The short answer: FICO and VantageScore are two competing credit scoring models that both use the data on your credit reports, but they don’t treat that data the same way. The difference that matters most for renters is that VantageScore 4.0 counts reported rent payments, while the “Classic FICO” scores mortgage lenders have relied on for decades do not. As of September 2026, every lender that sells loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can choose VantageScore 4.0, so your rent history can now play a direct role in qualifying for a home loan.
Here’s what changed, how the two scores compare, and what you can do about it as a renter.
What changed in September 2026
For decades, mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac needed a score from one model: Classic FICO. That started to change this year:
- April 22, 2026: The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and HUD announced that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) would start using newer credit score models. The first rollout was limited to a group of approved lenders (FHFA).
- September 9, 2026: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac opened VantageScore 4.0 to all approved lenders, with no prior written approval needed. Lenders can now choose Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 for each loan (FHFA; Freddie Mac credit score playbook).
- FICO 10T, a newer FICO model that also considers rent, is approved but can’t be used for loan deliveries yet. FHFA says it will give more guidance later (FHFA).
Why regulators care: FHFA says the newer models “take into account additional sources of data, including rent payment history, and have the potential to accurately score many more Americans” (FHFA VantageScore 4.0 FAQ).
VantageScore vs FICO: the key differences
Both companies sell several versions of their scores. That’s why you can see different numbers on different apps. For renters, these are the differences that count.
| Classic FICO (FICO 2, 4, 5) | Newer FICO (FICO 9, 10, 10T) | VantageScore 4.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counts reported rent payments | No | Yes | Yes |
| Accepted for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac mortgages (Sept 2026) | Yes | FICO 10T approved, not live yet | Yes, for all approved lenders |
| Minimum history to get a score | At least one account open 6 months, reported in the last 6 months | Varies by version | As little as 1 month of history, with an account reported in the last 2 years |
Sources: myFICO, FHFA, Urban Institute.
1. How each score treats rent
FICO says all FICO Score versions released since 2014 (FICO Score 9, 10 and 10T) include reported rental data. It also says rent payments “won’t impact the FICO Scores currently used for mortgage (FICO Scores 5, 4, and 2)” (myFICO).
VantageScore 4.0 considers rental payment history when it shows up on your credit file (Urban Institute). Until this year, mortgage lenders mostly couldn’t use it for loans sold to Fannie and Freddie. Now they can.
2. Who can get a score
Classic FICO needs at least one credit account that’s been open six months and reported to the bureaus in the last six months. VantageScore can score someone with as little as one month of history and one account reported in the past two years (Urban Institute).
VantageScore says its 4.0 model makes about 33 million more U.S. adults scoreable than Classic FICO or FICO 10T (VantageScore, July 2026). That’s the company’s own research, so treat it as their estimate. Still, it shows who stands to gain: people with thin or dormant credit files, which describes a lot of renters.
3. Who uses which score
FICO says its scores are used by 90% of top U.S. lenders (myFICO). VantageScore says more than 3,700 institutions use its scores and tools, including nine of the top 10 U.S. banks (VantageScore). In practice you’ll run into both. Car lenders, card issuers, landlords and mortgage lenders may each pull a different model.
What credit score do mortgage lenders use now?
It depends on the lender, and now on the loan. For loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, lenders can pick Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 one loan at a time. The same model has to be used for every borrower on that loan (Freddie Mac). FHA has also said it will allow VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T for FHA-insured mortgages (FHFA).
So when you talk to a lender, ask directly: “Which credit score model will you use for my loan?” If you have a strong rent history on your credit reports and a thin traditional file, the answer matters.
The catch: rent only counts if it’s on your credit report
A score model can only use rent that actually reaches your credit report, and most rent never gets there. As CNBC put it in May, a score that factors in rent “has to receive that information, and experts say most renters’ data is not making its way to the credit bureaus.” A VantageScore spokesperson told CNBC its models capture rent and utility data that consumers opt in to have reported to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (CNBC).
In other words, the scoring rules changed in your favor, but nothing happens until your payments are reported.
Who is likely to benefit most
In July 2026, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City published research estimating that rent reporting could change the credit scores of around 60% of U.S. renters (Kansas City Fed):
- Around 43% of renters could see relatively large improvements.
- The remaining 17% could see only modest improvements, or even declines, for example if they have late rent payments and their program reports those too.
- Around 40% of renters said they already had good or excellent credit, so rent reporting is less likely to move their score much.
These are estimates from survey data, not a promise of any specific result. The study notes the effect depends on the type of rent reporting and on each renter’s existing credit file. How your score responds also depends on which model a lender uses.
How to get your rent counted: 4 steps
- Check your credit reports first. See what each bureau has on file and whether any rent already shows up. Fix errors before you apply for a loan.
- Get your rent reported to all three bureaus. A lender might pull any of Equifax, Experian or TransUnion, so reporting to all three gives your payments the best chance of being seen. Our rent reporting service reports to all three.
- Add your past rent, not just new months. Newer models can use a longer track record. Credit Rent Boost can report up to 24 months of past rent payments. Learn more about reporting past rent payments.
- Keep paying on time, every month. Reported rent helps when it’s on time. Late payments can hurt under some reporting programs. It’s the same habit behind building credit history by paying rent on time.
Bonus: Credit Rent Boost also reports your utility and cell phone payments to TransUnion for free. That’s more on-time payment history that newer models can see.
Which score should you watch?
Don’t stress about one “real” score. Keep an eye on:
- Your credit reports. Every score is built from them. If the data is right and full of on-time payments, every model benefits.
- A VantageScore 4.0, if you can get one, to see how your rent history is being counted.
- The model your lender says it will use once you’re shopping for a mortgage.
Start building credit with the rent you already pay
The mortgage system just made room for rent. Now your rent has to show up on your credit reports. With Credit Rent Boost, your rent is reported to TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, you can add up to 24 months of past payments, and utility and cell phone reporting to TransUnion is free. Plans start at $6.95/month.
Enroll in Credit Rent Boost today
FAQ
Is VantageScore better than FICO?
Neither is “better” for everyone. They weigh data differently. For renters, VantageScore 4.0’s main advantage is that it counts reported rent payments and can score people with less credit history. The Classic FICO versions long used for mortgages don’t count rent.
Do mortgage lenders use VantageScore now?
Yes. As of September 9, 2026, all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac approved lenders may use VantageScore 4.0 without prior approval. They can still choose Classic FICO instead, loan by loan (FHFA).
Does paying rent affect my FICO score?
It depends on the version. FICO Score 9, 10 and 10T include reported rent. Classic FICO Scores 2, 4 and 5, the ones used for most mortgages, do not (myFICO). Either way, rent only counts if it’s reported to the credit bureaus.
Why are my FICO and VantageScore numbers different?
The models use different formulas and different minimum-history rules, and they may pull from different bureaus on different days. Seeing two different numbers is normal.
Will reporting my rent raise my credit score?
It can help, especially if you have a thin credit file and pay on time, but no one can guarantee a specific increase. The result depends on your full credit history and which score model is used.
How do I get my rent on my credit report?
Your landlord may offer rent reporting, or you can sign up for a rent reporting service yourself. Credit Rent Boost reports your rent to all three bureaus and can add up to 24 months of past payments.
