Audience: Credit Hero Score users who wish to leverage their consistent rental history to improve their credit. While BuildCredit Rent offers advantages for any renter, it is most effective for those with limited credit files or scores under 660.
Every month you pay rent on time, you are proving you are reliable — but most landlords never report it, so it does not help your credit. BuildCredit Rent fixes that. It adds your on-time rent payments to your credit profile and can even include up to 24 months of past rent history at once.
This article explains what it is, how it helps, what it costs, and exactly how to sign up.
Table of contents:
To start, make sure you have the following:
An active Credit Hero Score account
Rent that you pay to a landlord or property manager
At least 3 rent payments made in the last 6 months that can be verified through your bank account (reporting cannot begin until this minimum is met)
A PDF copy of your lease (see the required details in Step 12)
What is BuildCredit Rent?
BuildCredit Rent is a service that adds your on-time rent payments to your credit profile. Payments are reported to Experian and TransUnion. Up to 24 months of verified rental history can be added retroactively, and only on-time payments are reported. No debt is ever added to your credit profile.
How do I enroll for BuildCredit Rent?
Locate the Turn Rent Payment into Credit History banner at the top
Click on Get Started
Click on Get Started Today - $49.99 + $5.99/mo
Verify the details of your purchase and click on Confirm Payment
Click on Continue
Fill out the form with your information
Click on Next
Fill out the form with your landlord’s or property management company's information
Click on Next
Fill out the form with your lease information
Attach a PDF copy of your lease agreement
What your lease must include:
Have these items visible on the document for the fastest approval.
* Address of the property
* Tenant name
* Landlord name
* Lease start date
* Rent payment amount
* Rent payment due date
* Landlord signature
* Tenant signature
Quick Tip: If something is missing, ask your landlord for an addendum or a signed letter that includes the missing item.
Click on Next
Carefully read the Terms
By enrolling in the rent reporting services provided by BuildCredit LLC, you acknowledge receipt of, and agree to, the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You also authorize us to collect, verify, and share your rental payment history with one or more consumer reporting agencies, authorize us to contact your landlord to verify your payment obligations, affirm that your rent payment transactions are not furnished to any credit bureau by any other party, and affirm that you do not have an active mortgage.
Note: In practice, verification is completed through the linked bank account. Landlord contact is authorized but is not a required part of the process.
Click on Agree & Submit
Click on Connect Account
Follow the prompts to connect with your banking app and confirm the account that shows your most recent rent payment.
How you pay → What to connect
If you pay through your Property manager portal (ACH / auto-debit) → Connect the same bank account that the portal uses to pull funds.
If you pay through Debit/credit card via portal → Connect the card account you actually use for rent payments
If you pay through Zelle/Venmo/similar (from bank) → Connect the bank account that funds those transfers
If you pay through Checks/bank bill-pay → Connect the checking account that issues the rent checks
You’re now connected to BuildCredit Rent!
After connecting, the system reviews up to 24 months of transaction history and matches payments based on amount, date, payee, and payment type. Not every transaction will qualify, and the lease must also be verified before reporting begins. Verification is handled through the linked bank account. Your client's landlord generally will not be contacted.
How does BuildCredit Rent help me?
Retroactive history: Up to 24 months of verified rent payments can post at once, which can produce a meaningful jump in your score — especially if you have a thin file.
Positive-only reporting: Only on-time payments are reported. Missed or late payments are not, and no new debt is created.
Builds a track record: If you pay rent reliably, you finally get credit for it, helping establish positive payment history where little may have existed before.
How much does BuildCredit Rent cost?
During sign-up, you will see a simple two-step pricing structure:
One-time enrollment fee: $49.99. Covers the retroactive update that adds up to 24 months of rent history to your profile.
Monthly subscription: $5.99/month. Keeps your ongoing rent payments reported each month.
You can cancel the monthly subscription at any time.
Is BuildCredit Rent right for me?
BuildCredit Rent can help almost anyone who pays rent, but it has the highest impact if you:
Have at least one year of rental history
Have a thin credit file or limited credit history
Have a score below 660
That does not mean it cannot help others — it can. The effect is simply more noticeable when added positive history has more room to move the needle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BuildCredit Rent enrollment fee refundable?
The $49.99 one-time enrollment fee is non-refundable once the back-history update has been applied. The $5.99 monthly subscription can be canceled anytime.
Can I cancel BuildCredit Rent?
Yes. You can cancel the monthly subscription at any time, which stops future rent reporting. The one-time enrollment fee is non-refundable once the back-history update has been applied.
Does this add debt to my credit profile?
No, BuildCredit Rent Reporting only adds positive, on-time payment history. No debt or balance is ever added.
Which credit bureaus receive the data?
Payments are reported to Experian and TransUnion, with up to 24 months of verified history added retroactively.
How long until my rent shows up on my credit report?
Once you are fully verified, your rent is furnished on the next monthly reporting cycle, and payments typically appear within 30–45 days depending on each bureau's processing time. Up to 24 months of back-reported history posts in that same cycle.
What happens if my lease isn't approved?
You will be prompted to upload a new lease. If an acceptable lease is not provided, the application will time out and you will need to re-apply once you have a lease that can be verified.