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What to Do When You Need Money to Pay Rent Tomorrow

Consider these options when you need money for rent and are short on cash.

Good for no-fee, 0% interest cash advances

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  • Borrow up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays
  • No credit check
  • No monthly fees or interest
  • Connect bank account to access cash advance

Good for quick turnaround

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  • Get up to $500 per pay period
  • No interest or required fees
  • Access your pay within 24 hours

Get up to $750 before your payday

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If you’re in a tight spot and need rent money quickly, there are a few options: cash advances, short-term loans and even personal loans. But there are other non-lending options that could help you out as well.

5 non-lending options to help with rent in an emergency

Consider alternatives first, such as negotiating with your landlord or applying for housing assistance. Here are five possible rent solutions:

  1. Negotiate with your landlord. Your landlord may be willing to put you on an alternate payment plan or a modified lease during a financial crisis. If they agree to adjust your contract, get it in writing to avoid any issues down the road.
  2. Local charities. Charities and faith-based organizations in your area may offer housing assistance. This assistance might include help with rent or temporary housing if you’re facing eviction.
  3. Pick up a side hustle. Earning some extra cash can help you make rent money fast now and avoid falling short in the future. Consider side hustles like taking surveys, participating in online focus groups, pet sitting or using your car through apps like Uber or Instacart.
  4. Family and friends. You might have someone in your corner willing to help you cover rent. While not a long-term solution, it can help you through a financial rough patch without accruing late fees from multiple missed rent payments.
  5. Apply for assistance. Many cities, counties and states offer programs that can help with emergency rent money or other financial assistance.

Where to find assistance programs near you

Searching online for rental assistance is a good place to start. You can also follow these links to explore federal, state and local programs to see if you’re eligible for assistance.

  • Emergency Housing Assistance. Whether you need emergency money for rent or temporary housing assistance, there are multiple programs that can help.
  • Contact 211. The United Way’s 211 program can connect you to local resources for housing, food, healthcare and more. You can go online or dial 211 from any phone.
  • Food assistance. To free up money for rent, you may qualify for your state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other food assistance services.
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Also known as cash assistance or welfare, TANF provides low-income families with financial help that can be used to pay rent or other expenses.
  • Utility assistance. Several federal and local programs provide assistance if you need help paying your heat or other utility bills.

7 borrowing options for emergency money for rent

If non-borrowing methods aren’t in the cards, then getting an emergency loan may be the next thing to explore. Here are seven options to consider if you need to borrow money for rent tomorrow. But tread carefully — some can be costly.

1. Online lenders

Some online lenders offer same-day or next-day personal loans, including SoFi and Upgrade, with SoFi advertising a turnaround time as soon as the same day. Other online lenders may offer short-term loans, such as OppLoans or ACE Cash Express.

You may be able to get the most money from personal loans compared to other options — and decent rates — but you’ll likely need good to fair credit to qualify. If your credit is poor, you may have more luck with short-term lenders, but you’ll want a plan to repay the loan quickly because rates can reach triple digits.

2. Cash advance apps

A solid option to avoid expensive payday loans, cash advance apps can be helpful in tight financial times. You won’t have to submit to a credit check or interest, but some apps charge a monthly subscription fee. A few apps that offer quick funding include Brigit, Dave and EarnIn. However, advance amounts are typically low for new users, so it may not be enough if you need a full rent payment.

3. Payday lenders

These loans are often considered a last resort and only suited for emergencies. Most payday loans are under $1,000 and are typically repaid by your next payday or within 30 days. Watch out for high rates, additional fees and state regulations since payday loans vary by state.

4. Payday alternative loans (PALs)

Some federal credit unions offer PALs to members, with much better rates than payday loans and longer loan terms. Some PALs require that you’re a member for at least 30 days — which won’t help if you need rent money now — but PALs II loans may provide a faster funding option.

5. Employer paycheck advances

If you explain your situation to your boss, you may be able to get an advance on your paycheck to cover your rent bill. Some companies may be willing to do this as an occasional favor to employees — and they may not even charge interest. Other firms may offer small loans as an employee benefit through cash advance apps or allotment loans from lenders like BMG Money and others.

6. Credit cards

Some landlords may allow you to pay rent with a credit card — for a small fee. Although not ideal, rates on credit cards are typically less expensive than a payday loan. If you have a credit card with an available balance, you may be able to use it to pay at least a portion of your rent. Also, some credit cards offer 0% introductory rates, so if you pay off what you charged quickly enough, you may not owe any interest.

7. Pawn shop loans

If you have valuables like jewelry, electronics, musical instruments or other items of value, you can use them as collateral for a pawn shop loan and borrow around 25% to 60% of the item’s worth. Pawn shop loans are usually small, typically under $200, but it depends on the value of your item. There is also interest and fees to consider. And if you don’t repay the loan on time, the pawn shop could list your item for sale.

What to look for in a short-term loan

Short-term loans can give you quick access to the money you need in an emergency situation, but compare your options before you apply. Some features to keep an eye out for include:

  • Quick turnaround time. If you need to borrow money for rent, the quicker you receive your approved funds, the better. Some lenders can offer same-day funding, even on weekends, while others might require that you wait two to three business days.
  • Decent loan amounts. State regulations govern the maximum amount you can borrow through a payday loan, but this doesn’t mean that all payday lenders will offer you loans of that amount. Some payday lenders require you to work up a tiered system before you qualify for the maximum amount.
  • Fees. State regulations also govern how much a lender can charge as an annual percentage rate (APR), and this translates into how much you end up paying in fees. Interest rates vary between lenders operating in the same state, as can fees and other charges — shop around to find the best deal.
  • Transparent lenders. A legitimate lender is up front about interest, fees, loan terms and requirements. If it feels like you’re pulling teeth to get details, consider it a red flag.

What do I need to apply for a quick loan?

While the information you need to provide varies by lender, most ask for the following information:

  • Proof of income
  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Social Security number
  • Bank account information
  • Be old enough to borrow, 18 in most states

Some lenders or cash advance apps require you to link your bank account, submit pay stubs for proof of income and may require that you get paid by direct deposit to qualify.

Compare short-term loans and alternatives

Explore your options by loan amount, turnaround time and requirements. Select the Learn more to go to a lender’s site, or select the More info button to read a review.

Product USFSL Finder Score Loan amount Turnaround time Requirements
Finder score
Up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays
1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer
Direct deposit sent to a checking account, a regular pay schedule, a fixed work location or an online timekeeping system at work
Access up to $150 per day, with a max of $750 between paydays. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions.
Finder score
$500 to $4,000
As soon as the same business day
+18 years old, Receive paychecks through direct deposit, $1,500 minimum monthly income, Live in eligible state
Not available in: CO, CT, GA, IA, MD, MA, NY, SD, VT, WA, WV. Comes with the option to change your due date so you won’t fall behind on repayments.
Finder score
Up to $250
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Not stated
Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.
Chime logo
Finder score
Up to $500
Within 24 hours or instant for a fee
Chime checking account, direct deposits of $200+ and only available in some states
Access up to $500 of your pay before payday fee-free within 24 hours. See Chime terms and conditions.
Current
Current logo
Finder score
$50 to $750
Get instant access to your paycheck in advance for a fee, or get it fee-free within 3 business days
Among other factors, you must receive a monthly total of $500 or more in Eligible Payroll Deposits into your Current Account.
Get up to $750 before payday, once you qualify. Paycheck Advance is an earned wage access service and is not a loan or credit product. Subject to Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions.
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What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 3+ types of short-term loans across 65+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best short-term loans for all credit types, you can see how each short-term loan stacks up against other short-term loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

What to consider before applying for a fast loan

Make sure you won’t have problems repaying the loan before you apply. And if you think you may face trouble, reconsider taking the loan in the first place. Late repayments can result in additional fees and hurt your credit rating.

Review the loan’s terms and conditions carefully to get a clear indication of what you have to pay in interest and fees.

How to avoid needing a short-term loan for rent in the future

One of the best things you can do to avoid taking on new debt to pay your rent is to communicate with your landlord as soon as you think you might have an issue. Especially if you’re normally reliable with rent, the landlord may be willing to work with you if you’re short this month.

Here are a few other measures you can take to avoid needing a short-term loan for rent:

  • Enroll in government assistance programs. There are several state and federal assistance programs — including subsidized housing, housing vouchers and public housing — you can turn to if the cost of living is too high for your current financial situation.
  • Sign up for credit counseling. If you constantly need to borrow to make ends meet, a credit counselor can help you create a budget and debt repayment plan. Look for a nonprofit credit counseling agency that offers free or low-cost services.
  • Consider debt consolidation. Taking out a loan for debt consolidation can help you combine some of your high-interest debts into one monthly payment. This should help to reduce the amount you pay overall — easing the strain on your budget and making rent more affordable.
  • Download a savings app. Apps like Chime and Albert can help you automatically save by rounding up your transactions to the nearest dollar and putting the funds aside in a savings account.

Bottom line

If you’re facing an emergency and don’t have enough money for rent, you might want to first look into housing assistance or other programs offered by government agencies and local charities. Still short on funds? Look into these payday loan alternatives before turning to short-term loan options.

Frequently asked questions

What is the longest you can be late on rent?

How late you can be on a rent payment depends on your lease agreement. For example, some rental agreements may allow for a grace period of a few days to a week or so before your rent is considered late. Some states also have mandatory grace periods that range from about three to 30 days. It’s best to check with your landlord.

Can I use a loan to help if I’m evicted?

You can use a loan to help cover rent if you’re facing eviction — but you might want to contact a lawyer to discuss your options first. They can help you determine whether your landlord violated any of your tenant rights during the eviction process. And they might be able to help you find an alternative way to cover your rent so you don’t need to borrow.

A lawyer doesn’t always have to cost you anything, either. Reach out to local legal aid organizations and ask if they have free representation services.

Can I use student loans to pay for rent?

Yes. Federal and private student loans can be used to pay for room and board, which includes rent payments for on- and off-campus housing.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Megan B. Shepherd as part of our fact-checking process.
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Contributor

Christi Gorbett is a freelance writer with more than eight years of experience and a master's degree in English. She’s created a wide range of content for banks, financial product comparison sites, and marketing companies on topics like small business loans, credit cards, mortgages, retirement planning, lender reviews, and more. As a former teacher, Christi excels at making complex financial topics accessible and easy to understand. Her interest in finance grew when she returned to the U.S. after living in South Korea for nearly a decade. This shift was driven by several personal financial challenges: rebuilding her financial base after the move home, starting her own business, and catching up on retirement savings. These experiences deepened Christi’s practical understanding of finance and intensified her interest in the field. See full bio

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