Can You Pay Rent With A Credit Card In Australia?

Why pay rent with a credit card?

There are two reasons to use your credit card to pay rent: flexibility and rewards. You have greater control over your finances and the ability to earn points. Still, it does come with a cost — a fee or surcharge, usually a process fee based on the percentage of the rent.

For example, RentPay, a third-party rent payment platform, charges a 1.25% processing fee for credit cards. If your rent is $625 per week, the fee is $7.80 with every rent payment using a credit card. With debit card transactions included in the $2 monthly fixed fee, expect to pay $31.25 more each month with a credit card.

However, this fee might pale compared to a possible late fee tacked on to your next rent cycle. Knowing what fees your landlord or building charges if you’re late on rent is helpful. Check your tenancy agreement for this information and determine if they partner with a specific rental platform. Some landlords do, but you can also use independent payment options.

» MORE: Common credit card fees and charges (and how to avoid them)

How to pay rent with a credit card

Earning rewards and enjoying benefits simply by changing your card to pay your rent is an exciting possibility — if you maintain healthy habits and pay your card off in full before interest accrues.

Before pulling out your credit card, consider the fees, interest charges, credit score and the stress of knowing it’s money still owed. How are you currently using your credit card? Are you paying it off at the end of every month, or do you sometimes forget to check your statement and incur interest? Reflect on these questions before considering available platforms.

There are various platforms, all with their unique spin on rewards.

Citibank PayAll

Citi PayAll allows you to earn rewards on your big purchases — rent, tax payments, tuition, childcare and monthly bills — accruing 1 point per $1. The points translate into Citi Rewards or Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards. There is no fee for Citi PayAll payments between 1 April 2021 and 31 October 2023. From 1 November, the cost is 2% of the transaction amount.

DEFT

DEFT transactions incur a surcharge or transaction fee based on the payment amount. For a Visa credit card, it’s 1.5% (compared to 0.40% for a Visa debit) and 1.2% for a Mastercard credit card. AMEX is higher at a 1.5% surcharge. DEFT is a Macquarie Bank initiative that offers convenience and security for consumers rather than a benefits program.

iPayRent

iPayRent is a platform specifically designed for property managers. Tenants using a credit card to pay rent are charged an additional 1.32%-2.2% of the transaction.

Pay.com.au

Pay.com.au is a points scheme for business owners to benefit from their bills. Owners can earn points through rent, payroll, ATO bills and superannuation. It operates similarly to a credit card rewards program but is designed for business. There are three tiers: free, regular and premium. The fee structure ranges from 0.80%-1% for Mastercard, 1%-1.2% for Visa and 1.9%-2.1% for AMEX credit card transactions.

RentPay

RentPay offers the flexibility to pay with a Mastercard or Visa credit card for 0.99% of the transaction plus the monthly $2 charge. You can earn cashback on your utilities, which you can use to reduce your rent. If increasing your credit score is a priority, leverage the site’s Scorebuilder function.

Rental Rewards

Rental Rewards is another platform designed for real estate. Earn points with every dollar spent, get 1,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points per year, access 0% interest days to pay rent and receive additional benefits.

Credit card transaction costs include a $1.51 set-up fee and 1.45% for Mastercard and Visa or 2.65% for AMEX.

Sniip

Sniip allows you to pay any bill, including rent, with your credit card to earn points. Scan the BPAY biller code through the Sniip app and use the points calculator to see what you can receive with your benefits.

There are no monthly account fees. Mastercard and Visa credit card transactions incur a 1.5% fee, and an AMEX personal card is 1.29%. You can even pay your rent through crypto.com via Sniip.

» MORE: How to BPAY from your credit card

Other bills you can pay with your credit card

In most cases, if you can pay by debit card, you also have the option to use a credit card. That includes your household utility bills, internet, phone and insurance payments.

If you have adequate savings and can remember to pay off your credit card at the end of each month, paying your bills with a rewards card can mean building up points and ultimately reducing your expenses.

As with all financial products, credit cards have pros and cons. Depending on your habits, they can either work for you or against you. Keep your financial goals in mind to guide your decision-making.

» MORE: How is credit card interest calculated?

Using a credit card to pay rent usually incurs a fee or surcharge, but it is not considered a cash advance unless used to withdraw cash or transfer funds.

» MORE: Can you withdraw cash from a credit card?