Monthly rent option gains traction

'Tenants seek to skip large upfront cheques; landlords increasingly accept digital and monthly payments'

- Sahim Salim & Nasreen Abdulla

As housing costs shoot up, tenants and landlords look for ways to ease transactions.

Monthly rent payments are becoming a real option for residents, with industry leaders saying the shift from the longstanding cheque-based rental system could change how millions of people manage their housing costs.

Executives across the proptech sector say they are seeing strong demand from tenants who want to avoid large upfront cheques, while landlords are becoming more willing to accept digital, predictable monthly payments. The momentum has set off new products and partnerships aimed at modernising the rental process.

The latest sign of change came last week, when Property Finder announced a partnership and investment in Keyper — a platform that allows tenants to pay rent in 12 monthly instalments. The system will be built directly into Property Finder’s app and website, with a full launch expected in the first half of 2026. Residents will be able to make monthly payments via card or direct debit.

Launched in 2023, Keyper lets tenants pay their annual rent in monthly instalments, charging a premium for the rent-now-pay-later service.