SEATTLE -- September 01, 2026 -- More than 78,000 renters had their on-time rent payments reported to credit bureaus through Zillow in July, the highest single-month total since the company launched its free rent reporting program in 2024. That figure is up 26% from a year earlier. Zillow said it has now reported more than 1.78 million on-time rent payments to credit bureaus at no cost to renters since the program began.
The push comes as credit history has become the single biggest obstacle standing between renters and a mortgage. According to a Zillow analysis of 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, insufficient credit history was cited in 32.88% of mortgage denials for primary home purchases with conventional loans, edging out debt-to-income ratio at 32.86% as the top reason lenders turned applicants away.
Rent payments now count toward a credit score
Renters who pay through Zillow can opt in to have those payments sent to major credit bureaus for free. The idea is simple: rent is typically a renter's largest recurring bill, but it traditionally hasn't shown up on a credit report the way a car loan or credit card payment does.
"Affordability is the headline in housing right now, and access to financing is a very important part of the story," said Michael Sherman, general manager and senior vice president of Zillow Rentals. "Credit history is a barrier standing in the way of too many potential buyers. Rent reporting is a direct way to address that."
Expansion reaches renters outside Zillow's payment system
In November 2025, Zillow widened access to the program through a tool called CreditClimb, powered by Esusu. That expansion means renters who don't pay their rent through Zillow directly can still have their on-time payments reported to credit bureaus. Zillow said renters who consistently report payments through Esusu-powered programs like CreditClimb have seen an average credit score increase of 53 points.
The stakes for renters are significant. A report from VantageScore found that nearly 4 million homebuying-age renters could become eligible for a mortgage -- reaching a VantageScore 4.0 of 620 or higher -- once their on-time rent payments are factored into their credit history. Zillow noted that more than one-third of renters planning a near-term move say they intend to buy their next home, making the credit gap a direct barrier to that goal.
Tools follow renters from lease to loan application
Sherman described the rent reporting programs as one piece of a longer path Zillow is building for renters who eventually want to buy. "Every on-time rent payment is evidence of the financial responsibility lenders want to see," he said. "We are giving renters ways to get credit for what they are already doing every month."
For renters closer to buying, Zillow offers BuyAbility, which gives a personalized estimate of what a buyer can afford based on their finances and current mortgage rates. Zillow's for-sale listings also display down payment assistance programs buyers may qualify for in their area, aimed at addressing another common barrier that keeps renters from becoming homeowners.