Making Rent Count: How Positive Rent Reporting Can Support Financial Progress 

For many households, accessing loans and qualifying for competitive interest rates isn’t possible due to a lack of credit or subprime credit scores. 

At Progress Residential, positive rent reporting is designed to help change that. The program reports on-time rent payments to the major credit bureaus at no cost to residents, allowing them to build credit history through a financial responsibility they already meet each month. 

“Positive rent reporting is a free feature we offer every resident at the time they sign a lease and move into the home,” said Dave Feldman, CEO of Progress Residential. “As they make timely payments month by month, those payments get reported to the credit bureaus, which in turn can have a positive effect on their overall credit profile.” 

People rent single-family homes for many reasons. Some value flexibility, while others see renting as a step toward homeownership. 

For residents planning for that next step, credit history can be one of the most important factors shaping what is possible. Credit scores influence loan approvals, borrowing costs and access to financial opportunities. 

“Our goal is to support our residents with a tool that can help them build their credit over time,” Feldman said. “When their cost to borrow goes down, their purchasing power goes up for the things they need and want for their families.” 

Across the United States, nearly 106 million people, about one-third of the population, are considered credit invisible, credit un-scoreable or have subprime credit. Without a strong credit profile, many households face significant barriers when applying for loans or qualifying for competitive interest rates. 

Historically, people who rent have often been disproportionately affected because their largest monthly expense, their rent, hasn’t benefited them beyond paying for their living accommodations. 

Positive rent reporting helps address that gap by allowing residents to build their credit profiles as they meet their monthly lease commitments. 

As of December 2025, over 152,000 Progress residents were participating in free positive rent reporting. Among those residents: 

• More than 14,000 established a credit score for the first time 

• Participating residents saw an average credit score increase of 49 points 

“Thousands of Progress residents have applied for and received approval for home loans,” said Nikki Sloup, Senior Vice President Brand Communications and PR for Progress. “Tens of thousands have received student loans, auto loans and credit cards. Helping our residents access those types of financial tools is critical for building credit.” 

Jason W., a Progress resident in the Atlanta area, says the program was one of the features that stood out when he rented a home with Progress. 

“I love the opportunity to feel like a homeowner but also have the convenience of a property manager,” he said. “I also love that Progress reports our monthly payments to the credit bureaus so we can build credit.” 

Programs like positive rent reporting are designed to turn the financial responsibility residents demonstrate every month into a tool that works for them. For many households, building credit through rent payments can help create greater financial flexibility and opportunity long after a lease ends.