Best Credit Cards for Rent Payments in India (FY 2026-27) — After RBI’s 2024 Surcharge Rules
Last verified June 2026. Best credit cards for paying rent in India 2026 after the RBI 2024 rent-surcharge crackdown. Compare RedGirraffe, NoBroker, CRED fees against card-side cashback math.
The 2 best credit cards for rent payments in 2026
1 AU Zenith+
One of very few cards that still earns on rent: up to ₹1,000 a cycle, which covers about ₹1 lakh of rent a month. AU charges a rent fee of 1% or ₹99 (whichever is higher) plus GST, so the net gain is small. Full review: AU Zenith+ review.
2 Amazon Pay ICICI
ICICI stopped rewards on rent for its other cards in February 2024 but exempts Amazon Pay ICICI. Confirm the current rate and any rent fee with ICICI before paying a large rent amount. Full review: Amazon Pay ICICI review.
Head-to-head comparison
| Card | Fee | Headline Rate |
|---|---|---|
| AU Zenith+ | ₹4,999 + GST (waived on ₹8 lakh) | 1 pt per ₹100 on rent (1 pt = ₹1), capped with utilities, insurance and similar categories at 1,000 pts a cycle |
| Amazon Pay ICICI | ₹0 (lifetime free) | ICICI's rent-reward exclusion does not apply to this card |
Sources & references
All fees and reward rates verified against issuer official T&C pages as of June 2026. Reward programmes change frequently — confirm with the issuer before applying.
How each bank treats rent payments (checked October 2026)
| Issuer | Rewards on rent | Rent fee |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank | No rewards on rent since 1 Jan 2023 | 1%, capped at ₹4,999 per transaction (from 1 Jul 2025) |
| ICICI Bank | No rewards since 5 Feb 2024 (except Amazon Pay ICICI) | Fee applies (check current schedule) |
| SBI Card | No rewards on listed cards since 2023–24 | ₹199 + GST per transaction |
| Axis Bank | No rewards since 15 Nov 2022 | 1%, capped at ₹1,500 per transaction |
| Kotak | No rewards, and rent is excluded from milestones and fee waivers | Fee applies (check current schedule) |
| IDFC FIRST | Varies by card | 1% + GST, minimum ₹249 |
| IndusInd | Check card terms | 1% + GST via third-party apps |
| AU Small Finance Bank | Earns on some cards with caps (e.g. AU Zenith+) | 1% or ₹99, whichever is higher, + GST |
| YES Bank | Check card terms | 1% or ₹199, whichever is higher, above ₹1,000; max 5 rent payments in 30 days |
| Standard Chartered | Varies by card | 1% + tax |
Paying rent by card almost always costs 1% or more in fees and earns little or nothing, so it only makes sense when the spend unlocks a fee waiver or milestone worth more than the fee (and many banks now exclude rent from those too). Several rent-payment apps paused card rent payments after the RBI’s September 2025 payment aggregator directions, so check that your platform still accepts cards. Sources: each issuer’s MITC, fee schedule or rent notice.
Paying rent by card in October 2026: the reality
Since 2024 most large issuers have made card rent payments expensive. As reported in 2026, ICICI, Axis, IDFC FIRST and others charge about 1% of the rent plus 18% GST, SBI Card charges a flat fee per rent transaction, and most cards give no rewards on rent. Rent often doesn’t count towards fee-waiver milestones either. On top of that, rent platforms charge their own convenience fee, and RBI’s payment-aggregator rules have led several apps to restrict card-based rent payments. Treat the card-specific notes above as a starting point and confirm the current terms with your bank before paying.
Worked example
Paying ₹30,000 rent by card: bank fee ₹300 + GST ₹54 + platform fee of about 1% (₹300) = roughly ₹650 a month, or ₹7,800 a year. If the card earns nothing on rent, you are paying ₹7,800 for 30–50 days of float. Even at 1% reward value, you lose money.
When it can still make sense
- A genuine short-term cash crunch, where 30–50 days of float is cheaper than a personal loan.
- Hitting a large milestone benefit that is worth more than the fees — only if rent counts towards it.
Otherwise pay rent by UPI or bank transfer. If you pay more than ₹50,000 a month, remember that tenants must deduct 2% TDS — see TDS on rent. Salaried tenants without HRA can claim rent under Section 80GG in the old regime.
Reviewed October 2026. Card features change often — confirm current terms on the issuer’s site before applying.
FAQs
Do credit cards still give rewards on rent?
Very few do in 2026; most major issuers exclude rent from rewards and charge about 1% plus GST.
