If you are paying rent every month and not earning rewards on it, then you are leaving serious value on the table.

Rent is usually the largest monthly expense for most people, and Bilt Rewards just made it easier than ever to earn valuable points – no Bilt Mastercard required.

Bilt has rolled out a major update to its rent payment platform, allowing users to earn Bilt Rewards points on rent payments made with a wider range of credit cards.

This change means more flexibility, more earning power, and more reasons to turn rent into rewards.

Let’s break down what is new and how to use it to your advantage.

Earn Points On Rent With Your Favorite Credit Card

The biggest change? You can now use your Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express card to pay rent through Bilt – and earn points in the process.

Here is how the new rewards work:

• Visa, Mastercard, and Discover: Earn 1 Bilt Rewards point for every $1 spent on rent
• American Express: Earn 1 Bilt Rewards point for every $2 spent on rent

These points are in addition to the rewards you already earn from your card issuer. That means you can stack Bilt Rewards points with your existing credit card rewards, which makes every rent payment even more valuable.

Keep in mind, there is still a 3% transaction fee when using third-party credit cards to pay rent through Bilt. But depending on the value of the rewards you earn, this fee can be well worth it – especially if you are trying to hit a sign-up bonus or earn valuable travel rewards.

What Is Staying the Same

While Bilt has introduced exciting new ways to earn points on rent, a few key parts of the program are not changing:

• Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card: This card will continue to earn 3x Alaska Mileage Plan miles on rent payments made through Bilt. You will not earn Bilt Rewards points with this card.
• ACH and Non-Card Payments: If you choose to pay rent using ACH (bank transfers) or other non-credit card methods through Bilt, you will still earn a flat 250 Bilt Rewards points per rent payment.

Why This Update Matters

Before this change, rent payments made through Bilt with a non-Bilt credit card only earned a flat 250 Bilt Rewards points per month. That was a nice perk, but not particularly exciting.

Now, the ability to earn 1x or even 0.5x on your total rent amount opens the door to much greater earning potential.

For example, someone paying $2,000 in rent per month can now earn:

• 2,000 Bilt Rewards points with a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover
• 1,000 Bilt Rewards points with an American Express

And that is just the Bilt side of the equation – you are also still earning whatever points or miles your card usually provides.

This change is a huge win for anyone who does not have the Bilt Mastercard but still wants to tap into the valuable Bilt Rewards ecosystem.

It is also perfect for renters in buildings that do not directly support Bilt payments, since you can still route the rent through Bilt and earn rewards.

Best Strategy For Earning Bilt Points On Rent

To get the most value out of this update, here are some tips:

• Use A High-Value Rewards Card: Choose a credit card that earns valuable points – like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – or cash back to maximize the double-dip effect. Cards with strong travel transfer partners or flexible rewards are ideal.
• Target Sign-Up Bonuses: If you are working toward a minimum spend for a new credit card bonus, rent payments through Bilt can help you get there faster while still earning Bilt Rewards points.
• Do The Math On The 3% Fee: For large rent payments, the 3% fee can add up. Make sure the combined value of the Bilt Rewards points and your credit card rewards outweighs the fee. In many cases, the value of transferable points will make the math work in your favor.
• Pay Through The Bilt App: Even if your landlord does not accept credit card payments, Bilt can send a check or bank transfer on your behalf. All you need to do is set up the payment inside the Bilt app (App Store | Google Play).

Still The Best: The Bilt Mastercard

While the new changes are great for non-Bilt cardholders, the Bilt Mastercard still holds the crown for rent payments.

It remains the only option that earns 1x Bilt Rewards points per $1 on rent with no transaction fee. That is a powerful combination.

In addition to rent rewards, the Bilt Mastercard earns:

• 3x Bilt Rewards points on Dining
• 2x Bilt Rewards points on Travel
• 1x Bilt Rewards points on all Other purchases

There is also no annual fee, which makes it one of the best no-fee travel cards in the market today.

If you make five purchases per statement period, your rent rewards will be unlocked, and you will enjoy all the earning benefits without paying anything extra.

Final Thoughts

This new update makes Bilt Rewards even more appealing to renters across the country. You no longer need to have the Bilt Mastercard to earn meaningful points on rent.

Now, almost any major credit card can be used to rack up rewards through your largest monthly expense.

If you have not already explored Bilt as a way to pay rent and earn travel rewards, now is the time to take a closer look.

Your rent is already a big spend – so why not let it take you somewhere new?

Kevin Zanes