Rental property vacancies are a cash-flow killer for landlords and real estate investors, which is why it vital to prioritize occupancy with qualified tenants at your properties. But if you are finding it challenging to find your next great renter, consider these tips in order to attract more renters and increase your rental applicant pool.
Are you struggling to fill a vacancy in your rental property, even when the rental market seems hot? In this video, landlord Kaycee Miller from Rentec Direct, breaks down some of the most common reasons your property might not be getting rented.
From pricing mistakes to poor curb appeal, limited online visibility, strict pet policies, and even reputation issues, Kaycee shares firsthand insights that can help you get your property occupied faster and smarter.
Whether you’re a seasoned landlord or just getting started with rental properties, this advice is packed with practical takeaways you can start using today.
Dealing with Rental Vacancy Tips Include:
- How to price your rental based on real market demand
- Why exterior appearance and neighborhood conditions matter
- The importance of web presence and making listings easy to access
- How your online reputation may be turning renters away
- Tips to refresh the interior and make your rental move-in ready
- Rethinking your pet policy to appeal to more applicants
This Is Why Your Property Is Still Vacant… And How to Fix It – Video
Why Is Your Rental Property (Still) Vacant? – Video Transcript
I don’t know about you, but here in Oregon, we constantly hear that rental occupancies are at an all-time high and that renters are struggling to find available housing.
So why is it that some properties are sitting vacant for weeks or even months without attracting a qualified tenant?
If the headlines are right and there are renters out there looking for homes, what’s holding your property back?
Let’s talk about some common reasons you might be having a hard time filling your vacancy and what you can do to solve the problem.
My name is Kaycee Miller. I work for Rentec Direct property management software, and I’m also a landlord and real estate investor. Today, I want to talk to you about reasons why a rental property might not be getting rented and why you might be dealing with vacancy longer than you expected.
Top Reasons Your Property Is Still Vacant
- Pricing
- Curb Appeal
- Online Presence and Access to Property Information
- Social Reputation Management
- Interior Features
- BONUS – Your Pet Policy
1. Your Rent Might Be Too High for the Market
Pricing is one of the first things I consider when a property isn’t leasing as quickly as I expected. If you’re pricing your rental too high for what the local market can support, it’s going to be very challenging to find a tenant, plain and simple.
Now, that might look different depending on your area. For example, in my market, a luxury property out in the country with river access, land, and room for horses might fetch a high rent. But a small single-family home closer to the city center would need to be priced differently. And in some markets, it’s the other way around. Those trendy, luxury downtown apartments might rent for far more than a quiet house out of town.
It really depends on your local market. Understanding that rent rate can help you price your property accordingly so you can actually attract renters.
In another video, I’ll share a story about how we built some high-end housing in downtown Oregon. Even though it was brand new and beautiful, we struggled to find tenants. Why? Because the pricing we were aiming for just didn’t meet market demand.
So it’s not just about knowing your rent goal. It’s about knowing your renters. Talking to other landlords and property managers in your area can give you a much better sense of what local tenants are actually looking for and willing to pay.
2. Curb Appeal and Neighborhood Impressions Matter
Another reason your property might not be renting as quickly as you hoped is the exterior. What does the property look like from the street? What’s the neighborhood like?
We’re in summer right now, and lawns dry out and die super quickly. A scraggly, brown lawn can really affect curb appeal. When a prospective tenant drives up and sees dead grass or a messy yard, it doesn’t exactly invite them in or make them excited about maintaining it.
It’s not just your lawn either. Look around at the surrounding homes. Are there broken-down cars parked next door? Maybe a fence that’s falling apart? Those things can have a big impact on your property’s rental potential too.
Sometimes it’s worth reaching out to neighbors and seeing if you can work together to improve shared property lines or common areas. Even simple fixes can make your home more appealing to qualified renters and help you fill a rental property vacancy.
3. Make Your Listing Easy to Find and Easy to Act On
Let’s talk about accessibility. If someone is interested in your property, is it easy for them to find the listing and get more information?
If all you’ve got is a “For Rent” sign with a phone number, that may not cut it anymore. Renters are used to having information at their fingertips. They want to browse listings online, see photos, learn about you as a landlord or property manager, and apply without having to make a phone call.
Even having a simple website for a single property can help build confidence and encourage someone to reach out. And when you use an online application system, you’re removing a huge barrier and making the process easier for everyone.
People want to self-serve. They don’t want to have to call just to get the basics. They want to read, explore, and decide on their own time. So think about your web presence and how easy it is to move forward.
4. Don’t Ignore Your Online Reputation
While we’re on the subject of web presence, we’ve got to talk about reputation management.
What kind of reviews are out there about you? What shows up when someone Googles your name or business?
Unfortunately, people are often more motivated to leave a review when they’re unhappy. So even if you’ve done a great job for years, a single bad experience can stick out. A negative review can impact your ability to fill your rental property vacancy.
Best practice is to always follow up on negative reviews. Respond professionally. Try to make things right if you can. And when appropriate, ask that tenant to consider updating their review.
Reputation management starts with good landlord-tenant relationships. And it extends to your presence in the community, both online and off. People will check Facebook, Google, and review sites. What they find can absolutely affect whether they feel comfortable renting from you.
5. The Interior Still Matters, A Lot
We’ve talked a lot about exterior presentation and first impressions, but what about once someone walks in?
Does your rental feel fresh, clean, and move-in ready? Are there minor upgrades you could do, like a fresh coat of paint, new light fixtures, or a deep cleaning, to help it shine?
Even minimal sprucing up can make a huge difference in how excited someone is to rent from you. And remember, renters are often comparing multiple properties at once. You want yours to stand out for the right reasons.
6. Your Pet Policy Could Be Costing You
This is a tough one. Personally, I’ve had challenges as a landlord with allowing pets. Dangerous breeds, property damage, you name it, we’ve dealt with it.
But here’s the truth. More than half of renters have pets. So if you’re saying “no pets allowed” across the board, you’re automatically shrinking your tenant pool.
According to Zillow’s Consumer Housing Trends Report, 59% of renters have at least one pet.
There are ways to minimize risk while still allowing pets. You can:
- Charge pet rent
- Collect a pet deposit or one-time fee
- Require renter’s insurance with pet liability coverage
These options help protect your property and increase your income potential. If you’re struggling to find tenants, it’s worth revisiting your pet policy to see if there’s room to adapt.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the reasons your property might be sitting vacant longer than expected. In rental housing, our goal is to go from lease to lease with minimal turnover. But sometimes, the market or the presentation makes that harder than we hoped.
Remember, occupancy equals revenue.
That’s why it’s so important to be intentional about pricing, presentation, accessibility, and your policies.
I’ll be diving deeper into these topics in follow-up videos and blog posts, so stay tuned for more solutions and ideas that can help you minimize vacancy and increase occupancy.
My name is Kaycee Miller. I work for Rentec Direct property management software. You can always find this kind of advice on the Rentec Direct Blog and our Rentec Direct YouTube channel. I’m here to help, so let’s keep learning from each other.
