☰What’s in this guide9 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 + Direct Debit Cashback)
- 6What to Ask Your Landlord/Agent
- 7Step-by-Step: How to Earn on Your Rent
- 8Real Math Examples
- 9Fees, Eligibility & Fine Print (Read This)
Rent is usually one of your biggest monthly expenses, but did you know you can earn cashback and rewards simply for paying it?
Several UK rewards providers now let you earn money back or collect points on your monthly rent payments, without necessarily changing how your landlord receives the money.
Our top pick is Ribbon Rewards, which offers 1% cashback on eligible rent payments plus a £25 welcome bonus. Other options include Rentd, Brick Rewards and Yonder, which offer different ways to earn rewards from your rent.
Best Rent Cashback Options + Bonuses
Ribbon RewardsBest Overall
Rentd
Brick Rewards
YonderWhat 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 + Direct Debit Cashback)
If your landlord or letting agent accepts card payments (e.g. through Stripe or Square), you may also be able to earn cashback or rewards on your rent.
Zilch offers 0.5% cashback on eligible spending. If rent payments qualify, paying £1,000 in rent could earn you £5 cashback each month, or £60 per year.
Always check Zilch's current exclusions before making a payment, as rent and financial transactions may not qualify.
Prefer points? American Express Preferred Rewards Gold offers welcome bonuses for eligible new cardholders who meet a minimum spending requirement.
You may also receive additional benefits such as airport lounge passes and Membership Rewards points on qualifying purchases.
However, rent payments may be excluded from rewards or welcome bonus spending, so check eligibility before attempting to pay your landlord with Amex.
Forced to Pay by Direct Debit?
Some bank accounts offer cashback on qualifying Direct Debit payments.
For example, Zopa Biscuit offers cashback on certain eligible Direct Debits, subject to an annual cap and its current terms.
However, rent payments aren't automatically eligible for bank account Direct Debit cashback, so check the provider's exclusions before switching your payment method.
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)
- Ask your landlord or letting agent whether they accept rent payments by card, including through Stripe or Square.
- Check cashback eligibility with your card provider before making a payment. Rent and financial transactions may be excluded.
- Compare any processing fees against the potential rewards. For example, 0.5% cashback on an eligible £1,000 payment would be £5.
- Consider a rewards credit card, such as Amex Gold, but only if rent payments qualify towards the relevant rewards or welcome bonus.
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% = £5 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.