Pay Rent with a Credit Card

Your rent is probably your biggest monthly expense — and for years, it was the one bill you simply couldn't put on a credit card. That's changed. Services like Chexy let you charge rent to your card and pay your landlord via e-transfer or direct deposit, so you can finally earn rewards on what used to be dead money.

Done right, even after Chexy's 1.75% fee, you can come out ahead — especially if you're chasing a welcome bonus or earning premium points.

Why Pay Rent with a Credit Card?

• Turn your biggest monthly expense into a rewards engine
• Meet large welcome bonus spending thresholds in weeks, not months
• Build airline status through spend-based qualifying dollars
• Keep cash in your bank account longer while points hit your account

How Chexy Works

Chexy acts as a payment intermediary. You charge your credit card through Chexy, and Chexy forwards the payment to your landlord via e-transfer, bill pay, or pre-authorized debit — whichever your landlord prefers.

• Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express (all Canadian cards)
• Processing fee: 1.75% for all Canadian cards
• Payment timing: Chexy charges your card four business days before the due date, and your landlord receives funds on the due date
• Setup: Create an account, add your credit card, and enter your landlord's payment details

The 1.75% fee is the key number to work with. On $2,000 CAD monthly rent, that's $35 CAD. Whether you come out ahead depends entirely on the card you use and the value of the points you earn.

Does the Math Work?

The fee pays off when your rewards value exceeds 1.75 cents per dollar — which is achievable with the right card.

Here's a simple example: if you pay $2,000 CAD/month in rent via Chexy using a card that earns 1.25x Aeroplan points, you earn 2,500 Aeroplan points per month. At a conservative 1.5 cents per point, that's $37.50 CAD in value — against a $35 CAD fee. Marginally positive on a month-to-month basis, and it compounds over 12 months into 30,000 Aeroplan points.

If you're on a welcome bonus, the math gets much better. The bonus is often worth hundreds of dollars, and rent spending gets you there faster.

Best Credit Cards to Use

Things to Watch Out For

Check how your card codes the transaction. Chexy charges are processed as standard purchases, not cash advances. That said, verify your first transaction earns points as expected — some issuers code third-party payment services differently.

The 1.75% fee beats earning nothing. If you were previously paying rent by cheque or e-transfer and earning zero rewards, even a modest earn rate puts you ahead after the fee.

Note the charge timing. Chexy debits your card four business days before your rent due date. Make sure your credit limit and available balance can accommodate the full rent amount at that time.

Don't use a card with poor base earn rates. Rent doesn't code as groceries, gas, or dining — so category multipliers won't apply. Stick to flat-rate cards or cards where all spend earns at a competitive base rate.

Card details and Chexy fees verified April 2026. Always confirm current rates at chexy.co before signing up.