Anyone know of a free rent reporting tool for credit bureau?

Question

Good morning all,

I have a past tenant (just moved out) that paid on time without trouble. She had a parent co-sign for her on the lease, and he has asked if I would be willing to submit her payment history to one or more credit bureaus so that she can start building her credit history more. Does anyone know of a free tool that I can use to report her past payments? I'm only aware of one or two of them, but they had to have been signed up with that credit bureau's rent collection service (i.e. Experian), or you have to pay a one-time fee of $95.

I seem to remember other landlords discussing some free ones on here but I can't find the posts or remember when they were. Anyone? Thanks :)

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Here's a list of services that allow you to report rent payment. I just found them on a Google search so please don't ask me questions about them. CLICK HERE

Scott P. · Answer

I'd like to know an answer to this also.

Historically, all I've been able to do for good tenants in this situation is take a phone call or fill out some paperwork for them and give them references one by one.  Some times that can be time consuming for me but I always help out the good ones and those tend to be the ones that ask.

Pamela Moss · Answer

Hello everyone. This is an update to the question in 2019. I have found 8 apps, but have yet to check fees. I am currently using cash app for renters to pay, but will be changing to reporting app with lowest fee for landlord and renter. Avail, rent track, rent lens, cozy, nerd wallet, pay your rent, pinch, and rental Kharma.

I hope someone else will post the fees and which credit bureaus accept the reporting.

Brian Payne · Answer

many payment processors geared toward PM companies will report positive and negative rental history, however, it sounds like you should steer this person to a rent reporting company. I wanted to give this a try as a consumer before I offered it to my tenants because I've been renting for the last 2 years personally. I used rent reporters.com (Totally automated and don't think I could get someone on the phone if I tried). It was about $50 to report up to 2 years of retroactive rent data which I did.  Now I have another trade reference showing 24 months of positive payment history on my credit report!  For a person with relatively no credit, or someone who is in a repair-mode, this could be very valuable!! I'm looking to roll out rent reporting for all of our tenants now! (Reward the good payers & deter the bad ones!). Good question JD!

Jim Adrian · Answer

I know erentpayment.com has allows you to report payment history back to the credit bureau when you use their system to collect rent.  I don't know much about it as I am trying to switch my tenant to use this system.

Rick S. · Answer

Disclaimer: I work for a rent payment service

@Jd Martin You typically wouldn't be able to report directly to the credit bureaus as they have restrictions on that, however I know there are some that may report for you for a fee like you mentioned.  I think Rental Kharma is one but to be honest I don't recall ever seeing a free option or a way to report directly to the bureaus.