Equifax UK and ClearScore Integrate Rental Data to Boost Credit Access for Millions

Equifax UK and ClearScore have expanded their decade-long partnership to integrate rental payment data directly into credit files via open banking. For fintech professionals, this move addresses the "thin-file" problem for the UK’s nine million renters, potentially unlocking access to mortgages and loans by treating regular rent as proof of financial reliability.

What was announced

The initiative allows UK renters to securely connect their bank accounts through the ClearScore app using open banking technology. This connection enables the verification of ongoing rental payments, which are then integrated into the user’s Equifax credit file via a monthly transaction file. By digitising this history, the service aims to provide lenders with a more comprehensive view of an individual’s affordability and financial discipline.

Historically, rent is often a consumer's largest monthly expense but has been excluded from mainstream credit reporting. This exclusion frequently leaves "thin-file" customers—those with limited traditional borrowing history—struggling to secure financial products like credit cards or mortgages. The new system is designed to bridge this gap for the UK’s estimated nine million renters, turning on-time payments into evidence of creditworthiness.

Equifax already collaborates with several industry partners on rental data integration, but this specific expansion utilizes ClearScore’s platform to reach a broader user base. The service is provided to consumers free of charge, focusing on improving financial inclusion by giving lenders richer data sets to inform their decision-making processes. The monthly transaction file provides an immediate increase in data visibility, allowing for more informed lending decisions across the market.

"This expansion of our strategic long-term partnership with ClearScore marks another exciting step towards greater financial inclusion. By incorporating more rental data into Equifax credit reports, we're giving the UK’s nine million renters greater control over their credit profiles and helping them to access fairer borrowing terms. At the same time, it gives lenders the ability to make more informed decisions, helping more people take their first steps towards owning property and living their financial best."

David Bernard, CEO UK & Ireland at Equifax

"By integrating rental data into consumers’ Equifax credit files, we are leveling the playing field for millions of renters and thin-file customers, turning years of on-time payments into tangible opportunities for affordable borrowing and mortgage approvals. We’re proud to deepen our decade-long partnership with Equifax, built on a shared ambition of making the credit ecosystem fairer and more accessible."

Justin Basini, Co-founder and CEO at The ClearScore Group

The companies involved

Equifax UK is a major credit reference agency and a subsidiary of the global Equifax group. The company plays a central role in the UK financial ecosystem by providing credit reporting and risk analysis services to lenders and consumers. It has been a frequent subject of industry analysis, with a focus on how data integration can refine credit scoring models and improve financial inclusion.

ClearScore is a prominent financial technology firm that provides consumers with free access to their credit reports and scores. Since its launch, it has grown into a significant player in the personal finance space, acting as an intermediary between consumers and credit providers. The partnership between Equifax and ClearScore spans ten years, reflecting a long-standing collaboration aimed at increasing transparency in the credit market. ClearScore’s platform is designed to simplify complex financial data for the end-user, often leveraging open banking to provide more granular insights into personal spending and repayment habits. Together, these two entities represent a significant portion of the UK’s credit information infrastructure, combining traditional reporting with modern fintech delivery.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has extensively tracked Equifax UK’s efforts to modernize credit assessment and consumer support. Recently, the publication reported on how Nationwide Taps Equifax UK to Provide In-App Credit Scores for 6 Million Users, highlighting the agency's role in retail banking integration. The agency has also been active in employment data, as seen when Equifax UK and The Access Group Partner for Instant Income and Employment Verification.

Beyond product launches, Equifax’s data has provided critical market insights. FF News covered their analysis of the housing market in Mortgage Repayments Surge 60% as Bank of England Faces Critical Rate Decision, as well as consumer-facing advice in Equifax UK Issues Financial Health Tips as Energy Price Cap Rises to £1,723.

What this means

This move signals a definitive shift in the credit industry toward "alternative" data as a primary metric for risk. For years, the exclusion of rental data has been a glaring inefficiency in UK credit scoring, effectively penalising those who do not already own assets. By formalising this data flow through open banking, Equifax and ClearScore are putting pressure on other credit reference agencies to accelerate their own data-sharing partnerships. The broader question for the sector is whether lenders will truly adjust their risk appetites based on this data, or if it will simply serve as a secondary verification tool in an increasingly cautious lending environment.