Rent is often the biggest monthly expense for many Canadians, and traditionally, paying rent meant using a cheque or an electronic transfer — methods that don’t offer any rewards or benefits. What if I told you there’s a way to pay your rent with a credit card and earn up to 4% cash back every month? Thanks to Chexy, this is now possible, and it’s a total game changer for renters across Canada.

I’m Adrian, the Canadian in a T-Shirt, and I’m excited to share with you how you can turn your rent payments into a source of cash back, boost your credit score, and gain extra financial flexibility. In this article, I’ll break down how Chexy works, which credit cards maximize your rewards, and exactly how much you can save.

What is Chexy and How Does It Work?

Chexy is a pioneering service that allows tenants to pay their rent using a credit card while ensuring landlords receive the rent via electronic transfer without any changes or extra hassle on their end. This means you don’t need landlord approval or complicated paperwork — Chexy handles everything seamlessly.

Here’s how it works:

1. About 4 days before your rent due date, Chexy charges your credit card the full rent amount plus a 1.75% transaction fee.
2. Your credit card processes the payment, and you earn cash back rewards based on the total amount charged (rent + fee).
3. Chexy then sends the rent payment electronically to your landlord on time, just like a regular bank transfer.

This process means you get the convenience of credit card payments and the benefits that come with them — something that wasn’t previously available for rent payments in Canada.

Top Benefits of Paying Rent with Chexy

1. Earn Cash Back on Your Biggest Monthly Expense

Rent is usually the largest bill you pay each month, so earning cash back on it can add up to significant savings. With Chexy, your rent payment is treated like a recurring bill on your credit card, allowing you to earn up to 4% cash back.

2. Build and Improve Your Credit Score

Every time you pay your rent via credit card, it counts as a purchase on your credit history, helping to build your credit score — as long as you pay off your credit card balance in full each month. This is a huge advantage over paying by cash or cheque, which doesn’t impact your credit.

3. Flexible Payment Timing

Often, rent is due before you get paid, which can cause stress and cash flow issues. Chexy charges your credit card a few days before rent is due, but your credit card payment due date will be the following month. This gives you an extra 3 to 4 weeks of flexibility to manage your cash flow.

Which Credit Cards Work Best with Chexy?

Since Chexy charges a 1.75% fee on your rent payment, you want to use credit cards that offer cash back rates higher than that to actually profit from this method. Here are some of the best options I recommend:

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite: This is my top pick for paying rent with Chexy. It offers a massive 4% cash back on groceries and recurring bills, including rent. After subtracting Chexy’s 1.75% fee, you effectively earn a net 2.25% cash back, translating to around $1,000 in annual savings on a typical rent. The card has a $120 annual fee, but with this level of cash back, it pays for itself within a few months. Plus, if you sign up through my referral link, you get a 10% bonus cash back for the first three months and the first year’s fee waived.

Tangerine Mastercard: A no-annual-fee card that offers 2% cash back on recurring bills. This results in a slight net gain after fees (about 0.25%), which is still free money on rent payments.

American Express SimplyCash Preferred: Offers 2% cash back but comes with a $10 monthly fee. It’s a solid option if you already have this card and want to maximize rewards.

How Much Can You Save?

Let me break down my own experience as an example. I pay $2,175 in rent every month in downtown Toronto. Chexy charges a 1.75% fee, which is about $38. So the total charge to my credit card is $2,213.

Using my Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card, I earn 4% cash back on the full amount, which comes out to roughly $88.52 in rewards. After subtracting the $38 transaction fee, my net cash back is $50.52 per month — that’s like getting a 2.32% discount on my rent.

Over the course of a year, this adds up to about $600 in net rewards. Considering the card’s annual fee of $120 (which is waived for the first year if you sign up through my link), this is an incredible deal.

How to Get Started with Chexy

Setting up Chexy is simple and takes just about five minutes. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

1. Sign up on Chexy’s website using your contact information and rental details (monthly rent amount, due date, landlord’s info).
2. Provide your landlord’s payment details exactly as they are used in your current electronic transfer to avoid any disruptions.
3. Link your preferred credit card to Chexy (I recommend the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite for maximum rewards).
4. Verify your identity by linking one of your bank accounts — this is just for verification, no fees are charged here.
5. Upload your signed lease agreement.
6. Choose your first rent payment date.

Once set up, Chexy will automatically charge your credit card a few days before rent is due and send the payment to your landlord on time. You don’t need landlord approval or extra paperwork — it’s completely seamless.

Chexy is revolutionizing the way Canadians pay rent by allowing credit card payments with up to 4% cash back. This service not only turns your biggest monthly expense into an opportunity to earn money but also helps build your credit score and provides payment flexibility. With the right credit card, like the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite, you can save hundreds — even thousands — of dollars annually.

If you’re tired of rent payments feeling like a money sink with no rewards, Chexy is the solution you’ve been waiting for. Signing up takes just minutes, and the benefits start immediately.

Ready to start earning cash back on your rent? Use my referral links below to get started with Chexy and the best credit cards to maximize your rewards. Your wallet will thank you!