How to Earn Cashback on Your Rent

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Rent is usually your biggest monthly expense, but with a little creativity, you can recoup a chunk of that outlay in the form of cashback. The trick is simple: pay by card instead of bank transfer, and use a stacking strategy—Zilch → Curve → iFast—to net as much as 3.5% back on every rent payment. Below, we’ll explain how it works, what you need from your landlord or letting agent, and how one of our users turned a £1,200 rent into £42 back.

1. Why Most Landlords Don’t Offer Card Payments (But Many Can)

Traditionally, rent is paid by bank transfer (BACS) or standing order—methods that come with zero cashback. The main reason many landlords or letting agents don’t advertise card payments is that services like Stripe or Square charge a fee (typically 1.4%–2.9% per transaction). Passing that fee onto a tenant often seems unappealing.

However:

• Some letting agents already accept card payments via Stripe.

• Many landlords will agree if you simply ask. Often, the same payment link can be reused each month—meaning once you set it up, you don’t need to hassle anyone again.

• If you offer to cover the processing fee or split it, agents are more open. Even a 1% fee on £1,200 rent is just £12; if that cost nets you £42 in cashback, it’s a win–win.

Action Step: Speak with your landlord or managing agent. Ask, “Do you accept rent by card (Stripe, Square, etc.)? If not, would you consider setting up a Stripe link (or alternative) so I can pay via card?” Many will say yes once they see the benefit and minimal effort.

2. The Stacking Strategy: Zilch → Curve → iFast

Once your landlord agrees to let you pay by card, you can start stacking cashback. Here’s how our example user earned 3.5% back on £1,200 rent:

1. iFast (2%)

   • iFast is a banking provider that pays 2% cashback on all transactions (up to £40 monthly). You need to load your rent money into iFast in advance.

   • On £1,200, 2% = £24 back.

2. Curve (1%)

   • Curve lets you link multiple cards under one virtual Mastercard. Although there’s nothing to suggest Curve offer 1% cashback online (it appears payments to Zilch are currently being paid out at 1% - this could change anytime). Nonetheless you need Curve to act as the bridge between iFast and Zilch.

   • On £1,200, 1% = £12 back.

3. Zilch (0.5%)

   • Zilch is a “buy now, pay later” app that also offers 0.5% cashback on any spend.

   • On £1,200, 0.5% = £6 back.

Summing up:

• iFast: £24

• Curve: £12

• Zilch: £6

• Total Cashback = £42

• Effective Rent Cost: £1,200 – £42 = £1,158

That’s a 3.5% return on what was otherwise a fixed expense—and it required just a few minutes of setup each month.

3. Step-by-Step Guide to Stacking Cashback

3.1. Ensure Your Landlord Uses (or Will Set Up) a Card-Link (Stripe)

1. Ask your landlord/letting agent if they can accept rent via Stripe (or Square).

2. If they don’t already, suggest simply creating a one-time “Stripe payment link” for £1,200.

3. Once they send you that link, bookmark it in your browser or add it to your calendar—it will remain the same each month, so you don’t need to ask again.

3.2. Load Your Rent Funds into iFast

1. Open an iFast account (if you don’t already have one).

2. Top up £1,200 into the iFast card—either by bank transfer or by linking another debit card.

3. Wait for the iFast card to be fully funded (should be instant or within minutes).

3.3. Connect iFast to Curve

1. Download the Curve app (Android or iOS).

2. Tap “Add a Card” in Curve and enter your iFast Mastercard details.

3. Verify the card via the temporary authorisation prompt.

3.4. Link Curve to Zilch

1. Install Zilch and complete KYC (photo ID, address, etc.).

2. Navigate to Payment Methods → Add Card, and choose Curve.

3.5. Pay Rent via Card (Through Zilch → Curve → iFast)

1. Click your saved Stripe link/alternative provider (or paste the URL) in Safari/Chrome.

2. Select Apple Pay/card payment, and then choose Zilch as your card.

3. Apple Pay charges £1,200 to Zilch → Zilch pulls from Curve → Curve pulls from iFast → Landlord receives £1,200 in their Stripe account.

4. Zilch tracks that Apple Pay payment and automatically awards 0.5% cashback to your Zilch balance (≈£6). Here’s how to use your Zilch rewards.

5. Curve awards 1% cashback (≈£12).

6. iFast awards 2% cashback (≈£24).

Total: £6 (Zilch) + £12 (Curve) + £24 (iFast) = £42 cashback on your £1,200 rent.

Cashback Calculator

You can total up your expected cashback here with our Cashback Stacking Calculator.