Till, a Washington, D.C.-based startup that allows customers to set customized rent payment schedules, has raised $8M in seed funding to enhance the platform and grow adoption. Till pays the landlord, and the customer pays their rent to Till. The company also offers rental loans.

Why should we care?
Till is aimed at consumers who face income volatility and seek to avoid being evicted due to financial circumstances. So far, the company has signed on 170 properties, covering 30,000 units in 14 states. Till charges a $3 monthly fee if renters pay on time, and $9 if they don’t. The company is part of a group of financial providers that experienced growth during the pandemic, including earned wage access platforms that allow customers to access portions of their paychecks prior to payday. In the flexible rental payment startup ecosystem, Till competes with companies like Flex and Xspaced, along with FIs that offer personal loans. Till pitches a win-win solution for renters and landlords, but like many on-demand payment solutions, it’s still on the consumer to exercise prudence and minimize their fee burden.