Does Paying Rent Help Your Credit Score in the UK?

Rent is the biggest monthly bill most people pay.

Yet for years, it’s counted for almost nothing when it comes to your credit score.

If that feels unfair, you’re not wrong. Here’s how it works in the UK today.

The quick answer (for impatient readers)

  • Paying rent does NOT automatically improve your credit score in the UK
  • Most rent payments aren’t reported to credit agencies by default
  • But rent reporting services do exist
  • This is especially useful if you’re young, new to credit, or have a “thin” credit file

Now let’s break that down properly.

Why rent usually doesn’t count towards your credit score

In the UK, credit scores are mainly built using data from:

  • credit cards
  • loans
  • overdrafts
  • phone contracts

Rent has historically been excluded because:

  • landlords don’t report payments by default
  • rent isn’t technically a “credit product”
  • the rental market is fragmented (millions of individual landlords)

So even if you’ve paid rent on time, every month, for years, credit agencies may not see it at all.

Which is… mad.

What is “rent reporting”?

Rent reporting is when your rent payments are shared with credit reference agencies like Experian and Equifax, so they can be factored into your credit file.

This usually works by:

  • recognising your rent payments
  • confirming they’re paid on time
  • reporting that positive behaviour each month

Think of it as finally getting credit for something you already do.

Can rent reporting actually improve your credit score?

Yes, but it’s not magic.

Rent reporting tends to help most if:

  • you’re new to credit
  • you’ve never had a credit card
  • your credit file is “thin”
  • you’re rebuilding after past issues

It’s less likely to make a huge difference if you already have:

  • multiple long-standing credit accounts
  • a very strong credit history

Still, for many renters, it’s one of the few ways to show financial reliability without taking on debt.

Can rent reporting hurt your credit score?

This is a common (and fair) concern.

In general:

  • on-time rent payments = positive signal
  • missed payments could be negative (depending on the service)

That’s why transparency matters. You should always know:

  • what’s being reported
  • who it’s reported to
  • when reporting starts

Any legitimate service should explain this clearly before you opt in.

Where Brick fits into all of this

Brick was built because rent gives nothing back — and that makes no sense.

Right now, Brick:

  • recognises rent payments securely via open banking
  • rewards renters with points every month
  • helps make rent feel less like a black hole

Rent reporting is coming next.‍

Our goal is simple: help renters get recognition and rewards for the biggest bill they pay.

Is open banking safe?

Short answer: Yes.

Open banking:

  • is regulated in the UK
  • is used by major banks and fintech apps
  • lets you choose what you share
  • never allows money to be moved

Brick can’t:

  • take money
  • change payments
  • see things we don’t need

It’s about visibility, not control.

So… should renters care about this?

Honestly? Yes.

Even if rent reporting only helps a bit, it:

  • recognises good behaviour
  • supports long-term financial progress
  • starts to level the playing field between renters and homeowners

And at the very least, it asks the right question:

If rent is your biggest responsibility, why shouldn’t it count?

Final takeaway

  • Paying rent doesn’t automatically improve your credit score in the UK
  • Rent reporting is changing that
  • It won’t fix everything overnight but it does help many renters
  • The system is slowly catching up with reality

Brick exists to push that change forward.

Want rent to finally work harder for you?

Brick is invite-only while we roll things out carefully.

👉 Join the waitlist here.

‍