Are you looking for the best credit cards to pay rent amid the frequent changes in charges and rewards? Paying rent by credit card has been one of the quickest ways to reach spend waivers and earn rewards. Unfortunately due to misuse, many banks have capped rewards on rent payment transactions. But, there are still many cards that offer good rewards on rent payment transactions. Here is a list of the best credit cards to pay rent and earn rewards. The focus of this list will be on the cards that offer the best rewards and benefits for rent payment transactions.
Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
SC Ultimate was one of the best credit cards to pay rent with 3.3% rewards earlier but it has got devalued now. The Standard Chartered Ultimate now offers 2% rewards on rent payments. For the Ultimate card, we get 1 RP = Rs 1 for GV redemption. The Ultimate credit card does not have any cap on the reward points.
- Annual Fee: ₹ 5000+GST
- Renewal Benefit: 5000 RP ~₹ 5000
- Reward Rate on rent payment: 2%
- Milestone Benefits: None
- Cap on rent payment rewards: None
- Processing Fee on rent payments: 1%+GST
Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME
While the reward rate on transactions may not be lucrative, we are eligible for milestone benefits on the Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME. Pay rent on the card, hit the milestone, and you get the complimentary ticket.
- Annual Fee: ₹ 2999+GST
- Renewal Benefit: 1 complimentary premium economy ticket
- Reward Rate on rent payment: 4 CV points/₹ 200
- Milestone Benefits: Up to 4 complimentary premium economy tickets and ₹ 10,000 Yatra Hotels Gift Voucher
- Cap on rent payment rewards: None
- Processing Fee on rent payments: ₹ 199+GST
Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card
Almost all cashback credit cards have now stopped cashback for rent payments. But, the SC Smart credit card still gives us 2% cash back for rent payments. We still have the rent processing charge but it is a positive return net of cashback.
- Annual Fee: ₹ 499+GST
- Renewal Benefit: None
- Reward Rate on rent payment: 2%
- Milestone Benefits: None
- Cap on rent payment rewards: None
- Processing Fee on rent payments: 1%+GST
AU Bank Zenith+ Credit Card
AU Bank Zenith+ is a surprise entry in this list of the best credit cards to pay rent. AU Bank does not add processing charges for the first rent payment in the month. So, we get rewards for rent payments without any charges in the case of AU Zenith+.
- Annual Fee: Rs 4999+GST
- Renewal Benefit: 5000 RP
- Reward Rate on rent payment: 1%
- Milestone Benefits: 1000 RPs on spending Rs 75,000 in a statement month ~1.3% return
- Cap on rent payment rewards: None
- Processing Fee on rent payments: 1%+GST for 2nd transaction in calendar month
Club Vistara IDFC First Credit Card
The new Club Vistara IDFC First credit card is also a good option to pay rents. Rent payments are not excluded from milestone benefits.
- Annual Fee: Rs 4999+GST
- Renewal Benefit: 1 Complimentary Premium Economy Ticket and 1 Class Upgrade Voucher
- Reward Rate on rent payment: 1 CV point/Rs 200
- Milestone Benefits: Up to 4 complimentary premium economy tickets
- Cap on rent payment rewards: None
- Processing Fee on rent payments: 1%+GST
Final Thoughts
Almost all credit card issuers have now put a processing charge on rent payments. So, it has become difficult to earn rewards on rent payments while paying all these charges. So it has also become important to use a rent payment app that has the most minor charges with the best credit cards to pay rent. RedGirraffe is our app of choice if you have a rental agreement. You can pay with any credit card by using PayZapp for RedGirraffe biller accounts.
Any other credit card that gives good rewards for paying rent? Do let us know in the comments.
47 thoughts on “5 Best Credit Cards to Pay Rent”
what charges are applicable for rent payment through indusind rupay platinum credit card ?
No charges
Hi, thanks for updating the list – appreciate all the efforts taken in this blog.
Since March 2024, SC has stopped giving cashback/ points on payment through RG using payzapp as MCC category comes under utilities 🙁 Was planning to opt for SC smart now no more.
Interesting. I see that is now updated on the product page too.
Please note that for Bill Payments through Billdesk or StanChart Bill Pay, only transactions on Billers registered under the following categories will be eligible for cashback:
Telecom
Utilities (Electricity, Water, Gas)
Today received an email from SBI cards that rent payment will not earn milestone benefits from April 15, 2024
Yes, but whether it will work for the milestone benefit is still not clear.
So if you use RedGirraffe – do you get rent processing charged by both – the credit card company as well as by RG? Or just Rg?
Both
how about SBI signature Air India. What is fees and reward structure for rent payment on this card. Is rent payment spend counted in meeting milestones?
Yes, there is a fee of Rs 199+GST. As of now, they ae included for milestones.
What about citi cards? Do they give points for rent?
Yes, they do
But Magnus has stopped getting milestone benefits and edge rewards for rent payments, right?
Yes, no milestone benefits on rent payments with Magnus. But EDGE RP should still come as there is no such notification excluding rent payments.
What about Axis Vistaara cards?
Do we get milestone benefits in that?
Yes, but it will be gone from June 1st 2023.
What about AU Zenith Credit card? It gives 1.25% return with no charges for rental payment for 1st transaction. It seems highest rewarding card in the lot considering all charges. Isn’t it?
Yes! Thank you, had missed out on it.
Sorry if repeating question but how do we pay rent using Zenith CC?
Add Zenith to PayZapp and use PayZapp to pay to RedGirraffe biller.
Can you please update this article with recent updates on SC and Axis cards? Is there any new good additions to this?
Yes, will be updating this soon.
Hdfc bank don’t give RP for rent payment but will charge 1percent from 1 jan 23. Please update and advise if any other bank gives RP now without charges.
Any idea about charges and reward points from different banks for rent payments given that a lot of banks have stopped reward point and started charging for the same.
The above list of credit cards has all the relevant and updated details.
Thanks! What’s the limit for rent to be considered as business expense ?
No specific amount. Banks will see it as a % of your other expenses on the card.
Hello Sir,
Thanks for this article. I use credit cards only for rent payments. I have to make rent payment of 1.2 lakh rs per month. What do you think will be best card for me? I dont fly a lot.
Thanks,
If you have got any card then please suggest to me which credit card is better for rent payments. I am also the same as you.
And there is no card called Axis Vistara Platinum which you have mentioned.
Axis Vistara cards are:
1. Axis Vistara CC
2. Axis Vistara Signature CC
3. Axis Vistara Infinite CC
Even SBI’s lower variant card is called Club Vistara SBI Card & not Platinum.
They are all Visa Platinum variants. Other variants have the Visa variant name like Infinite and Signature. It is just not mentioned on the card name as it is the lowest variant.
Under the heading “Axis Bank Vistara Infinite/Signature”, you have mentioned the Joining and Annual Fee of Rs. 1500 for Platinum and Rs. 3000 for Signature, but you have not mentioned the Joining and Annual Fee of Vistara Infinite, inspite of the card being mentioned in the heading and image,
Fixed!
Hi
Can we pay official rents amounting to 7-8 lakhs per month using this ?
Best Regards
BS
That will be tagged as commercial usage.
IDFC First Select credit card and Axis Bank flip kart credit card, they are taking 1% and gst for rent payment.
Please don’t use these credit card for rent payment
which card to use for 1.5L pm rent?
That will be categorized as a business expense. Try SC Ultimate.
What is amount beyond which it will be business expense?
Hi, Thanks for the article. Very helpful.
Can you please suggest a website through which we will have minimum charges for paying using Axis Magnus
Magicbricks or Cred
Use Redgiraffe, charges 0.39% + GST
Does RedGiraffe support axis card?
Yes, it does. Only Magnus is having issues. Rest works fine.
How do you add axis card to redgiraffe ? Is it via Payzapp ?
Yes. At the moment, Magnus has some issues but others work fine.
Axis has done a spectacular degradation in Magnus. within couple of months Magnus, from being one of the best cards, has become THE ABSOLUTE WORST card among the premium cards.