“But if the renter is late on their rent (for a period of 30 days or more) for any reason (including legitimate reasons i.e. withholding rent because the rental does not have water or heat) it could result in a reduction in the renter’s credit score.”. How Much Rent Payments Affect Your Credit. The impact of rental payments depends on your situation, Heath explains. “Approximately 35% of your credit score is based upon your payment history,” he says. “If your rental history is a large part of your payment history, it can have a significant effect on your credit score.