Understanding Your Credit Score: What Landlords Actually See

Ever wondered what a landlord sees when they run a credit check on you? Understanding your credit report is the first step to taking control of your financial profile and improving your chances of securing a rental property. In South Africa, credit reporting is governed by the National Credit Act 34 of 2005, which sets out how credit information is collected, stored, and used.

What's in a Credit Report

A credit report compiled under the NCA contains the following information:

• Personal information — your full name, ID number, contact details, and employment history as reported by credit providers
• Credit history — a record of every credit account you've held, including the type of credit, the credit provider, the opening date, and the current balance
• Payment patterns — a monthly record of whether you paid on time, late, or defaulted, reported by each credit provider under NCA Section 85
• Outstanding debts — the total amount you owe across all credit facilities
• Judgments — court orders against you for unpaid debts, which remain on your profile for five years or until rescinded by the court
• Defaults — adverse listings placed by credit providers when you fail to meet your obligations, remaining on your profile for two years
• Enquiries — a record of every entity that has accessed your credit profile, including the date and purpose of the enquiry

The Credit Score Range

In South Africa, credit scores typically range from 300 to 850, calculated using statistical models that comply with the NCA's requirements for fair and objective credit assessment. The major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Experian, Compuscan, and TPN — each use slightly different scoring models, but the general classification is as follows:

• 300–549: Poor — indicates a high-risk profile with a history of defaults or judgments
• 550–649: Below average — suggests some payment irregularities or high debt levels
• 650–749: Good — reflects a consistent payment history and manageable debt levels
• 750–850: Excellent — demonstrates exceptional financial discipline and low credit risk

It is crucial to understand that consumer-facing credit scores from platforms like ClearScore or Experian's free report often differ from the property-specific scores used by TPN Credit Bureau. Consumer scores are calculated using general algorithms, while TPN's rental-specific score incorporates actual rental payment history — data that consumer-facing bureaus do not collect. This means a tenant who appears low-risk on a consumer app may actually be high-risk from a landlord's perspective.

What Landlords Focus On

Landlords are primarily interested in three things: your payment history, your outstanding debts, and any adverse listings like judgments or defaults. They want to see a consistent pattern of on-time payments and manageable debt levels. According to TPN's 2025 data, tenants with one or more adverse listings are 3.5 times more likely to default on rental payments than those with clean profiles.

Section 81 of the NCA requires credit providers — including landlords acting through screening services — to conduct affordability assessments before entering into credit agreements. This means landlords are not just looking at your score; they are assessing whether you can genuinely afford the rental amount after accounting for your existing obligations.

How to Improve Your Score

• Pay all accounts on time — this is the single most impactful action you can take
• Reduce outstanding debt — aim to keep your credit utilisation below 35% of your available credit limit
• Avoid applying for unnecessary credit — each hard enquiry stays on your profile for two years
• Regularly check your report for errors — dispute any inaccuracies under NCA Section 73
• Settle outstanding judgments — once paid, apply to the court to have the judgment rescinded
• Pay any defaulted accounts — while the default will still appear for its remaining period, a paid default is viewed more favourably than an unpaid one

Somor CredIntel provides detailed, easy-to-understand credit reports through TPN Credit Bureau that you can use across multiple rental applications for 30 days — without additional enquiries affecting your score. Know where you stand before you apply.