Bilt Rewards: 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Bilt Rewards is a pioneering loyalty program and payments network that enables renters across the United States to earn valuable rewards points on their monthly rent payments—making one of the largest recurring expenses beneficial rather than just a cost. Founded in 2019 by serial entrepreneur Ankur Jain and officially launched in 2021, Bilt Rewards has quickly grown to encompass a network of over 4.5 million homes through Bilt's Alliance program. This innovative platform not only rewards renters but also offers credit-building features and versatile redemption options ranging from travel and fitness classes to future home down payments. Dive into the following points to learn how Bilt Rewards is transforming renting into a rewarding experience.

1. The Origin and Growth of Bilt Rewards

Founded in 2019 by Ankur Jain and headquartered in New York City, Bilt Rewards was created to bridge the gap between renters’ largest monthly expense and the rewards economy. Officially launched in 2021, the company swiftly caught attention for allowing renters to earn rewards points on rent without transaction fees—a rarity in the credit card and loyalty rewards landscape. By mid-2024, Bilt Rewards had raised significant funding rounds, culminating in a valuation of $3.25 billion, highlighting the strong investor confidence in its mission to transform rent payments into value-generating transactions.

2. How Rent Payments Earn You Bilt Points

Bilt Rewards enables members to earn Bilt Points on every on-time rent payment. If you live in one of Bilt's 4.5 million+ Alliance homes, paying rent via the Bilt app or resident portal earns a minimum of 250 points per rent payment. For homes outside the Alliance, renters can still earn points by using the Bilt Mastercard® or by paying rent through Bilt's BillPay service, which supports virtually any rental property, including those that don't accept credit cards. Points are earned at a rate of 1 point per dollar spent on rent (up to 100,000 points a year) with no transaction fee, provided that the cardholder makes at least five purchases on the card per statement period.

3. The Bilt Mastercard® World Elite Credit Card

The Bilt Mastercard is at the heart of the program for earning points faster and more broadly. Cardholders earn:

1 point per dollar spent on rent with no transaction fees
3 points per dollar on dining purchases
2 points per dollar on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
1 point per dollar on all other purchases

However, to activate earning points for the rent payment each billing cycle, users must make at least five transactions on the card during that period. The card also boasts no annual fees and includes premium Mastercard World Elite benefits such as trip delay and cancellation protection, rental car insurance, purchase security, and access to exclusive offers.

4. Building Credit History through Rent Reporting

A unique and significant aspect of Bilt Rewards is the opportunity for members to boost their credit scores by enabling Bilt's rent reporting. By opting in, renters living in Bilt Rewards Alliance properties can have their timely rent payments automatically reported to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) free of charge. Since many landlords only report negative payment behaviors, having a positive, consistent rent payment history on credit reports can improve a renter's credit score substantially over 12 months.

5. Diverse and Valuable Redemption Options

Bilt Points offer industry-leading flexibility. Members can redeem points for:

Booking travel via the Bilt Travel Portal for over 500 airlines and 700,000 hotel properties
Transferring points 1:1 to 16 major airline programs (e.g., United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, British Airways) and 6 hotel loyalty programs including Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt
Paying rent or applying points toward a future home down payment at a generous valuation of up to 1.5 cents per point
Covering everyday expenses such as Lyft rides, fitness classes at top studios like SoulCycle, and purchases on Amazon (with the Bilt card)
Redeeming for exclusive merchandise and art from the Bilt Collection

This versatility makes Bilt Points highly valuable relative to many other rewards currencies.

6. Neighborhood Benefits™ Program

Beyond points on rent, Bilt unlocks benefits in neighborhoods through partnerships with over 50,000 local merchants, including restaurants, fitness studios, pharmacies, and rideshare services like Lyft. For example, members earn up to 3X points dining at Neighborhood Dining restaurants or take advantage of complimentary add-ons at partner fitness studios. This program fosters a community feel, encouraging members to engage locally while stacking points on everyday spending.

7. Elite Status Tiers and Enhanced Perks

Bilt Rewards features a tiered elite system to reward high earners:

Blue: Base tier for all members
Silver: Reached after earning 50,000 points
Gold: Reached after earning 125,000 points
Platinum: Reached after earning 200,000 points

Higher tiers unlock valuable perks such as earning interest on points balances, homeownership concierge services, bonus points on new or renewed leases, and exclusive access to BLADE private flights and lounges. Status earned before July lasts through the following full year, promoting early engagement.

8. Integration with Travel and Homeownership

Bilt stands out by enabling renters to link rewards with travel and home buying. Points can be transferred seamlessly to leading airline and hotel programs, maximizing travel value. Additionally, Bilt partners with eXp Realty to allow members to earn points on home purchases and use points toward down payments, thereby supporting renters’ pathway to homeownership—a key element in its broader vision.

9. Payment Flexibility and Convenience

Bilt facilitates rent payments even where landlords do not accept credit cards by mailing physical checks or electronically sending ACH payments on the renter's behalf. This feature enables broad accessibility, allowing members nationwide to earn points no matter their housing situation. The Bilt app offers convenience for tracking payments, points, and benefits, though users rely on separate Wells Fargo platforms for detailed credit card account management.

10. Recent Developments and Strategic Growth

As of July 2025, Bilt continues to expand its offerings and industry footprint. Recent milestones include acquiring Banyan—a technology company specializing in item-level receipt data—to enhance consumer insights and reward personalization. Bilt also partnered with American Campus Communities in 2025, allowing college students to earn rewards on campus housing payments. These expansions underscore Bilt's commitment to revolutionizing rental payments and driving deeper engagement through technology and strategic partnerships.

Conclusion

Bilt Rewards has established itself as a game-changing loyalty program that converts rent—a historically non-rewarded monthly expense—into a valuable asset for millions of renters. By offering points on rent payments with no transaction fees, providing flexible redemption pathways that include travel and homeownership, and enabling credit score improvements through rent reporting, Bilt is reshaping the rental market and empowering renters. As it grows and innovates with technology and neighborhood partnerships, Bilt's vision of rewarding everyday living continues to attract renters eager to turn necessity into opportunity. Could this be the future of how we think about paying rent?