Rentals by owner — for landlords and renters

For landlords: rent out your property by owner

Self-managing a rental can save the management fee and keeps you in control of who lives in your property. Do it right and you’ll have fewer vacancies and fewer surprises:

1. Run the numbers with the rental property calculator — include vacancy, maintenance and capital reserves.
2. Price it from comps. Our rent pricing guide shows how a $50 overprice can cost you a month of rent.
3. Write fair, consistent screening criteria and apply them to everyone — see the tenant screening guide and fair housing rules.
4. Use a solid lease with your state’s required disclosures — start with lease agreement essentials.
5. List your rental free and let inquiries come to you privately.

For renters: rent directly from the owner

Renting from an owner can mean faster decisions, no broker fee and a landlord who knows the property well. Protect yourself:

• Tour in person (or by live video with someone you trust) before paying anything.
• Verify ownership through the county property records and make sure the person showing the unit is the owner or authorized manager.
• Never pay with wire transfers, gift cards or crypto. Rental scams often copy real listings and ask for a deposit to “hold” the unit. Our scam guide shows the patterns.
• Get the lease in writing before handing over any money.

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