Rent that
builds credit.

We report your tenants’ rent payments to the credit bureaus, so paying rent on time counts and paying late has a cost. We pull the data from your management software. You don’t have to send us anything.

No change to how your tenants pay. For landlords, property managers, and management companies.

October report

Monthly summary for 12 Oak Court
  • Apt 1A · paid on timePositive reporting, tenant signed up
    On time
  • Apt 2C · 30 days lateReported late to the bureaus
    Reported
  • Apt 3B · caught upAccount updated to current
    Updated
  • Apt 4D · 60 days lateReported late to the bureaus
    Reported
Tenants reported4

Illustrative example. Your summary lists every tenant reported each month.

On-time rent, month by monthBuilding
Illustrative. Results vary by tenant.

What is rent reporting?

Rent reporting sends your tenants’ rent payments to the credit bureaus. Late payments are reported for every tenant at the properties you enroll, and tenants who pay on time have the option to sign up for positive reporting.

Each reported tenant gets a rental tradeline on their credit report, just like a car loan or a credit card. Renters build credit with a bill they already pay, without taking on new debt.

What we handle for you

  • The monthly bureau file in the standard Metro 2 format.
  • Tenant notices before reporting begins.
  • Tenant disputes and corrections, within the legal deadline.
  • Updates when a tenant catches up, in the next monthly file.
  • Secure tenant data, used only for reporting.

Renters pay attention when rent counts.

Sources: TransUnion renter research on rental payment reporting; National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), Nov. 2022. Results vary by tenant.

Good for owners. Good for tenants.

For landlords and property managers

  • Rent gets paid first. When rent shows on a credit report, tenants have a reason to put it ahead of other bills.
  • Fewer late payments and evictions. Tenants who see the cost of paying late are more likely to pay on time.
  • Better communication. Tenants tend to call ahead when they’ll be a day or two late.
  • Stand out from other buildings. Attract and keep credit-conscious renters.
  • Steadier cash flow. Fewer delinquencies, more predictable collections.

For your tenants

  • Build credit with rent. Their largest monthly bill finally counts.
  • No new debt. Credit grows from a payment they already make.
  • A start for thin credit files. Renters with little or no credit history often gain the most.
  • Better terms later. Can help with car loans, credit cards, insurance, and phone plans.
  • A path to a mortgage. A record of on-time rent shows they can handle a monthly payment.

On-time tenants can opt in.

All your other tenants get the option to sign up for positive reporting of their on-time payments, so your good payers build credit too.

How it works

Five steps. Your only job is the first one.

  1. Sign up

    Complete our client form and reporting agreement, and give us access to your management software.

    This is your part
  2. Tell tenants

    We give you the notice to send residents before reporting begins.

  3. We pull the data

    Each month we pull the rent information straight from your management software.

  4. We report

    We check the data, build the bureau file in Metro 2 format, and submit it.

  5. Monthly summary

    A report by property showing which tenants were reported.

Questions & answers

New to rent reporting? Read our guide for landlords.

Do I have to change my software or how tenants pay?

No. Tenants keep paying you the same way. We pull the rent information from your management software each month.

Which tenants get reported?

Late payments are reported for tenants at the properties you enroll. Tenants who pay on time can sign up for positive reporting.

When is a payment reported as late?

Once rent is 30 days or more past due, following the credit industry’s Metro 2 standard.

Do tenants need to be told first?

Yes. Tenants get a written notice before reporting begins. We give you the notice and tell you when it needs to go out. Tenants can read what it means for them.

What if a tenant disputes what was reported?

We handle it. We review the account with you and answer the dispute within the deadline the law requires, correcting it if needed.

What happens when a tenant catches up?

The account is updated in the next monthly file, so the tenant’s report shows the current status.

How soon does it show on a credit report?

Usually within about 30 days of the first month we report.

What does it cost?

Contact us for pricing. We’ll put together a quote based on your properties.

Is my tenants’ information safe?

Tenant data is stored securely and only the people who need it can see it. We use it only for reporting.

What about tenants who move out owing?

We can collect that balance too. Octopus is a full-service collection agency for rental debt, including Section 8 and HUD balances. See rental recovery.

Reporting done by the rules.

Accurate data, proper notice, and a fair dispute process.

Start reporting rent.

Tell us about your properties. We’ll set up access, send you the tenant notice, and get your first month ready.

We reply within one business day.

Online payments aren't available yet

Online payments and account lookup are coming soon. In the meantime, we can take care of it by phone or email.