How to Pay Your Rent with a Credit Card

Paying Your Landlord Directly

Ask if your landlord accepts credit card payments. Some landlords, especially those who are part of major rental companies, accept credit card payments with little to no hassle. However, many small and independent landlords do not because of the additional fees involved. Your landlord may accept payments via debit even if they don’t take credit cards.

Inquire about additional fees associated with credit card payments. Almost all landlords charge a transaction fee to make a payment using a credit card. In addition, some landlords charge a variety of small, hidden fees that you may not notice until you get your billing statement. Most landlords charge around 3% for each credit card transaction. Some landlords may hide additional fees in your rental agreement or their payment website’s terms of service.

Create an online payment account if necessary. In order to make payments using a credit card, you may need to create an online payment account on your landlord’s official tenant management website. To do so, visit the site and look for a button labeled “Setup Account” or something similar. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to create your account. Some landlords require tenants to make an online account even if they intend to pay in person or over the phone. If you’re required to do this, your landlord should provide you with the specific website address.

Pay online through your landlord’s tenant management website. If you want to pay your rent online, visit your landlord’s tenant management website, login to your account, and search for a button labeled “Pay My Bill” or something similar. Click on the button, then follow the on-screen instructions to pay your rent.

Call your landlord if you want to pay over the phone. Most major landlords let tenants pay their rent by calling an official customer service hotline. If your landlord uses an automated system, navigate to a payment or billing section and enter your personal and credit card information. If you end up talking to a customer service operator, ask them to walk you through the payment process. Some landlords may also accept payments via text message or a smartphone app.

Pay in person if your landlord allows you to. If you live in a housing complex that has an administration office, see if they can process a credit card payment for you. If they can’t, or if you don’t live in a housing complex, check if your landlord accepts remote payments from financial transfer centers like MoneyGram.

Making Payments through a Third-Party Company

Search online for a rent payment service. If your landlord does not accept credit card payments, consider becoming a member of a third-party rent payment firm. In exchange for a small processing fee, these companies will convert your money into a form your landlord will accept, typically a check or bank transfer. Some popular rent payment firms include: Plastiq, which charges 2.5% per credit transaction. Plastiq is the only major service that accepts prepaid cards and gift cards in addition to major credit cards. Radpad, which has a 2.99% credit transaction fee. Rentshare, which takes out an additional 2.99% for each credit transaction. RentMoola, which charges 2.99% per credit transaction. Tio, which has variable credit transaction fees.

Create an online payment account. Once you choose a rent payment firm, visit the company’s official website and sign up for an account. For most services, you’ll need to provide your full name, physical address, e-mail address, and phone number to sign up. Some firms only provide service to specific areas. Giving your physical address up front helps these companies determine if you’re an eligible customer.

Connect your credit card to the account. Once you’ve created an account, go to your profile and look for a button labeled “Add a Card” or something similar. Then, type in your credit card number, the name on the card, the card’s expiration date, the Card Security Code (CSC), and the billing address associated with the card. Most rent payment firms accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. If your firm lets you pay other bills in addition to rent, they may limit your rent payment options to specific credit card brands.

Fill out a payment recipient form. In order to make a payment, you’ll need to fill out an official form stating who your landlord is and where they’re located. For certain firms, you may need to select your landlord from a pre-approved database instead. If you pay your rent to an individual instead of a company, look for an option labeled “I’m paying a person” or something similar.

Submit your payment at least 2 weeks before it’s due. When you’re ready to pay your bill, look for a button on your firm’s website labeled “Start a Payment” or something similar. Click it, then follow the website’s on-screen payment instructions. Most firms will not transfer your money instantaneously, so try to submit your payment at least 2 weeks in advance.