Bilt Rewards took the market by a storm when they introduced the first loyalty program and credit card for paying rent last summer. For most people, rent is their biggest expense each month. So, finally earning some rewards while paying your rent is damn exciting.

In this post, we’ll answer many of the common questions people ask about Bilt.

What is Bilt?

The Bilt Mastercard is a credit card you can pay your monthly rent with. You don’t go over to your landlord to swipe your card but rather, pay your monthly rent through the Bilt app or on your existing online portal. Bilt submits payment electronically to your landlord, or via check if your landlord doesn’t accept ACH payments.

The cherry on top and the brainchild of Bilt is that you EARN REWARDS on every dollar of rent you pay through Bilt. You will earn one point on every dollar of rent paid (you will only earn the rewards if you make at least 5 transactions with your card per cycle, which we’ll discuss later on in the post). Besides for living quarters, you’ll now be getting real good stuff from paying rent. And when using the Bilt Mastercard, you’ll also earn points on non-rent spend. At the end of a year, you can totally have racked up enough points to earn yourself a vacation, flight, or hotel stay. 

How does Bilt work?

Whether your landlord accepts credit card payments or not, you can pay your landlord using your Bilt Mastercard. 

In the Bilt app or online portal you can pay your rent using your building’s existing online payment portal using your Bilt generated routing and account number. Or if you choose, Bilt can even send a check in the mail directly to your landlord.  

In addition, Bilt has made a partnership with some big real estate companies, including The Blackstone Group, The Related Companies, and Equity Residential, who accept rent payment through the app. If your landlord is part of the Bilt Rewards Alliance, the rent payment will be sent electronically through the app. Some landlords may even give perks to tenants who make timely payments and the like.

Landlords who are not part of the Bilt Rewards Alliance will still have the payment sent to them, via check or through electronic payment (as described above). 

How do I earn rewards?

In order to earn rewards on your rent payment, you must make a minimum of 5 transactions per cycle (the rent payment can be one of them). As long as you make 5 transactions per cycle, no matter how small the purchase, you’ll earn the card rewards. If you don’t make at least 5 transactions per cycle, you earn nothing.

Besides for earning rewards on rent you will also earn rewards on other purchases. Here is the breakdown for every dollar spent on the card. 

• 1 point on rent payments on up to 100,000 points per calendar year, after making 5 transactions per billing period
• 3 points on dining
• 2 points on travel
• 1 point on all other purchases

*Rewards are earned only if you make 5 transactions per billing period. See more details here.
*Earn double points on rent day! 6 points on dining, 4 points on travel, and 2 on other purchases up to 10,000 points

Is there a max of points I can earn on rent?

Yes, you can earn up to 100,000 Bilt Rewards points yearly by making rent payments. However, there is no limit on the number of points that can be earned from other purchases. 

How can the Bilt points be redeemed?

You can redeem points toward rent, airlines, hotels, art & decor, at Amazon.com, and even toward your down payment.

Bilt points can also be transferred to various airline and hotel partners.

Transfer to airlines

Hotel partners

What are the requirements in order to get approved for the Bilt card?

Bilt is just like any other credit card. It’s issued by Wells Fargo, and they will check your credit score before they approve your application. 

Will the high rent payments on my credit card affect my credit score?

Bilt has thought of this concern as well and they therefore added to the card an option called Bilt Protect.

You can enroll in Bilt Protect which will automatically draft rent payment from your bank account, rather than from your credit line. This will help your credit score from being hit by high credit utilization.

Does the Bilt card have an annual fee?

No.

How about foreign transaction fees?

No.

Can I use Bilt to pay a mortgage?

Officially, Bilt is only for rent payments, not mortgage payments.