Most landlords won't take credit cards directly, but you have workarounds
You can pay rent with a credit card, but not the way you might hope. Most landlords don't accept credit cards as payment — they want a check, bank transfer, or money order. If you try to use a credit card anyway, you'll either hit a wall or pay a fee that makes the whole thing pointless. The real question is whether the workaround costs less than whatever problem you're trying to solve by using plastic.
The three actual paths are: use a payment service that accepts credit cards and sends your landlord a check, take a cash advance from your credit card and pay your landlord in cash or check, or use a rent-specific app that some landlords have signed up for. Each one costs you something different, and each one makes sense in a different situation.
Key Takeaways
- Direct credit card payments to landlords are rare because landlords avoid the 2–3% processing fee that credit card companies charge.
- Payment services like Plastiq or Venmo can send your landlord a check using your credit card, but they charge 2–3% of the rent amount as a fee.
- A credit card cash advance lets you withdraw cash to pay rent, but the interest rate is usually much higher than your regular card rate, and you pay a fee upfront.
- Rent payment apps like Bilt or Rental Kharma let you pay with a credit card and build credit history, but only work if your landlord is enrolled in the platform.
- Using a credit card to pay rent should be a last resort when you're short on cash this month, not a regular strategy.
Why landlords don't accept credit cards
When a landlord accepts a credit card payment, the credit card company takes a cut — usually 2% to 3% of the transaction. On a $1,500 rent payment, that's $30 to $45 gone. Most landlords operate on thin margins and aren't willing to absorb that cost. They'd rather you pay from your bank account, where there's no middleman fee.
Some larger property management companies and corporate landlords have started accepting credit cards because they can spread the cost across thousands of units and negotiate lower fees. But if you rent from an individual or a small property company, you almost certainly can't hand them a credit card and call it done.
Using a payment service to send a check from your credit card
Services like Plastiq, Venmo, and PayPal let you link a credit card and send money to someone else's bank account or receive it as a check. You pay the fee upfront — usually 2% to 3% of the amount — and the service handles the transfer. Your landlord gets a check or bank deposit in a few business days, and you've paid rent with plastic.
The math is straightforward: if your rent is $1,500 and the fee is 2.5%, you pay $37.50 extra. That's the real cost of using your credit card. It only makes sense if you're in a tight spot this month and need to float the rent on plastic while you wait for a paycheck or tax refund. If you're doing this every month, you're paying $450 a year in fees — money that should go toward building an emergency fund instead.
Check the fee structure before you commit. Plastiq charges 2.5% for most transfers. Venmo charges 1% for credit card payments but caps it at $25 per transaction. PayPal's fee depends on the payment type. The difference matters on large amounts.
Taking a cash advance to pay rent in cash or check
A credit card cash advance lets you withdraw cash from an ATM using your credit card, the same way you'd use a debit card. You then pay your landlord in cash or use that cash to write a check. This avoids the payment service fee, but it introduces a much bigger cost: a higher interest rate and an upfront fee.
Most credit cards charge a cash advance fee of 3% to 5% of the amount withdrawn, plus a higher interest rate on the cash advance balance — often 5% to 10% higher than your regular purchase rate. If your card charges 18% APR on purchases, the cash advance might be 24% or higher. That interest starts accruing when ready, not after a grace period like regular purchases do.
On a $1,500 cash advance with a 4% fee and 24% APR, you pay $60 upfront plus interest that grows every day you carry the balance. If you pay it back in full the next month, you might pay $90 to $100 total. That's worse than the payment service fee, and it only gets worse if you carry the balance longer.
Rent payment apps that build credit history
Apps like Bilt, Rental Kharma, and RentBureau let you pay rent with a credit card and report the payment to credit bureaus, which can help your credit score over time. Some of these apps charge no fee at all. The catch: your landlord has to be enrolled in the platform, and most aren't.
Bilt, for example, is free to use and reports on-time rent payments to Experian, which can help your credit if you're building history or recovering from past damage. But it only works if your landlord has signed up. You can ask your landlord whether they're on the platform, but don't expect a yes unless you live in a newer apartment complex or a building managed by a larger company.
If your landlord is enrolled, this is the best option: you get the credit-building benefit with no fee. If they're not, you're back to the payment service or cash advance route.
When paying rent with a credit card actually makes sense
Use a credit card to pay rent only when you're short on cash this specific month and you know you can pay the card off quickly. Examples: you're waiting for a paycheck that arrives in three days, you're expecting a tax refund next week, or you're covering an unexpected gap between jobs.
In those situations, the fee or interest is the cost of a short-term loan. A $37.50 payment service fee to float $1,500 for a week is much cheaper than a payday loan or overdraft fee. But if you're using a credit card because you don't have the money and won't for months, you're building debt that will cost far more than the original fee.
Never use a credit card to pay rent as a regular strategy. If you're consistently short on rent money, the problem isn't your payment method — it's that your expenses are bigger than your income. A credit card just delays the problem and adds cost.
Building a better path forward
If you're considering paying rent with a credit card, take a step back and look at your full budget. Can you cut expenses elsewhere? Can you pick up extra income? Can you talk to your landlord about a payment plan if you're behind? These conversations are uncomfortable, but they're cheaper than credit card fees and interest.
If you're in a genuine emergency — job loss, medical crisis, unexpected expense — look into local emergency rental information programs. Many cities and counties have funds that pay landlords directly when tenants face hardship. These programs don't charge you anything and don't add debt. A 211 call or search on your city's website can tell you whether a program is currently open in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will paying rent with a credit card hurt my credit score?
Not directly. The payment itself doesn't hurt you. But if you're carrying a balance on the card because you couldn't pay it off right away, the higher balance will increase your credit utilization ratio, which can lower your score. The bigger risk is missing a payment while you're juggling rent and credit card debt.
Can I use a rewards credit card to earn points on rent?
Technically yes, if you use a payment service or app that accepts credit cards. But the fee you pay usually eats most or all of the rewards value. A 2.5% fee on $1,500 is $37.50, while a 1% rewards rate earns you $15. You're paying $22.50 for the privilege of earning points.
What if my landlord says they accept credit cards but charges a fee?
That fee is legal, but it should be disclosed upfront in your lease or rental agreement. If it's not, ask for it in writing before you pay. Some landlords charge 3% or more, which is higher than what payment services charge. Compare the cost before you agree.
Is a cash advance better or worse than a payment service?
A payment service is almost always better. A cash advance charges you 3–5% upfront plus high interest that starts when ready. A payment service charges 2–3% with no interest. Unless you can pay back a cash advance in the same billing cycle, the payment service costs less.
What should I do if I can't afford rent this month?
Talk to your landlord first. Many will work with you on a payment plan or give you a few extra days. If that doesn't work, search for emergency rental information in your city or county — these programs exist specifically for this situation and don't charge you anything. A 211 call can point you to local resources in minutes.