☰What’s in this guide12 sectionsShowHide
- 1Best Rent Cashback Options + Bonuses
- 2What is cashback on rent? 🏠
- 3Why do companies offer cashback on rent?
- 4Ribbon Rewards Explained (1% + £25 bonus)
- 5Card Route = Other Wins (Zilch, Amex, + DD Cashback)
- 6What to Ask Your Landlord/Agent
- 7Step-by-Step: How to Earn on Your Rent
- 8Option A — Bigger Cashback (No card acceptance needed)
- 9Option B — Pay via Card (Stripe/Square link)
- 10Option C — If you’re stuck with Direct Debit
- 11Real Math Examples
- 12Fees, Eligibility & Fine Print (Read This)
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 the right rewards tools.
Best Rent Cashback Options + Bonuses
Ribbon RewardsBest Overall
Rentd
Brick RewardsWhat is cashback on rent? 🏠
Cashback on rent works in a similar way to traditional cashback apps, but instead of earning rewards on shopping, you earn money back from your monthly rent payments. As rent is often one of the biggest expenses people have, cashback providers allow renters to earn a small percentage back simply for paying something they already need to pay.
Why do companies offer cashback on rent?
Companies offer cashback because they benefit from building a relationship with renters and earning revenue through their platform. By becoming the place where renters manage payments, they can generate income through partnerships, card spending, referral programmes and financial services — then share some of that value back with users as rewards.
For renters, it means turning an unavoidable monthly expense into something that can generate a small return rather than simply leaving their bank account with no benefit.
Ribbon Rewards Explained (1% + £25 bonus)
If you’re renting in the UK, Ribbon Rewards (also known as Scraye Rewards) is a quick way to earn 1% back on every rent payment, plus a £25 bonus after your first payment—even a small test payment qualifies. You pay into a free account (provided by Griffin Bank, FSCS-protected) and Ribbon passes the rent to your landlord instantly. We’ve tested it; the rewards are genuine. Cash out rewards straightaway from £25. Curious about the process? Check out our full guide here.
Card Route = Other Wins (Zilch, Amex, + DD Cashback)
If your landlord/agent will take card payments (e.g., via Stripe or Square), you can earn also:
Zilch — 0.5% cashback
Zilch pays you 0.5% back on eligible spend when using your card. On £1,000 rent, that’s £5 back per payment. No monthly cap.
Prefer points? A popular option is Amex Preferred Rewards Gold. The standard public offer is typically 22,000 Membership Rewards points for spending £3,000 in 3 months (referral or limited promos can be higher). You also get lounge passes and other perks. (Always check the live offer before applying).
Forced to pay by Direct Debit?
Look at bank accounts that pay cashback on Direct Debits. Example: Zopa “Biscuit” pays 2% on Direct Debits up to £1,500/year (i.e., £30 per year), guaranteed for the first 12 months.
What to Ask Your Landlord/Agent
Most rent goes via bank transfer or standing order (zero rewards). However, many agents already use Stripe/Square—they just don’t advertise it because of processing fees.
Try this:
Tip: If they send a Stripe link once, you can usually reuse it every month—bookmark it and you’re set.
Step-by-Step: How to Earn on Your Rent
Option A — Bigger Cashback (No card acceptance needed)
Open Ribbon Rewards (free) and verify your account.
Send your rent to your Ribbon account; it instantly forwards the full amount to your landlord.
Earn 1% every time, plus £25 after your first payment.
Option B — Pay via Card (Stripe/Square link)
Get a card link from your landlord/agent (ask for a reusable Stripe Payment Link).
Use Zilch to pay your rent through that link.
Spend £1,000 → get £5 back
Spend £1,000 → get £5 back
(Optional) Use a sign-up bonus card (e.g., Amex Gold) to reach the spend target quickly; move day + rent + bills can hit £3,000 fast.
Option C — If you’re stuck with Direct Debit
Explore options for bank accounts paying cashback on direct debits (such as Zopa).
Real Math Examples
£1,000 rent paid by card (Zilch):
0.5% = £15 back.£1,000 rent via Ribbon:
1% = £10 back this month + £25 welcome gift card after your first payment. Total £35 in month one.Direct Debit via Zopa (for a year):
2% on up to £1,500 in DDs/year = £30/year.
| Card / Service | Cashback Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Zilch Card | 0.5% | Earn 0.5% cashback on all of your spending (no limit). Use cashback at most retailers. |
| Ribbon Rewards | 1% + £25 bonus | Earn 1% on every rent payment; £25 gift card after your first payment; money is forwarded instantly to your landlord. |
| Amex Gold | Welcome bonus | Typically 20k–22k Membership Rewards after £3k/3mo (offer-dependent) + lounge passes; check the live offer before applying. |
| Zopa (Direct Debits) | 2% on DDs (cap £1,500/yr = £30/yr) | Good if rent must be paid by Direct Debit; rate guaranteed for first 12 months on qualifying DDs. |
Fees, Eligibility & Fine Print (Read This)
Processing fees: If your landlord passes on Stripe/Square fees, run the numbers. Even ~1% fee can be worth paying if you’re getting 1.5% back.
Eligibility/Exclusions: Card rewards don’t apply to every merchant or transaction type. Always check the current T&Cs in-app before paying.
Offers change often: Rates, caps and end dates move around (e.g., Zilch cashback, Amex welcome bonuses). Verify live details before relying on a stack.
Credit & BNPL caution: If using credit or instalment products, clear in full to avoid interest/fees that wipe out your gains.
Calculator: Want the exact numbers for your rent? Use our Cashback Stacking Calculator to total your expected return and compare options.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the quickest way to earn on rent?
If your landlord won’t take cards, use Ribbon Rewards for 1% back on every rent payment plus a £10 gift card after your first payment.
How do I pay rent by card if my landlord doesn’t offer it?
Ask them (or your managing agent) to set up a simple Stripe/Square payment link. Once created, the same link is usually reusable every month—bookmark it.
Is it still worth it if they pass on card fees?
Often, yes. Example: a ~1% fee on £1,200 is £12. If you use Trading 212 at 1.5% (cap £15/mo), you can still come out ahead; with Ribbon it’s a straight 1% back (no card needed).
Will rent paid via Stripe count as a normal “card purchase”?
Usually it processes like an online card payment, but exclusions can apply. Check your card/app T&Cs before paying (Trading 212, Amex, etc.).
Can I stack Ribbon with card rewards?
No—Ribbon is its own route (you fund a free account and Ribbon forwards the rent). Card rewards apply when you pay the landlord directly by card (e.g., via Stripe).
What if I’m forced to pay by Direct Debit?
Look at accounts that pay on DDs. For example, Zopa offers 2% on qualifying DDs up to £1,500/yr (that’s £30/yr). A nice passive win if card isn’t possible.
Is Ribbon safe?
Ribbon creates a free account provided by Griffin Bank Ltd. Funds are forwarded to your landlord immediately after you pay. Standard banking protections apply—see Ribbon’s T&Cs for details.