AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Bilt Rewards has made a big splash by making it possible to earn valuable Bilt Points on rent. Its transferable points are among the most valuable in the industry, and Bilt now works directly with one out of every four rental properties in the country. If you’re thinking about using Bilt to earn rewards on rent, this guide has everything you need to get started.
Page Contents
How To Pay Rent via Bilt Rewards
Before we dive in, it’s helpful to understand how the Bilt program works. Bilt has a network of apartment owners, known as the “Bilt Rewards Alliance,” that are more deeply integrated into the program than other landlords.
If you're renting at one of these properties, you'll likely see Bilt branding around the building and receive a personal invitation to join Bilt when you move in. And sometimes signing a new lease (or renewing) at one of these properties can come with bonus Bilt Points.
You can pay rent at a Bilt Rewards Alliance property through the Bilt app or website by linking your address to your account. If your property is part of the network, you’ll see the Bilt Rewards Alliance badge underneath it.
Renters at Bilt Rewards Alliance properties can earn Bilt Points without paying any transaction fees when using ACH payments. You’ll earn 1 Bilt Point per dollar of rent, up to 100,000 Bilt Points per year.
In addition, you can also pay rent using The Bilt Mastercard® (Rates & Fees), which similarly charges no transaction fees for rent payments. But just remember you need to use your card 5 times each statement period to earn points — and the same 100,000-point cap applies here, too.
Previously, renters who paid with a credit card other than the Bilt Mastercard were limited to earning just 250 Bilt Points per payment or 3,000 points annually. That’s now changed thanks to some exciting updates to the program, which we’ll cover later in this post.
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x points on other purchases
Related: Should You Use Bilt to Earn Rewards by Paying Rent?
What if my apartment isn't a part of the Bilt Rewards Alliance?
The great news is that you can still earn Bilt Points on almost any rental, even if your building isn’t in the Bilt Rewards Alliance. It takes a few extra steps, and there may be transaction fees, but it’s doable. For these kinds of rentals, you’ll use BillPay by Bilt — which launched in March 2025.
With this new system, you can pay rent through:
- Bilt's online portal
- Venmo or PayPal (for Bilt Mastercard holders)
- Check (for Bilt Mastercard holders)
This new system replaces the old “Rent Rewards” account used before March 17, 2025, for renters paying via online portal, Venmo, or PayPal. If you’re paying by check with the Bilt Mastercard, nothing has changed.
BillPay is more secure than the old system, as you now authorize any payment that flows through the Bilt network. You're allowed to pay 110% of your authorized amount to account for utilities or other fluctuating expenses that might be a part of a rent payment. After authorization, you'll have 5 days to submit payment through your property's payment portal — and there's also a way to auto-authorize rent payments through the Bilt system.
You can make up to three rent-related payments each month through BillPay for a single property. This is helpful for buildings that require separate payments for rent, utilities, HOA dues, or other charges.
Can I use any credit card for rent payments?
Thanks to a recent program update in April 2025, it’s now possible to double dip by earning rewards from your preferred credit card and still earn Bilt Points in the process. There’s a catch, though: non-Bilt credit cards are subject to a 3% transaction fee.
The number of Bilt Points you earn depends on the card type you use:
- Visa cards: 1X Bilt Points per $1 on rent, in addition to your Visa card rewards.
- Mastercards: 1X Bilt Points per $1 on rent, in addition to your Mastercard rewards.
- Discover cards: 1X Bilt Points per $1 on rent, in addition to your Discover card rewards.
- American Express cards: 1X Bilt Points per $2 on rent, in addition to your Amex card rewards.
How Do I Make a Rent Payment Through Bilt?
If you’re a Bilt Rewards Alliance member, you’ll pay rent directly in the Bilt app or on the website. After linking your property, go to the Pay Rent tab.
From there, select your payment method, review the details, and click Pay.
If you're using BillPay, start by adding your address and monthly rent amount to your profile in the Bilt app.
Then, you'll select how you'd like to pay.
In the rent payment portal, you can select your payment method directly in your account. You’ll also have the option to redeem Bilt Points toward your rent, but given how valuable they are with transfer partners, we don’t recommend this redemption.
If you're paying by check, you'll need the Bilt Mastercard and will need to select “Check” as your payment method. Checks are sent via USPS First Class Mail by default, but you can choose to pay a little extra for faster shipping and delivery confirmation.
Our Take
If you're renting, it makes sense to use the Bilt Mastercard to earn Bilt Points with no transaction fees. Otherwise, you'll want to carefully weigh the cost of any fees tied to your payment method. While Bilt Points are valuable, those fees can add up fast if you're using a different credit card. And if you're putting rent on a card and not paying it off in full each month, interest charges could easily outweigh any rewards.
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x points on other purchases
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
This piece doesn’t address the frustration that was expressed by many last month when this began: those of us who pay with the Alaska Visa. There has been much confusion and misinformation from Bilt about this. Last month, I received 500 points for paying with the AS Visa, compared to zero previously. I heard of others who received full points and others who received nothing. I used the ever-frustrating iMessage chat to contact Bilt, which is the only way we seem to be able to communicate with them. As a Platinum member, I’m supposed to receive priority and excellent service, but it’s clear it’s still handled by those outside the U.S. who don’t work for the company. There are long waits and incorrect answers followed by ghosting.
I was told that I didn’t receive full points as I paid at the beginning of the month before this new policy went into effect. And yet I received 500 before the policy began (vs none in prior months), so that seemed incorrect. At any rate, it’s the 15th of May, and I’ve still received zero Bilt points for my AS Visa rent payment at the beginning of this month. I suspect I’m not alone with the continued frustration and inconsistency.