Putting renters first: The platform that’s reshaping how Australians pay rent

In a market long dominated by rigid structures and outdated systems, RentPay is shifting the power dynamic by putting renters back in control of how, when, and where they pay. Launched with the mission to modernise the rental experience, RentPay is more than just a payments platform. It’s a purpose-built tool designed to give tenants flexibility, visibility, and peace of mind when it comes to one of life’s biggest ongoing expenses.

For Shane Lavagna-Slater, General Manager, Financial Products of Rent.com.au, the vision was always clear: build a rental payment platform that serves renters first, without compromising the needs of real estate agencies. “Technology is changing the way we can do things, so developing RentPay was an opportunity to disrupt outdated systems of paying rent,” Shane explains. “We wanted to empower renters to take a more active role in managing their money and cash flow, with more choice in the range of payment options and greater flexibility with timing payments.”

In doing so, RentPay has become a growing force in Australia’s proptech landscape. It is reshaping the rental journey with intuitive tech and an unwavering focus on the people for which it was built.

The journey from concept to reality

When the team behind RentPay first looked closely at the rental experience, one thing was apparent. Almost every part of the process was designed around the landlord or property manager. For tenants, paying rent often meant rigid deadlines, limited flexibility, and very little control.

That observation set the wheels in motion. Drawing on their experience at Rent.com.au, the number one site dedicated to Aussie renters, the team began to map out a different kind of platform. One that treated renters as valued financial participants, not just account holders. They didn’t want to build just another way to transfer money. They wanted to build a better way to rent that would help tenants.

That meant rethinking what rent could do. Not just something paid and forgotten, but something useful and could help renters get ahead while on their renting journey. RentPay was founded in 2021, offering renters a platform that lets them  choose how and when to pay, with handy automated notifications and reminders to keep payments on track. From there, it kept evolving, adding a feature to help build good credit score tools, cashback rewards, buffers for unpredictable income, and the ability to pay tenancy-related bills through the same platform.

At the same time, they knew the platform wouldn’t work unless it made life easier for property managers too. So, RentPay also focused on making the platform efficient and effective for real estate agencies. Instead of juggling entire rent rolls of payments and chasing up outstanding rent, they receive one clean deposit of fully cleared funds each day with everything reconciled and ready to receipt.

It didn’t happen overnight. But it worked. Arrears dropped. Admin shrank. Renters felt more in control. And the idea of rent being a one-way transaction started to shift.

Built by humans, for humans

RentPay wasn’t built in a boardroom. It came together through conversations. With renters juggling casual work, with agents buried in reconciliation, and with people who just wanted a better way to manage rent without the stress.

Shane has played a key role in driving RentPay’s growth and success. He’s worked across finance and tech, but what stands out is how much he cares about building something that actually helps. “You’re dealing with someone’s home. You can’t afford to get that wrong,” he says.

“RentPay continues to build upon our track record of providing an offering that delivers tangible benefits for our dual marketplace of tenants and agencies as valuable participants. We continually challenge ourselves to re-think how we can make life better for renters and agents, translating into new features and enhancements.”

And while there’s plenty of clever tech under the hood, it’s all there to do one thing: take the pressure off. Whether that’s by sending a renter a quiet nudge before rent is due or providing instant payment options to catch up on late rent, RentPay is built to be helpful in ways that genuinely matter.

What’s next for RentPay?

RentPay has already come a long way, but the team is just getting started.

One of the biggest priorities ahead is expansion. More renters. More agencies. More ways to pay. More features and benefits. As new payment technologies emerge, RentPay is ready to integrate them, including options like PayTo, so renters stay in control without adding complexity for property managers.

There is also a growing focus on rewards. The team is looking at new ways to turn everyday spending into meaningful rental savings, building on the cashback features already in place. The idea is simple: make rent money work harder.

And as cost-of-living pressures continue, RentPay wants to do more to support financial wellbeing. That could mean more tools that help renters plan ahead, like a mortgage deposit builder to help renters get into their very own home. Whatever shape it takes, the goal remains the same: give renters a more rewarding renting experience and give agencies less to worry about.

Behind the scenes, Novatti helps facilitate the payment infrastructure that keeps RentPay running smoothly. With the technical side taken care of, the RentPay team can stay focused on delivering thoughtful, renter-first features. It’s a partnership shaped by a shared commitment to reliability, simplicity, and real-world impact.

Shane said, “The strength and continued success of RentPay is built upon relationships and partnerships we can trust. Novatti is a valued partner and we look forward to what the future may hold.”

Novatti helps power the infrastructure that keeps RentPay running smoothly, so renters and property managers can rely on fast, secure, and flexible payment experiences. By handling the technical side, Novatti frees RentPay to focus on what matters most: giving people more control and confidence in how they manage rent. It’s one of many ways the company supports forward-thinking platforms that are reshaping the way Australians pay.

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