that impact credit scores such as credit card payments and loans. Also, individual scores can differ between each of the three major credit reporting bureaus - TurboTenant only reports to TransUnion.

When are rent payments reported?

We report rent payments for the previous 30 days.
Example: January will be reported in February, February in March, March in April, April in May, and so on!

How do I check my credit score?

The Federal Trade Commission entitles everyone to a free credit report every 12 months, which can be requested here. TurboTenant only reports credit to TransUnion, one out of the three major credit bureaus.

For more information on getting your credit report, you can visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website here.

What is an acceptable credit score to rent an apartment?

While acceptable credit scores vary from landlord to landlord, generally a good credit score to rent an apartment ranges from 620 to higher. Read here for our comprehensive guide on how to run a credit check.


Still have questions? Reach out to our Support Team via chat or by email at [email protected]

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