Rent payments and mortgage acceptance: Commons Debate Pack

It is often cheaper and normally thought better, all other things the same, to buy a house than to rent.  Getting a mortgage application accepted depends on several factors – one is a good credit score which makes both acceptance more likely and the offer more favourable terms.

Renters complain that their history of paying rent does not get recorded on their credit score in the way in which mortgage payments are recorded.  This makes it hard for them to improve their score and get better deals on all sorts of credit applications – and mortgages.

An e-Petition called for rental payments to be treated equally with mortgages repayments.