Core Insights - The end of the federal student loan forgiveness program has led to millions of borrowers facing monthly payments, significantly impacting the rental market and creating challenges for property managers who depend on credit-based scoring to assess risk [1][2]. Rental Market Dynamics - TransUnion's analysis indicates that the percentage of rental applicants 90+ days delinquent on student loans has more than doubled from 15% in January to 32% in May 2025 [2]. - The influx of applicants struggling with student loan payments is causing previously low-risk renters to fall into riskier categories, with notable declines in credit scores across all tiers [3]. Credit Score Changes - Significant shifts in credit scores for renters have been observed: - 51% of Super Prime (781–850) renters fell to Prime; 45% to Near Prime - 34% of Prime Plus (721–780) renters fell to Prime; 58% to Near Prime - 59% of Prime (661–720) renters fell to Near Prime; 23% to Sub Prime - 63% of Near Prime (601–660) renters fell to Sub Prime [5]. Screening Process Recommendations - Traditional credit scores are inadequate for predicting rental performance as they do not account for eviction history and rental payment behavior. Property managers are encouraged to adopt purpose-built rental risk models to enhance screening processes [6]. - The report highlights that financial stress may lead to increased fraud, with renters potentially falsifying documents or misrepresenting income. Multifamily-specific fraud detection tools are recommended to verify identities and flag suspicious applications [7]. Industry Evolution - The current landscape of student loan stress is reshaping rental dynamics, necessitating property managers to evolve their screening strategies to keep pace with rising delinquencies and shifting credit tiers [7].