Consumers are increasingly self-reporting rent payments, TransUnion says

The number of consumers whose rent payments are reported to credit reporting agencies rose to 13% in 2025, according to TransUnion‘s latest Rent Payment Reporting analysis, released on Wednesday. That number is up from 11% in 2024.

In a press release, the company suggested that this trend may gain momentum after the July 2025 directive from FHFA director Bill Pulte, which ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to accept VantageScore 4.0 credit scores for mortgage underwriting.

The order also allows for consideration of rent payment history in mortgage applications, which could open the housing market to far more first-time homebuyers.

“The regulatory developments we’ve seen in this space are very encouraging,” said Maitri Johnson, SVP and head of TransUnion’s tenant and employment screening business. “The vast majority of renters reliably make on-time payments and they deserve to leverage that proven responsibility toward home ownership and other financial opportunities.”

The analysis found property manager participation in rent reporting fell to 44% in 2025, down from 48% in 2024 — the first decline after rising from 27% in 2022. The sudden decrease in property managers’ participation and the slight rise in consumers who say their payments are reported suggest that consumers may be self-reporting their rent payments through third-party data furnishers, the company’s release said.

“Rent payment reporting is well documented as a means to improving credit scores and financial inclusion, so I’m happy to see that more consumers are empowered to participate,” said Johnson. “We hope the new FHFA policy will help increase the number of consumers opting in for rent payment reporting.”

Rent payment reporting attracts responsible renters, with 57% more likely to choose managers who report payments and 80% more likely to pay on time. Adoption has also grown through state actions; California now mandates reporting, while Colorado requires managers to offer it annually.

Participation rose across most generations, except Gen Z, which dropped from 26% in 2024 to 18% in 2025, though they remain the most active users given their shorter credit histories.

“The decreased participation from Gen Z was surprising considering they likely do not have enough credit built yet,” said Johnson. “With rent payments now being considered as a qualifier for mortgages, many Gen Z consumers may be better positioned to achieve homeownership at an earlier age than they otherwise would.”