What the Bilt Card Does
The Bilt Card is a credit card designed for renters that lets you pay rent with a credit card and earn rewards on that payment. Most landlords do not accept credit cards for rent, so Bilt acts as an intermediary: you charge your rent to the card, Bilt pays your landlord by check or bank transfer, and you pay Bilt back like any other credit card bill. You earn points on every rent payment, which you can redeem for cash back, travel, or statement credits.
The card itself has no annual fee. The rewards structure is the main draw — you earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments, compared to earning nothing if you pay by check or bank transfer. For someone paying $1,500 a month in rent, that is 18,000 points per year before redemption.
Key Takeaways
- Bilt charges your landlord a processing fee (usually 1% to 2% of the rent amount) when they receive payment, which some landlords pass to you and others absorb.
- You earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments, 3 points per dollar on dining and streaming, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
- Points can be redeemed for cash back at a rate of roughly 1 cent per point, or transferred to travel partners at potentially higher value.
- The card reports rent payment history to credit bureaus, which can help build credit if you make on-time payments.
- You need a credit score of roughly 670 or higher to be approved, and approval takes a few business days.
How Rent Payments Work Through Bilt
When you charge rent to the Bilt Card, the card company does not send money to your landlord when ready. Instead, Bilt processes the payment and sends it to your landlord by check or ACH transfer within a few business days. Your landlord receives the full rent amount, minus any processing fee they have agreed to pay.
The processing fee is where friction often happens. Bilt charges a fee to the landlord (typically 1% to 2% of the rent), but landlords are not required to accept it. Some landlords absorb the fee as a cost of doing business. Others pass it to you, either by asking you to cover it upfront or by raising rent slightly. Before you open the card, ask your landlord whether they will accept Bilt payments and whether they charge a fee.
You pay Bilt back on a standard credit card billing cycle. Your rent charge appears on your statement, and you owe the full amount by the due date. If you carry a balance, Bilt charges interest like any other credit card — the APR varies based on your creditworthiness but typically ranges from 18% to 28%.
Rewards and How to Redeem Them
Bilt's rewards structure is tiered by purchase category. Rent earns 1 point per dollar. Dining and streaming services earn 3 points per dollar. Everything else earns 1 point per dollar. There is no cap on points earned, so high rent payments accumulate points quickly.
Points redeem in several ways. The simplest is cash back: Bilt converts points to statement credits at a rate of roughly 1 cent per point, so 1,000 points becomes a $10 credit. You can also transfer points to travel partners like Hyatt, United, and others, where the value per point is sometimes higher — typically 1.5 to 2 cents per point if you book strategically. Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
The real value depends on how you redeem. If you cash out every point, you get about 1% back on rent — modest but better than zero. If you transfer to travel partners and book premium redemptions, you might get 1.5% to 2% value. The card is not a path to free travel on rent alone, but it is a way to recapture some of what you are already spending.
Credit Building and Rent Reporting
Bilt reports your rent payment history to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — the three major credit bureaus. This is unusual; most credit cards do not report rent payments because rent is not technically a credit obligation. Bilt treats it as one, which means on-time rent payments build your credit history just like on-time credit card payments do.
If you have limited credit history or are rebuilding after missed payments, this can be valuable. Each month you pay rent on time, Bilt reports that to the bureaus, and your credit score can improve over time. Conversely, if you miss a payment to Bilt, that also reports to the bureaus and can hurt your score. The credit-building benefit only works if you treat the card like any other bill and pay it in full by the due date.
Approval Requirements and Credit Score
Bilt requires a credit score of roughly 670 or higher to be approved. This is considered "fair" credit — not excellent, but well above the subprime range. If your score is below 670, you will likely be declined. Bilt does a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points.
The process takes a few minutes and asks for standard information: name, address, income, employment, and Social Security number. Approval decisions come back within a few business days. If you are approved, the card ships to you within 7 to 10 business days. You can start charging rent as soon as the card arrives.
When Bilt Makes Sense and When It Does Not
Bilt is worth using if your landlord accepts it and does not charge you a fee. In that scenario, you earn 1 point per dollar on rent with no downside — it is information programs. Even at 1 cent per point, that is 1% cash back on your largest monthly expense.
Bilt is less useful if your landlord charges a fee. If they pass a 1% to 2% fee to you, your rewards earnings are wiped out or reversed. You would be paying extra to earn points back. In that case, stick with your current payment method.
Bilt is also not a substitute for building an emergency fund or paying down high-interest debt. The rewards are real but small — $15 to $30 per month for most renters. If using the card tempts you to carry a balance and pay interest, the interest charges will far exceed the rewards. Only use Bilt if you can pay the full balance every month.
Comparison to Other Rent Payment Options
Most renters pay rent by check, bank transfer, or money order — methods that earn no rewards but have no fees. Some landlords accept PayPal or Venmo, which also earn no rewards but are convenient. A few landlords accept credit cards directly, which would let you earn rewards without Bilt's intermediary step, but this is rare.
Bilt fills a gap: it lets you earn rewards on rent without asking your landlord to accept credit cards. The trade-off is that Bilt charges your landlord a fee, which may or may not be passed to you. If your landlord already accepts credit cards, use that directly and skip Bilt. If they do not, Bilt is the only way to earn rewards on rent payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my landlord have to accept Bilt payments?
No. Your landlord can decline Bilt or any other payment method. Before you open the card, contact your landlord and ask if they accept it. If they do not, you cannot use Bilt to pay rent — you can only use it for other purchases.
What happens if I miss a payment to Bilt?
A missed payment reports to the credit bureaus and damages your credit score. You will also owe interest on the unpaid balance and may face late fees. Treat Bilt like any other credit card: pay the full balance by the due date.
Can I use Bilt if I have bad credit?
Bilt requires a credit score of roughly 670 or higher. If your score is lower, you will be declined. Work on building credit through other means first — a secured credit card, becoming an authorized user, or paying down existing debt — and reapply later.
How long does it take for Bilt to pay my landlord?
Bilt typically sends payment to your landlord within a few business days of when you charge rent to the card. Ask your landlord how long they usually take to receive and process the payment so you know when the money will clear.
Can I redeem points for anything other than cash back or travel?
Bilt's redemption options focus on cash back and travel partner transfers. Check the Bilt website or app for the current full list of redemption options, as these may change over time.