Experian is overhauling its credit scoring system for the first time in decades, with rental payments set to count towards credit scores from November 2025.
The credit reference agency will expand its scoring range from 0–999 to 0–1,250 and replace its existing five score bands with new terminology.
Labels such as “poor” and “very poor” will be removed, along with red warning colours, in an effort to reduce anxiety for people checking their financial standing.
The move reflects changing financial behaviour and aims to give a more detailed picture of creditworthiness by capturing everyday money habits that traditional systems have overlooked.
Under the changes, 44 per cent of customers are expected to fall into a lower band and 42 per cent will move up, while 14 per cent will see no change in their band.
Experian stressed that these shifts will not impact borrowing power, as lenders will continue to use the same criteria when assessing applications for mortgages, loans and credit cards.
Experian will update its credit scoring system in November 2025 to include rental payments for the first time
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The changes stem from the expanded scale rather than any change to individual financial circumstances.
Alongside rental payment history, the revamped scoring model will also place more weight on modern financial behaviours, including avoiding credit card cash withdrawals, reducing overdraft use, making extra mortgage payments and maintaining consistent mobile phone contract payments.
It will also assess how frequently consumers switch service providers, giving lenders a broader view of a person’s financial reliability and stability.
Edu Castro, managing director of Experian consumer services in the UK and Ireland, said: “The way people manage their money has evolved, and our score has evolved too.
The phased rollout begins in November and will continue into 2025
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GETTY“Our new Experian credit score better reflects more of the everyday financial behaviours that matter, like paying rent or reducing overdraft use, offering a clearer understanding of the information on your credit report.”
All UK users expected to move to the new system by the end of the year.
Customers will automatically see updated scores and receive email notifications when their new ratings go live.
The changes could particularly benefit people with thin credit files and those trying to build stronger credit profiles, as the system recognises positive behaviours beyond traditional loan repayments.
Mr Castro added that the new approach will give consumers “more practical ways to improve their score, helping unlock better borrowing opportunities for the future.”
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PAMr Castro added that the new approach will give consumers “more practical ways to improve their score, helping unlock better borrowing opportunities for the future.”
Experian users, including those on its free app, will receive tips and illustrative examples showing how different financial actions affect their score.
Premium subscribers will have access to deeper personalised insights.
The agency will continue to offer free access to full credit reports, aiming to ensure transparency as the new system takes effect.
