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Renter Guides

How to pay rent online

Paying rent online can mean no late fees, ever.

From credit cards to medical bills, the option to pay online can make payments easier and faster, and decrease the chance of missing your due date. Why not pay rent online too?

Yes, it is an option.

Here’s how to pay rent online:

  • Ask your landlord if they allow you to pay rent online.

    Some landlords are already be set up to receive payments online, so ask as soon as you rent an apartment. They may use any number of available online payment services. If they already have a method of allowing you to pay rent online, take a little time to research the vendor. Make sure the company has good reviews and is a secure, trusted name before giving them your payment information.

  • Invite your landlord to accept rent payments online.

    If your landlord still accepts only checks, cash, or money orders, you can invite them to receive online payments. Visit Trulia’s online rent payments hub to send them an invite, or text or email your landlord the following message:

    Hi! I’d like to securely pay my rent online through Zillow. It’s free to you, and you’ll collect rent right in your bank account — so no more checks. Please do a quick, easy setup to invite me. Here are the details: https://www.zillow.com/marketing/rental-manager/collect-rent-online?utm_campaign=renter_payments_lp_trulia

  • Set up your payment method.

    Your payment method options will vary depending on the company your landlord uses to allow you to pay rent online. Using Trulia, you’ll have the option of paying with your debit card, bank account, or credit card.

    Which you choose is up to you and your budget. If you get rewards on your credit card or tend to have fluctuations in your income, a credit card could be a great option. If you’re working to reduce your credit card debt, you can connect directly to your debit card or bank account. You can also change your payment method each month if that’s the best fit for you.

  • Opt-in to auto-payments to avoid late rent forever.

    Imagine never again realizing it’s the third day of the month and rent just slipped your mind. Avoid late fees forever with auto-payments. Every month on the same day, your rent can be automatically withdrawn from your account, allowing you to pay rent online without even having to think about it. If you need to stop or cancel a scheduled payment, you can do it at any time.

    Being able to pay rent online is a big financial help for renters. Splitting rent with roommates is another. Here’s our guide on how to split rent.