Zenbase, the first service to offer automated and verified rent reporting in Canada,, is excited to announce the deepening of its existing partnership with Laebon Rental Communities, a premier property management company dedicated to providing exceptional living experiences. The expanded collaboration aims to further enhance the rent reporting service, enabling residents to build credit with Equifax and ultimately helping them achieve their goals of future home ownership.
Recognizing the increasing importance of accessible credit-building options, Zenbase and Laebon Rental Communities have decided to strengthen their collaboration and extend their joint efforts in empowering renters to establish credit histories while paying their monthly rent. Through an enhanced integration of Zenbase’s advanced technology with Laebon Rental Communities’ comprehensive property management system, this partnership will streamline and automate the process of reporting rent payments to Equifax.
“We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Laebon Rental Communities, a trusted leader in the property management industry,” said Koray Can Oztekin, CEO of Zenbase. “Together, we are committed to providing individuals with the tools and opportunities they need to build strong credit profiles. By expanding our rent reporting solution, we aim to empower Laebon Rental Communities’ residents to unlock their financial potential and work towards achieving long-term financial stability and future home ownership.”
The deepened collaboration between Zenbase and Laebon Rental Communities will enable residents to establish and strengthen their credit histories by ensuring that their timely rent payments are accurately reflected in their Equifax credit reports. This credit-building initiative will allow individuals to demonstrate their creditworthiness, which can have a significant impact on their ability to access favorable loan terms, secure housing, and pursue future financial endeavors.
“Building on our successful partnership, we are excited to take the next step with Zenbase in offering an expanded rent reporting service,” said Matthew Matthew Lavergne, General Manager of Laebon Rental Communities. “By further integrating rent reporting into our services, we are reinforcing our commitment to our residents’ financial well-being and helping them lay a solid foundation for future milestones such as homeownership. This deepened partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of delivering exceptional living experiences and goes beyond traditional property management practices.”
About Zenbase
Zenbase, a leader in rewarding and flexible rent payments, is committed to economic inclusion that fosters financial empowerment for renters. Our solutions aid the financial wellness of renters while improving operational efficiency for property managers. Rent is usually due on the first of the month, but that doesn’t align with most people’s bi-monthly pay cycle. Zenbase fixed that misalignment by offering residents the option to split their rent into two monthly payments and provide other financial health solutions such as rent reporting. For more information on how to get started with Zenbase or CreditBuilder, visit myzenbase.com.
About Laebon Rental Communities
Laebon Rental Communities (LRC) provides tenants with safe, affordable, and well-maintained rental buildings throughout Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Lacombe, Penhold and soon Calgary. When renting with Laebon you know you are renting with a name you can trust. The Laebon name has been known for their high standards and their commitment to quality craftsmanship, design, and innovation in Central Alberta since 1976.
LRC is committed to providing residents with not only the best quality in housing but an enhanced level of community. Each Laebon Rental Community is essentially a community within its-self. LRC holds social events, creates interactions between residents and staff, and always provides open lines of communication. LRC strives to provide Albertans with a high standard of living and a place they are proud to call home. Learn more: https://laebonrentalcommunities.com
Zenbase, offering Canada’s only automated rent reporting and most popular split rent payments, is pleased to announce a partnership with unitii corp., a premier provider of residential property management services in Alberta. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the renting experience by offering residents the combined benefits of rent reporting for building credit and the option to split rent, facilitating easier budgeting.
Zenbase has gained recognition for its innovative credit-building solutions, empowering individuals to enhance their financial well-being. Through its solution, Zenbase enables users to report their rental payments automatically to Equifax, allowing them to establish or strengthen their creditworthiness.
Unitii is a trusted name in the real estate industry. By joining forces with Zenbase, unitii further enhances its suite of resident-focused offerings. In addition to traditional property management services, residents now have access to the option of splitting their rent payments, promoting more manageable budgeting and financial planning.
The partnership between Zenbase and unitii aligns perfectly with the ever-evolving needs of modern renters. By combining the power of credit building through rent reporting and the flexibility of splitting rent, residents will enjoy newfound financial freedom and the ability to achieve their long-term financial goals.
“We are excited to partner with unitii and bring our industry-leading credit-building technology to their residents,” said Koray Can Oztekin of Zenbase. “We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to build a strong credit history, and this partnership will provide unitii’s residents with the tools they need to take control of their financial futures.”
Lizaine Wheeler, COO of unitii corp, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “unitii is committed to delivering exceptional living experiences for our residents. By teaming up with Zenbase, we are not only enhancing our services but also empowering our residents with the opportunity to improve their credit scores and create better financial prospects for themselves. We are thrilled to provide our residents with this valuable resource.”
About Zenbase
Zenbase, a leader in rewarding and flexible rent payments, is committed to economic inclusion that fosters financial empowerment for renters. Our solutions aid the financial wellness of renters while improving operational efficiency for property managers. Rent is usually due on the first of the month, but that doesn’t align with most people’s bi-monthly pay cycle. Zenbase fixed that misalignment by offering residents the option to split their rent into two monthly payments and provide other financial health solutions such as rent reporting. For more information on how to get started with Zenbase or CreditBuilder, visit myzenbase.com.
About unitii corp. At unitii our focus is reimagining property ownership and enhancing residents experience. Owning properties should be seamless and stress free. Our senior leadership team has combined their decades of experience, managing over 60,000 apartments to create a platform that transforms the rental journey. We make it a priority to stay up to date on all the latest market information, technology, and talent that will provide best in class property management. We live and breathe Property Management! For more information visit unitii.ca.
Zenbase, the first service to offer automated and verified rent reporting in Canada, has partnered with Avenue Living Communities to offer over 25,000 residents the ability to build personal credit on existing rent payments. Regardless of payment method, residents can make their single largest monthly payment go further with the help of CreditBuilder to reduce interest payments, access better financial products, and build a verified and sharable rent payment history.
“Avenue Living Communities and Zenbase are creating access to credit and financial opportunities for a significant number of residents across their communities,” said Koray Can Oztekin, CEO and Founder of Zenbase. “As part of our mission to redesign rent payments for the financial health of unbanked or underbanked individuals, including newcomers, this partnership creates a new standard for rental reporting. As a pioneer in the multi-family market and with a consistent focus on delivering positive social impact, Avenue Living Communities’ reach and operations allow Zenbase to propel its vision to provide equitable financial access for over 10 million Canadians who are credit invisible or have thin-file.”
Avenue Living Communities is the first property manager in Canada to adopt a rent reporting program such as CreditBuilder.
“We are pleased to enhance our partnership with Zenbase through the CreditBuilder program, which is available to each and every resident,” says Louise Elsey, COO of Avenue Living Communities. “This significant economic advantage will benefit the financial future of everyone who calls Avenue Living Communities home. With residents always top-of-mind, integrating CreditBuilder into our ever-evolving business aligns with our commitment to providing service excellence and innovative solutions.”
About Zenbase
Zenbase, a leader in rewarding and flexible rent payments, is committed to economic inclusion that fosters financial empowerment for renters. Our solutions aid the financial wellness of renters while improving operational efficiency for property managers. Rent is usually due on the first of the month, but that doesn’t align with most people’s bi-monthly pay cycle. Zenbase fixed that misalignment by offering residents the option to split their rent into two monthly payments and provide other financial health solutions such as rent reporting. For more information on how to get started with Zenbase or CreditBuilder, visit myzenbase.com.
About Avenue Living Communities
Avenue Living Communities was founded in 2006 and is Western Canada’s fastest growing private rental properties operator with an expanding presence in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. With over 340 residential properties in more than 20 locations, Avenue Living Communities strives to provide exemplary resident experiences with safe, welcoming and affordable rental communities. By bringing people together across the Prairies via apartment and townhome living, we are committed to addressing every resident’s needs and fostering a true sense of community for years to come. Please visit avenueliving.ca for more information.
Calgary, AB – Zenbase now offers property owners and operators rent reporting to help improve the financial health of their residents and increase their operational predictability through improved payment rates. By reporting rental data to Equifax Canada, Zenbase is helping Canadians build their credit history. With over three million Canadians being considered “credit invisible” and another seven million having “thin” credit files, contributing rental data to the credit data ecosystem creates a significant opportunity to support the “Social” in ESG by helping these Canadians improve their financial well-being.
With deep accounting integrations across the multi-family space, Zenbase is proud to offer the first of its kind landlord-verified rent reporting in Canada that’s completely automated.
Zenbase is a no-lift solution for the landlords. As soon as landlords enable Zenbase for their preferred property management system, residents can sign up and give consent for their payments to be reported. The entire process of monitoring and reporting is handled by Zenbase and it requires zero investment for the landlords.
“Most renters are getting zero acknowledgment in their credit score for paying their biggest monthly expense and we are changing that,” explained Koray Can Oztekin, CEO and Founder of Zenbase. “With our landlord partners we are turning rent reporting into a standard for rent payments which is a key part of our vision to provide equitable financial access for everyone by creating a financial identity and stability toward financial health.”
“Data can be a force for good, and Equifax is hyper-focused on finding alternative sources of data that can help ensure every Canadian has access to the credit they deserve,” said Sandy Kyriakatos, Chief Data Officer for Equifax Canada. “We are so pleased to be working with Zenbase to benefit Canadian renters, who are often underserved by traditional credit. Canadians who rent their homes are often paying more than they would pay for a mortgage, but don’t get credit for consistently making those payments. When this data is reported to us, it helps build a person’s credit history, which can mean more equitable access to credit.”
About Zenbase
Zenbase, a leader in rewarding and flexible rent payments, is committed to economic inclusion that fosters financial empowerment for renters. Our solutions improve the financial wellness of renters while improving operational efficiency for property managers. Rent is usually due on the 1st of the month but that doesn’t align with most people’s bi-monthly pay cycle. We’ve fixed that misalignment and provide other financial tools like rent reporting. For more information, visit myzenbase.com
About Equifax
At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 14,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.ca.
Rent affordability is a major concern for many urban dwellers, especially in Calgary and Edmonton. Housing costs can consume a significant portion of a household’s budget, making it crucial to understand the factors affecting rental prices in these cities.
Calgary is known for its vibrant energy sector, stunning parks, and cultural events. Each neighborhood in the city has its own character and amenities. However, the cost of living in Calgary can be high, especially housing costs. According to the October 2021 Rental Market Report by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Calgary was $1,319, which is higher than in Edmonton, where the average rent for the same type of apartment was $1,150.
Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta and boasts a thriving arts and culture scene, including the West Edmonton Mall, one of the world’s largest malls. While housing costs in Edmonton are generally lower than in Calgary, the cost of living can still be a challenge for some. As per CMHC’s report, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Edmonton was $1,150.
Several factors determine the cost of housing in these cities, with the location of the property being a significant factor. Apartments in popular neighborhoods or close to amenities like transit or shopping centers tend to be more expensive. Additionally, the type of dwelling can also affect the price.
The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the rental market in Calgary and Edmonton, leading to fluctuations in rental prices due to the rise of remote work and the subsequent shift in demand for rental properties. It’s vital to stay updated with current market conditions and trends before deciding to rent.
Though the cost of living in these cities can be high, there are ways to find affordable housing options. Some tips include researching different neighborhoods, considering alternative types of housing like basement suites or room rentals, and negotiating rent with landlords. You can also split your rent with a flexible solution like Zenbase, which pays your full rent at the beginning of the month while you make two payments back to them throughout the same month.
According to a recent Equifax report, credit card spending reached historically high levels and caused a year over year increase of 17% in delinquent payments. Furthermore, TransUnion reported that the average monthly minimum payments increased by 9% for credit cards and 35% for lines of credit since Q4’22. Such an increase in financial expenses is impacting the affordability of housing due to limited budgets and deteriorating financial and mental health.
A person’s financial situation and their mental health can have implications not only on themselves but on their communities as a whole. This includes, but not limited to, their engagement at home, at their housing communities and at work. More than 40% of the renters are in core housing need- spending more than 30% of their income on rent – therefore anything that helps them to better manage this expense would create positive ESG value through social / community engagement.
Community engagement is one of the key pillars of Social, the “S” in ESG. Let’s list out all the community members who benefit from the improved financial health of renters:
Financial health can have significant implications on families specifically:
Overall, financial health is critical to the well-being of families. It can impact their relationships, physical and mental health, education, and ability to plan for the future.
Improved housing affordability can also improve relationships in housing communities between neighbours, landlords, and residents. When residents can afford their housing, they are more likely to take pride in their homes, build connections with their neighbors and stay longer as a resident. Additionally, landlords are more likely to invest in maintaining their properties, leading to better living conditions for residents.
in 2022 alone, employees’ financial stress cost employers $40B. Improved housing affordability can provide significant value for employers. When employees can afford their rent with peace of mind, they are less likely to experience financial stress, which can impact their work performance. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and increased employee retention.
Employee retention is a critical factor for employers. When employees have affordable housing options, they are more likely to stay with their current employer long-term. This reduces the costs associated with recruiting, training, and onboarding new employees.
There are two amenities linked to rent payments that build substantial ESG value by enhancing Social impact/ Community engagement.
Zenbase is partnering with mission aligned landlords to offer these two financial health amenities to Canadian Renters. If you have any questions how Zenbase can work with your existing systems please let us know.
Canadians from coast to coast are falling in love with not having to pay their full rent on the 1st of the month. We call it RENT DAY BLISS!
We asked our members on Instagram why they ❤️ Zenbase and being able to split their single biggest monthly expense:
I love it because it takes away unnecessary stress. It helps you create and stick to a proper budget.
Megan D.
The communication and ease of paying rent at your convenience with customer support that gets back to you ASAP!
Cam T.
The relief of stress and having access to more of our paycheck to pay bills and get groceries. It’s truly taken a lot of stress away day to day.
Debora A.
Stress relief of not having to juggle so many competing financial needs at the beginning of each month. And the custom service!
Candice P.
Zenbase is awesome! I love it because it gives us the option to pay other bills and just makes life so much easier.
Layne L.
The ❤️ for flexible rent payments doesn’t end there. Here are some of our most recent Google Reviews:
Zenbase’s mission is to ensure that no one is ever behind on their rent payments or gets evicted. Our solution enables the affordability of the primary need of every person, housing, which is why we built a solution that offers the most flexible rent payments ever. We also offer other financial solutions that empower residents to better navigate financial challenges that life may throw at them.
As the cost of living continues to rise, it’s important for households to have a budget in place to manage their expenses. One area where a lot of households are feeling the pinch is in their rent payments which increased by 12% nationwide in 2022.
According to the 2021 Census, almost 5 million households rented the home they lived in last year—up from 4.1 million a decade earlier, approximately 36% of the population in big cities are renting. Rent is a significant portion of most household budgets, often taking up a large chunk of monthly income. 1/3 of the renters are spending more than 30% of their income on rent and they are considered to be in core housing need.
How can households manage this rent burden and still stay within their budget? Since we are already 3.5M units short in the housing supply and renters are not moving anywhere it’s unlikely that moving to a more affordable home is an option. Luckily it is still possible to optimize for the rent payments while staying in the same residence and here are three tips:
In addition to the increasing ratio of renters, Canada is also expecting 500K newcomers in 2023 who will most likely rent which will likely increase rent prices further since only about 260K new units are built per year. This means that we will continue to need tips like above to optimize for rent payments and stay on top of household finances.
According to Financial Consumer Agency of Canada 48% of Canadians say they’ve lost sleep because of financial worries, distantly ahead of personal health, work or relationships. Among the money worries, the sources of financial stress are listed as:
44% of Canadians say it would be difficult to meet their financial obligations if their pay was late.
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada
Rent is the biggest line item in a household budget, accounting for 30% or more in total expenses for millions of households. We asked Zenbase members how financial stress is impacting their overall wellbeing and how they feel about flexibility around their rent payment schedule. The results are below:
Personal finances are, well, personal. When life happens people may not feel comfortable or be embarrassed to ask for a lifeline including asking for a delay in their rent payment or asking for an advance from an employer or a friend. Flexible rent payments are designed to make it easier to budget while providing the safety net for timely rent payments and avoiding financial stress. Here’s what one of our members had to say about that:
Zenbase has literally increased my lifespan. My stress level has been reduced ten fold because I now do not have to worry about rent and payments. These guys give great service and will change your life. I promise you that!
Claude Thorimbert – Zenbase Member
Our property management partners allow us to offer flexible rent payments to their communities and deliver rent day bliss on the 1st of the month, boosting their ESG initiatives. In the current inflationary environment, all households are squeezed with rising cost of household expenses. With flexible rent payments residents have an option to split their rent payments when needed to free up cash between paychecks and avoid reliance on credit cards and other debt products.
Housing supply is at its lowest level and vacancies are at record low, 3% nationwide. When residents are spending up to 50% of their income on rent, there is a significant need to expand on the “S” (Social) in ESG with solutions that improve the financial health of rental communities.
ESG is the acronym for “Environmental, Social and Governance” that has become crucial for investment considerations globally. Multifamily developments that invest in sustainable features (Environment) and/or provide affordable housing (Social) are more likely to find options from capital sources looking to meet ESG targets. With the current housing policies, it’s extremely hard to invest in “S” by building affordable housing though luckily it is possible to help tackle affordability challenges by offering alternative solutions.
A Equifax report published last week said:
“Credit card balances rose to the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2019 and the average credit limit on new cards is over $5,800, the highest it has been in the last seven years.”
Bloomberg
To avoid racking up credit card debt, paying late fees and being stuck between paychecks households need more flexibility in paying their bills, starting with rent.
Almost 40% of the households are spending 30-50% of their income on rent leaving them with very little buffer between paychecks to manage household expenses as a whole. Such affordability issue is creating financial stress for residents from all income brackets who end up with two options: a) find a new home or b) deal with it.
Apart from the mental, social and economical challenges around changing homes, current trends make it extremely difficult to find a new home
When finding a new home is not a real option, residents can do nothing but just deal with their rent payments and affordability issues.
We, at Zenbase are not housing developers therefore cannot fix the housing supply shortage and avoid affordability issues. However we can partner with property managers, owner & operators to help residents navigate affordability issues by splitting their rent payments and giving them flexibility & control to manage their household expenses as a whole. We think it’s unfair that the biggest expense of the month needs to be paid on the 1st while it takes at least 14 days to receive all monthly earnings to cover that expense.
Flexible rent payments is an effective option in the toolkit of our partners to boost their “S” initiatives in ESG and help improve their residents’ financial health with flexible rent payments. Learn more here.