Rent Reporting: A Guide for Independent Landlords

Offering rent reporting is becoming a powerful tool for independent landlords. While large property managers are increasingly required to offer this service in certain regions, individual investors can use it voluntarily to attract quality tenants, incentivize on-time payments, and help renters build credit history—something previously reserved for homeowners paying mortgages.

If you choose to offer rent reporting, you are helping your tenants add one of their largest monthly expenses to their credit reports (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), potentially boosting their credit scores significantly.

Best Practices for Implementation

If you decide to offer this benefit, follow these best practices to ensure transparency and trust:

• Make it Optional: Always allow tenants to “opt-in” rather than enrolling them automatically.

• Clear Disclosure: Provide a clear written offer detailing which credit bureau(s) will be used, any fees involved, and instructions for opting in or out.

• Fee Handling: You can typically pass the cost to the tenant (often capped around $10/month) or absorb it as a value-add. Note: Never use rent payments or security deposits to cover unpaid reporting fees.

• Cancellation: Allow tenants to opt-out at any time.

Resources & Service Providers

Major credit bureaus generally require data to come through verified third-party services rather than directly from landlords. Below is a list of reporting services available to independent landlords and tenants.

Landlord-Facilitated Services

• CredHub: (credhub.com)

• Credit Rent Boost: (creditrentboost.com)

• Esusu: Reports to all three bureaus; requires a landlord service agreement.

• PayYourRent: Reports to all three bureaus; tenants must pay rent through their portal.

• ClearNow: Debits rent from the tenant's bank account and reports to Experian (no cost to tenants).

Tenant-Direct & Hybrid Apps

• Azibo: Free payments via bank transfer/CashApp. Tenants can upgrade to “Credit Boost” ($4.99/mo) to report to Equifax and TransUnion.

• Boom: Reports to all three bureaus for $3.00/mo ($36/yr). Past history (up to 24 months) available for a one-time $25 fee.

• Piñata: $5.00/mo ($60/yr). Includes rewards and back-reporting to all three bureaus.

• RentRedi: $5.99/mo with landlord verification. Reports to all three bureaus.

• Rental Kharma: $75.00 setup + $8.95/mo. Reports to TransUnion and Equifax.

• Rent Reporters: $94.95 enrollment (includes 2 years history) + $9.95/mo (or $7.95/mo annually). Reports to TransUnion and Equifax.

• Rock the Score: $48.00 enrollment + $6.95/mo. Reports to TransUnion and Equifax.