Rent reporting frequently asked questions

RentBureau securely stores rental payment data submitted by data furnishers. This data is used to create resident screening reports, which landlords and PMCs can access through RentBureau’s screening partners and evaluate the rental payment history of potential residents during the application process, allowing for better-informed leasing decisions. On-time positive rental payments are reported to Experian at the end of each month.

RentBureau doesn’t charge data furnishers for reporting rental data.

Closed-end products, such as rental leases, can positively impact credit scores when paid on time, even after the account has been paid off and closed. An Experian data study conducted in June 2025 showed that by reporting on-time rent payments to RentBureau, consumers experienced the following benefits:

• 4 out of 5 customers saw a credit score increase.

• 15.2% of consumers who were previously unscoreable became scoreable.

• 33% of consumers moved to a higher conventional score tier.

• Renters saw an average score increase of 4% in their conventional credit score.

Source: Experian internal analysis

After the contact form is filled, the RentBureau onboarding team will reach out and provide the rental reporting requirements based on the data furnishing model. All data furnishers must submit the following:

• RentBureau^® credentialing application

• RentBureau^® data release agreement

• A copy of your company’s policies and procedures regarding compliance with applicable law and RentBureau policies 

RentBureau accepts data in Metro 2^® format through a secure file transfer. Alternatively, for organizations using property management software (PMS), RentBureau can verify whether the selected system is already approved to transmit rental data to RentBureau.

There’s no minimum number of records required to report to RentBureau, but it’s recommended to submit at least 50 records.

RentBureau doesn’t manage resident opt-in or opt-out processes for furnishers. Each data furnisher is responsible for which tenants are reported.

It’s mandatory to report either a Social Security number or a date of birth, and it’s recommended to report both to improve resident matching and the likelihood that the record will be accepted.

Rental payment data, including on-time payments and negative items, such as outstanding balances and write-offs, can be reported to RentBureau. Only positive rental history is included in Experian credit reports, as rent is considered a service payment, not a credit product. Nonetheless, rental reporting provides meaningful insight into a resident’s financial behavior.

The criteria for determining whether a payment is considered timely or late are established by the data furnishers themselves. Each furnisher may define these standards based on their internal policies.

Reporting should reflect only the residents’ rental obligation. Amounts paid through subsidies or third-party assistance programs aren’t part of this obligation and should be excluded. This approach ensures the data accurately represents the resident’s payment behavior.

RentBureau doesn’t accept public record data directly from data furnishers. Public record data is received from the courts via contracted third-party public record vendors.

RentBureau won’t display data for any consumer under the age of 18.

Metro 2^® is the standard format used to report consumer data to credit bureaus. It was developed by the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) to ensure that data is reported accurately, consistently and in compliance with applicable law. The CRRG is the official manual that explains how to use Metro 2^® correctly. It’s the go-to resource for anyone reporting data.

More information about the Metro 2^® format can be found on the CDIA’s official Metro 2^® information page.

Experian doesn’t sell Metro 2^® software and doesn’t recommend or endorse any specific provider. Data furnishers seeking a solution are encouraged to conduct independent research to identify a vendor that aligns with operational needs and complies with Metro 2^® reporting standards.

The CRRG can provide the necessary guidelines to report most credit reporting scenarios. Data furnishers can download a free copy of the guide from their CDIA account.

Please click here for instructions on how to download the CRRG.

For assistance with accessing a Secure Transport Services account, the Experian’s Technical Support team can be reached at 1 800 8547201 (option #3).

Please note that passwords expire every 90 days, and accounts may become locked due to inactivity.

Credit scores are influenced by many factors and they can vary depending on the person and the lender. Experian provides raw rental payment data, which credit scoring systems use to help lenders assess risk, based on the criteria the lender chooses. In general, closed-end products such as leases or loans can positively impact credit scores when paid on time, even after the account has been paid off and closed. However, the actual effect depends on whether and how a particular lender considers the rental payment data.

Learn more about the credit score process: What Affects Your Credit Scores?

To view how an account is displayed on Experian’s database, the data furnisher should pull a Bullseye℠ report. Bullseye is a free service to be used by clients for viewing or researching previously reported credit data. Inquiries won’t be displayed in a client view report or a consumer credit report through Experian or RentBureau or any other credit monitoring service. To obtain this product, please contact Experian Client Care at 1 800 831 5614.

For those with existing access, the system can be accessed directly here.