Rent reporting—the practice of providing data on rent payments to at least one of the three major consumer credit bureaus—has grown substantially over the last decade. State and local policy can play a role in expanding access to rent reporting as a credit-building tool for low- and moderate-income renters and in protecting renters from the potential risks of rent reporting. Several jurisdictions across the country have already taken steps to encourage, require, or regulate rent reporting for their residents. This brief describes the policy landscape and key decision points for state and local policymakers.

Why This Matters

A person’s credit record has a significant influence on their options for participating in the US economy. Yet it can be difficult for people, and particularly renters, to find reliable ways to build credit. Homeowners can build credit by making mortgage payments. But rent payments have not traditionally been reported to credit bureaus or included in credit scores, even though rent payments are often renters’ largest monthly expense. That is changing. The major credit scoring models have begun adjusting scoring algorithms to factor in reported rental payments. And recent analysis shows that participating in positive-only rent reporting leads to an increased likelihood of a person having a credit score.

What We Found

State and local governments have considered several different legislative approaches to encourage and regulate rent reporting:

• Pilot programs are typically time-bound and applied to a small subset of landlords, often those serving low-income renters.
• Mandates to offer or enroll renters require that certain landlords offer rent reporting to renters.
• Renter protection regulations allow jurisdictions to specify certain rules or guidelines around rent reporting.

To date, Colorado, Delaware, and Washington, DC, have created pilot programs for rent reporting, and California passed a state-wide mandate for properties with more than 15 units. Federal agencies and regulatory bodies are also exploring rent reporting. For example, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued compliance and policy guidance on rent reporting and the Federal Housing Finance Authority announced in July 2025 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would begin allowing lenders to use VantageScore 4.0 scores, which factor in reported rent payments.

For state and local policymakers interested in encouraging or regulating rent reporting for their residents, there are several policy decisions to make:

• Who is the program for? For example, will the policy affect all landlords and renters, or will it be targeted toward a particular group (such as renters in assisted housing)?
• What should be reported? Consider whether to require reporting of only positive rental payments or all rent payment activity (including missed payments). Tenant advocates generally prefer positive-only rent reporting, while landlords are more mixed.
• How will renters be enrolled? Consider whether landlords should offer an opt-in structure—where renters must agree to enroll—or an opt-out structure—where all renters are automatically enrolled but have the option to disenroll.
• How will costs be covered? Consider whether to limit how much landlords can charge renters for the costs of rent reporting services. Also consider whether to attach funding for education, outreach, or enforcement.
• How long will the program last? Consider the benefits and consequences of a time-limited program or pilot program compared with a permanent program.

How We Did It

We conducted a scan of state and local rent reporting legislation and summarized common approaches and policy considerations.