August 5, 2020

Are You Paying Rent Online? Here’s Why You Should Start

How do you pay your rent? Via the online portal, or another way? If you’ve been paying rent online, you may have been building credit the whole time! If you’re not currently paying rent online, it’s not too late to start and reap the benefits. One 2017 study of 12,000 renters found that renters’ scores rose an average of 16 points within six months, benefiting those who started with a credit score below 620 the most.

When you pay rent online with us, your payments get reported to credit bureaus, showing them that you are responsible with your money. Plus, these payments can combine with credit card payments to increase your score even more. Here’s how it works.

Get Your Payments Reported to Credit Bureaus

“Rent isn’t always something that gets reported to credit bureaus, and in those cases, it doesn’t affect the renter’s credit score. But when those payments are reported, they can help build credit—especially if you are new to credit or do not have a lot of experience using it,” says Bev O’Shea at NerdWallet.

So how do you make sure your rent payments are reported? At Lakewood Manor Apartments, our online rental payment system reports information to the credit bureaus so you don’t have to worry about it. 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.

As credit bureaus receive a record of your on-time rental payments, your credit score is likely to improve.

Show Credit Bureaus You Are Responsible

Usually when you think about a credit score, you think of your loan payment history , the credit cards you use, and the fact that your score suffers if you get it pulled too many times. Does paying rent fit anywhere within that scope?

Yes! As 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.

Get an Even Higher Score If You Pay with a Credit Card

It might be worth using a credit card specifically to pay your rent to boost your score even more.

“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.”

Paying with a credit card is totally optional, but it’s an easy way to build your credit since you’re paying rent anyway.

Head over to the resident portal and try paying rent online! You might just build your credit as we report your payments to the credit bureaus and pay with a credit card. Happy credit-score-boosting!

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

April 15, 2026
At  Lakewood Manor Apartments  , 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 Lakewood 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  Lakewood Manor Apartments  , 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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