Affirm Holdings Inc. is testing a new way for consumers to pay rent: allowing borrowers to put their monthly rent payments on a buy now, pay later (BNPL) plan.
Some consumers and financial experts have not received the move well, but Affirm co-founder and CEO Max Levchin sought to clarify the strategy during the company’s earnings call on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Levchin said the company is not looking to let renters stretch large payments over long periods — such as paying 12 months of rent over 18 months.
“That doesn’t help our consumers. It’s not the right product to build. That’s not what this is,” Levchin said, per the San Francisco Business Times.
Levchin described Affirm’s pilot as a “time shift,” aimed at renters who may have rent due before their paycheck arrives, the outlet notes. For example, a renter whose payment is due on the 15th of the month but doesn’t get paid until the 16th could use the product to bridge that short gap.
How Does BNPL Rent Work?
Affirm is partnering with fintech company Esusu on the venture, which is launching as a pilot with no rollout date announced.
The pilot will give eligible renters “a flexible option for managing one of their largest monthly expenses,” an Affirm spokesperson told CNBC Make It.
Esusu offers memberships starting at $10 a month that help users build credit, including by reporting rent payments to credit bureaus, notes the outlet. Through Esusu, eligible renters can use Affirm to split rent into two equal, biweekly payments with 0% interest and no late fees, reports the outlet.
Plus and Premium Esusu members, whose plans cost $35 and $50 per month, respectively, can already split rent payments after making an initial down payment, reports CNBC Make It. The Affirm partnership provides an additional two-payment option for customers.
According to the San Francisco Business Times, some observers view the growing use of BNPL plans for everyday purchases — from groceries to impulse buys — as a sign that consumers are under financial strain amid mounting layoffs.
Levchin, however, used Thursday’s earnings call to reassure investors about the financial health of Affirm’s customers.
“The consumer we see today is quite healthy,” Levchin said, per the outlet. “They’re able and willing to pay us back.”
An Affirm spokesperson told CNBC that the company will underwrite applications individually and approve borrowers only for amounts they can afford responsibly.
How BNPL Helps Landlords And Renters
Esusu framed the BNPL feature as a benefit for both renters and landlords.
“Flexible rent built for real life,” the company states on its website. “Affirm via Esusu Pay helps your residents pay rent on time while giving them the flexibility they need. You get consistency. They get options. Everyone wins.”
According to the San Francisco Business Times, Affirm has delivered almost $130 billion in credit to approximately 60 million people since the company’s founding in 2012.
