August 7, 2020

Wondering How to Improve Credit? Pay Rent Online

Paying rent is a part of many people’s routines, but it can also be a great tool for building credit. In 2017, TransUnion studied 12,000 renters who reported their rent payments to credit bureaus and found that they were able to improve their credit score by an average of 16 points within six months. Those with credit scores below 620 benefited the most from doing so.

Paying rent online is an easy way to make sure a record of your consistent, timely payments are being reported to credit bureaus. Here’s a breakdown of how it works.

Ensures Your Payments Are Reported

“Simply paying your rent will not help you build credit,” according to Bev O’Shea at NerdWallet. “But reporting your rent payments can help you build credit—especially if you are new to credit or do not have a lot of experience using it.”

How do you know your rent payments are being reported to credit bureaus? At Crestwood, our online rental payment system does the work for you. In order to opt in for the credit reporting, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your account through the resident portal and click on “Make a Payment Now.”
  2. Select “Build your credit history by opting in to credit reporting.”
  3. Enter your information in the credit reporting fields. Be sure to select “yes” for month-to-month lease if you have one, or select “no” and a lease end date.

Shows Credit Bureaus What They Are Looking For

Building credit is easy when you know what credit bureaus are looking for. Experian, for example, determines credit scores through the following elements :

  • Use of credit cards
  • Payment history
  • Applications for new loans and credit

Since payment history plays a key role in your credit score, it helps to have consistently on-time and in-full payments reported. That’s where paying rent online comes in handy: You can take a payment you already make on a monthly basis and use it to build a long record of payments for credit bureaus to look at.

Combines with Credit Card Payments for Higher Score Gains

While paying your rent online, consider using a credit card for an extra boost to your credit score. LaToya Irby , a credit expert for The Balance, advises, “Open a credit card and use it to pay your rent . . . then pay your credit card balance in full each month. The timely credit card payments will help boost your credit score.”

Paying rent online does not require a credit card, but it does help build a long record of on-time and consistent payments that you make monthly, boosting your credit score.

Ready for better credit? Make the change today and pay rent online using our resident portal. Simply log in and pay. Don’t forget to consider using a credit card to pay rent and boost your credit score even more. Happy credit boosting!

Improve Your VIP Experience: Flexible Ways to Pay Rent and Build Credit At Crestwood

April 15, 2026
At  Crestwood Apartment Homes  , we are committed to providing our VIPs with the best tools to manage their apartment homes effortlessly. We want to highlight the various ways you can handle your monthly rent, including some exciting benefits that help you build your financial future just by living with us. 1. The AppFolio Resident Portal App The easiest way to manage your living experience is through the AppFolio app. It is a one-stop shop for your most frequent needs: Convenient Payments: Set up one-time or automatic payments using a bank account (e-check), credit card, or debit card. Split Payments with Flex: We have integrated Flex directly into your AppFolio app. This service allows you to split your rent into two payments throughout the month. Flex pays your rent to us in full and on time, while you pay them back on a schedule that fits your cash flow. Full Transparency: View your current balance, previous statements, and full payment history anytime. 2. Build Your Credit for Free with Pinat a Your consistent rent payments should work for you. We are proud to offer Free Positive Rent Payment Reporting to major credit bureaus through our partner, Pinata. How it works: You will receive an email invitation from Pinata to sign up for this service. Once you are enrolled, your on-time payments are reported to the credit bureaus. The Benefit: This helps you build your credit score over time without any extra cost. It is our way of rewarding your reliability and helping you reach your long-term financial goals. (Please note: we do not utilize any resident reward or marketplace features through Pinata; this service is strictly for your credit reporting benefit.) 3. More Ways the App Helps You Beyond payments, the AppFolio app remains your primary tool for staying connected with our Lake Forest community. You can: Submit Maintenance Requests: Easily upload photos and descriptions of any needed repairs. Manage Renter's Insurance: Access your policy or update your provider details. Stay Informed: Contact the office via text or phone, update your contact preferences, and access your lease documents. At  Crestwood Apartment Homes  , we treat every resident like a VIP. Whether you are looking for more flexibility with Flex or looking to boost your credit score through Pinata, we are here to support your lifestyle.

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