June 15, 2021

Want a Simple Way to Improve Your Credit Score? Here’s a Secret

Trying to improve your credit score can seem overwhelming, if not impossible. However, it doesn’t always have to be hard. We have some great news: Paying your rent online can help you improve your credit score. According to a TransUnion study from 2017 that studied 12,000 renters who reported their rent payments to credit bureaus for a year, their scores rose an average of 16 points within only six months. Those who benefited most were the renters who started with a credit score below 620.

Consider paying your rent online to improve your credit score. By doing so, you can ensure your payments are reported, combine with credit card payments to increase your score even more, and show credit bureaus what they are looking for. Here’s how it works.

Ensure Your Payments Are Reported

Improving your credit score takes more than just paying your rent. You also need to report your rent payments. According to Bev O’Shea from NerdWallet, “simply paying your rent will not help you build credit. But reporting your rent payments can help you—especially if you are new to credit or do not have a lot of experience using it.”

How can you make sure your rent payments are reported? At Sherwood Apartment Homes , we offer an online rental payment system that reports information to the credit bureaus. With this, credit bureaus can receive a real-time record of your on-time rental payments. This will then contribute to your good credit.

Combine with Credit Card Payments for Higher Score Gains

To boost your score even more, opening a credit card specifically to pay your rent may help.

“Open a credit card and use it to pay your rent . . . then pay your credit card balance in full each month,” says LaToya Irby, credit expert for The Balance. “The timely credit card payments will help boost your credit score.”

While you don’t need to use a credit card to pay your rent, it can be a nice little boost to your credit score, especially if you take the other benefits of paying your rent online into account.

Show Credit Bureaus What They Are Looking For

What even goes into a credit score? And how does paying rent online contribute? Experian, for example, determines credit scores through the following elements :

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

When you pay rent online, those payments become part of your payment history. As you pay on time and in full and continue to do so, that becomes part of your score, too.

Improve your credit score by paying your rent online through our resident portal . As you do so, your payments are reported to credit bureaus, showing them exactly what they are looking for. Plus, if you choose to pay rent with a credit card, you may increase your score even more. Good luck credit-score-boosting!

Improve Your VIP Experience: Flexible Ways to Pay Rent and Build Credit at Sherwood

April 20, 2026
At  Sherwood  , 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 Pinata 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 Bellflower 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  Sherwood  , 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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