Rent Cashback UK
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.
1) The New, Easy Win: Ribbon Rewards (1% + £10 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 £10 gift card 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.
2) Card Route = Bigger Wins (Trading 212, Amex, + DD Cashback)
If your landlord/agent will take card payments (e.g., via Stripe or Square), you can earn more:
Trading 212 Card — 1.5% back (cap £15/mo)
Opt in to Trading 212’s Cashback Investing promotion to earn 1.5% on eligible spend, capped at £15 per month (that’s a full £15 back on a £1,000 rent paid by card in one go). Cashback will auto-invest (and you can sell the investment after if you wish). Trading 212 has extended the 1.5% campaign until 5 September 2025.
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.
3) 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:
“Do you accept rent by card (Stripe, Square, etc.)? If not, would you consider setting up a simple Stripe payment link so I can pay via card each month?”
Tip: If they send a Stripe link once, you can usually reuse it every month—bookmark it and you’re set.
4) Step-by-Step: How to Earn on Your Rent
Option A — Fastest Setup (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 £10 after your first payment.
Option B — Bigger Cashback via Card (Stripe/Square link)
Get a card link from your landlord/agent (ask for a reusable Stripe Payment Link).
Use Trading 212 card to pay your rent through that link.
Spend £1,000 → get £15 (hits the monthly cap in one payment).
If your rent is higher, you’ll still cap at £15 for the month.
(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).
5) Real Math Examples
£1,000 rent paid by card (Trading 212):
1.5% = £15 back (hits the monthly cap in one go). Trading 212£1,200 rent via Ribbon:
1% = £12 back this month + £10 welcome gift card after your first payment. Total £22 in month one.Direct Debit via Zopa (for a year):
2% on up to £1,500 in DDs/year = £30/year.
Last Updated:
Written by My Side Gig team
| Card / Service | Cashback Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Trading 212 Card | 1.5% (cap £15/mo) | Opt into Cashback Investing to earn 1.5%; promo runs until 5 Sep 2025; cashback auto-invests (you can sell the investment). |
| Ribbon Rewards | 1% + £10 bonus | Earn 1% on every rent payment; £10 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. |
(6) 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., Trading 212’s cap/date, 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.
FAQ’s
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Opt into Cashback Investing to earn 1.5% back, capped at £15 per month. Pay a £1,000 rent by card via Stripe and you’ll typically hit the cap in one go. Cashback is auto-invested (you can sell it). Always check in-app for current terms/exclusions.
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Usually it processes like an online card payment, but exclusions can apply. Check your card/app T&Cs before paying (Trading 212, Amex, etc.).
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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).
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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.
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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.
