Q: If I cannot afford to pay my rent, would my credit score be affected even though I have a co-signer?
My name is on the lease agreement, however I am not the co-signer. My credit is in good standing, but I have heard that a default on rent payments is very negative towards credit score. Is this true, or will my credit score be unaffected since the co-signer is obligated to pay the remaining rent balance?
A: Any non-payment (when reported) will negatively impact your credit score, just like any payment on time will beneficially impact your score. If the rent is paid (it does not matter who paid it) there should be nothing to report. If there is a non-payment, this can be reported. It is a wholly different issue whether a landlord chooses to report the default.
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