Similar to when you open any new credit account, your credit score may decrease slightly the first month your rent or bill tradelines are reported. This could be because the average length of your credit history — a major factor in your credit scores — just shortened.
But as your credit accounts age and on-time payments are reported monthly, this should change. Typically, the longer you have a rental tradeline on your credit reports, the better. And rent reporting lets you build credit history without taking on more debt.
That said, everyone’s credit profile is unique and factors outside of Self could impact your credit too.