By Sarah Macklin 
Millions of UK renters could benefit from a new free service designed to help their rental payments count towards their credit history, potentially making it easier to demonstrate their financial responsibility when applying for credit or a mortgage.
ClearScore has launched a new rent reporting service that allows renters to share their rental payment history with all three major UK credit reference agencies, which are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
Available through the ClearScore app and website, the service is completely free and can be set up in minutes, offering renters a way to build a more comprehensive credit profile using payments they are already making every month.
Why rental payments matter when building a credit history
Rent is one of the biggest regular expenses for many households, yet rental payments have historically not been treated in the same way as mortgage repayments when it comes to building a credit history.
While homeowners can have their mortgage payments reflected in their credit reports, renters have often been unable to demonstrate the same consistency in their financial commitments through their rent, and this has created a potential disadvantage for people who rent, particularly those hoping to buy their first home.
ClearScore’s new service aims to address this inequality by allowing rental payments to be included in credit reports, giving lenders a more complete picture of an individual’s financial behaviour when assessing creditworthiness.
The move follows years of discussion around improving rental payment recognition, including parliamentary proposals such as the Creditworthiness Assessment Bill, which was championed in 2018 by former Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening.
Greening, now Chair of The Purpose Coalition, welcomed the launch, describing it as a practical solution to a longstanding barrier that could help renters access affordable credit and move closer to homeownership.
Renters are spending thousands without building the same financial track record
The launch comes as research commissioned by ClearScore highlights just how much renters are spending on housing throughout their lives.
According to the research, the average renter has paid almost £60,000 in rent over their lifetime, while 19% have paid more than £100,000.
For many households, these payments are already comparable to the cost of owning a home. Seven in 10 renters surveyed estimated that they were paying the same amount or more in rent than they would on a mortgage for a suitable property.
Despite this, many renters feel their rental payment history does little to help them demonstrate their ability to manage a mortgage.
The research found that:
- 61% of renters feel frustrated that they can afford their rent but don’t believe they would qualify for a mortgage.
- 66% believe their rental payment history would help them secure a mortgage if lenders could see it.
- 71% estimate they are paying the same amount or more in rent than they would on a mortgage for a suitable home.
These findings highlight the growing disconnect between the amount renters are spending on housing and how their financial commitments are recognised when applying for borrowing.
Rising rental costs make financial recognition increasingly important
The introduction of rent reporting also comes at a time when renting continues to represent a significant financial commitment for households across the UK.
Office for National Statistics figures show that average UK private rents reached £1,393 a month in July 2026, representing an annual increase of 3.7%.
With rental costs remaining high and many households renting for longer before buying, being able to demonstrate a consistent record of rental payments could become increasingly valuable when preparing for future financial decisions.
How does ClearScore’s free rent reporting service work?
ClearScore’s new service uses open banking technology to allow renters to report their rental payments through its app or website.
Once set up, rental payment information can be shared with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, helping renters build a more complete financial track record.
The service is designed to be straightforward to use and completely free, meaning renters don’t need to pay an additional fee to have their rental commitments recognised.
By making this information available to credit reference agencies, the service also aims to help lenders make more informed decisions about applicants, particularly those with limited traditional credit histories.
Equifax UK&I CEO David Bernard said the expansion of its partnership with ClearScore represented a significant step towards improving financial inclusion, pointing to research suggesting that up to one in four UK adults have a limited credit file or no traditional credit footprint.
How to set it up
To see your new rent report, you’ll need a ClearScore account. It’s completely free to set up, and then you can start reporting your rent on the ClearScore app, or via their website on desktop or mobile. Once you have signed up, there’s a few more steps you’ll need to complete:
- Connect your bank account that is used to pay your rent to your ClearScore account
- Confirm your personal details and your rental details
- Upload your tenancy agreement
Once it has this information, you should see data appear in your ClearScore account within a month and then on your credit report within four to six weeks.
Could rent reporting help renters get a mortgage?
While reporting rental payments won’t automatically improve everyone’s credit score or guarantee mortgage approval, it could help some renters demonstrate their financial responsibility more effectively.
A consistent record of paying rent may provide additional information about an applicant’s financial behaviour, particularly where their credit history is otherwise limited. However, mortgage lenders still consider a range of factors when assessing applications, including income, existing debts, affordability, deposit size and credit history.
Rent reporting should therefore be viewed as a potential way to strengthen a financial profile rather than a shortcut to securing a mortgage.
For renters who have spent years making substantial housing payments without those commitments being reflected in their credit history, the launch represents a welcome development.
As renting becomes an increasingly long-term housing option for many households, recognising rental payments could help create a fairer financial system and give more people the opportunity to demonstrate their creditworthiness when they eventually decide to buy a home.
Research methodology: ClearScore commissioned research conducted online by 3Gem among 1,000 renters in September 2026. Rental figures are based on Office for National Statistics data published in August 2026.
