RENTAL payments will appear on credit reports for the first time from the end of this year, the credit reference agency Experian revealed.
Tenants who pay rent late will get a black mark, hitting their chances of securing a mortgage or credit card.
Experian expects to include 600,000 rental records by year-end, starting with social housing and expanding to all private rentals. Lenders will have access to the information next year.
Missed payments will damage a credit score, but a history of regular on-time payments could improve it.