Landlords should update a rental listing whenever important information about the property changes. There's no universal rule that says you need to revamp a listing every few days or weeks.
Instead, review your active listing regularly to make sure the rent, availability, photos, amenities, policies, and other property details remain accurate. You should also revisit a listing if your property has been available longer than expected or isn't generating the renter interest you anticipated.
Here's how to decide when your rental listing needs an update—and what to review when it does.
How Often Should You Update a Rental Listing?
Rather than following a fixed schedule, update your rental listing based on what's happening with the property and your leasing process.
There are three good times to review your listing:
- When property information changes: Update the listing when the rent, availability, fees, amenities, lease terms, or other important details change.
- Periodically while the property is available: Review active listings to catch outdated information and make sure prospective renters are seeing an accurate representation of the property.
- Before each new leasing cycle: If you're relisting a property, review the entire listing rather than automatically republishing an older listing.
Callout box: You may also want to revisit your listing if renter interest is low. For example, if a property has been available longer than expected or isn't generating sufficient interest, reviewing the listing can help you identify information that needs to be updated or improved.
Why Is It Important to Keep Your Rental Listing Updated?
A rental listing is often one of a prospective renter's first introductions to your property. Keeping it current can help renters understand what you're offering before they contact you or apply. Accurate information can also help set expectations about costs, availability, policies, and property features.
Additionally, keeping the listing current may reduce time spent answering questions caused by outdated information. If your advertised rent, move-in date, amenities, and policies are accurate, prospective renters have more of the information they need upfront.
What Rental Listing Information Should You Keep Current?
Certain listing details can quickly become outdated, so it’s worth reviewing the following information regularly to make sure prospective renters are seeing an accurate picture of your property.
| Listing detail | Why it should stay current |
| Monthly rent | Accurate rent helps prospective renters determine whether the property fits their budget and prevents confusion if they encounter a different price later. |
| Security deposit | A current security deposit gives renters a clearer picture of how much they may need to pay upfront. |
| Applicable fees | Up-to-date fee information helps renters understand the costs associated with the property before they apply. |
| Availability date | An outdated date can leave prospective renters wondering whether the property is actually still available, especially if the advertised move-in date has already passed. |
| Lease length and terms | Current lease information helps renters determine whether the available terms align with their housing needs. |
| Square footage | Accurate square footage helps renters understand the property's size and compare it with other rentals they're considering. |
| Property photos | Current photos give renters a more accurate sense of the property's appearance, condition, and features before scheduling a tour. |
| Appliances | Accurate appliance information lets renters know what will actually be included with the property. |
| Amenities | Keeping amenities current prevents renters from expecting features or services that may no longer be available. |
| Pet policies | An up-to-date pet policy helps renters quickly determine whether their pets are permitted and what restrictions or requirements may apply. |
| Parking | Current parking details help renters understand whether parking is available and whether the arrangement meets their needs. |
| Utilities | Accurate utility information helps renters understand which services are included and which expenses they'll pay for separately. |
| Contact information | Current contact information ensures interested renters can reach you and helps prevent qualified leads from being lost. |
If you have made changes to one part of the listing, check for mentions of the same information elsewhere. For example, after changing an availability date or rental price, make sure the old information doesn't still appear in the property description.
Should You Update a Rental Listing Even If Nothing Has Changed?
It can still be helpful to review an active rental listing even when you aren't aware of any major changes.
A quick review may uncover details you've overlooked, such as an old date in the description, a property improvement you haven't mentioned, or photos that no longer represent the rental as well as they could.
You can also look at the listing from a prospective renter's perspective. Does it answer the questions someone would reasonably have about the property? Are important features easy to find? Do the photos and description accurately represent the rental?
If everything remains accurate and useful, you don't need to make changes simply for the sake of changing the listing.
Should You Refresh a Rental Listing That Isn't Getting Interest?
If your property isn't generating the interest you expected, it's worth reviewing the listing before deciding what to change.
Start with the basics. Confirm that the price, availability, photos, description, amenities, and lease information are accurate. Then compare your property with similar rentals in your area.
Consider factors such as:
- Monthly rent
- Location
- Property type and size
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Amenities
- Property condition
- Parking
- Included utilities
If your price is competitive, look at how effectively the listing presents the property. New photos or a clearer description may help prospects better understand what your rental offers.
Market conditions and seasonality can also affect renter interest, so a lack of inquiries doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with the listing.
Do You Need to Rewrite Your Rental Listing Every Time?
Updating a rental listing doesn't necessarily mean rewriting it from beginning to end. If most of the information remains accurate, focus on the details that have changed or could be clearer.
You might update the rent, replace a few photos, add a new amenity, revise the availability date, or clarify a policy while leaving the rest of the listing intact. The goal is to keep your listing accurate and useful to prospective renters—not to change it simply because it has been online for a certain amount of time.
How Often Should You Take New Rental Property Photos?
You don't need to take new rental photos according to a set schedule. Instead, consider updating your photos when the property's appearance has meaningfully changed or when your existing images no longer represent the rental accurately.
For example, new photos may be useful after renovations, new flooring, updated appliances, or other visible improvements. You may also want to replace older photos if they're dark, blurry, cluttered, or don't clearly show the property's layout.
Consider seasonality, too. Photos of a rental covered in 10 inches of snow may look inviting in winter, but they may feel out of place during the summer months. When possible, use photos that reflect the current season or showcase the property in a way that feels relevant year-round.
When Should You Remove a Rental Listing?
Once your property is no longer available, deactivate or remove the listing as appropriate. Keeping an unavailable property advertised as an available unit can lead to unnecessary inquiries and frustration for prospective renters.
When the property becomes available again, review the listing before republishing it to make sure the information is still current.
Keep Your Rental Listing Current With Apartments.com Rental Tools
There's no magic number for how often you should update a rental listing. The most important thing is to keep the information accurate and review the listing when your property, pricing, availability, or leasing situation changes.
With Apartments.com free Rental Tools for landlords, you can easily revisit and update your rental listing throughout the leasing process. Refreshing your listing at least once a month gives you an opportunity to review your property details and account for any changes since your listing was published.
Whether you're getting ready to advertise a vacancy or managing an existing rental, Apartments.com Rental Tools can help you stay organized throughout the rental lifecycle.
Get started with Apartments.com Rental Tools today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should landlords update a rental listing?
There's no universal schedule. Landlords should update a rental listing whenever important information changes and periodically review an active listing to make sure the details remain accurate.
Do I need to refresh my rental listing every week?
Rather than making changes according to a fixed weekly schedule, focus on keeping the listing accurate and useful. Update it when property information changes or when the listing needs improvement.
Should I update a rental listing if I'm not getting inquiries?
Yes, it's worth reviewing. Check your rent, photos, property description, availability, amenities, and lease information. You can also compare the property with similar rentals to determine whether other changes may be appropriate.
How often should I update rental property photos?
Consider new photos when you've made visible improvements, the property's appearance has changed, or your existing images no longer represent the rental accurately. The photo quality is also important. If images are dark or blurry, they will be less likely to spark renter interest.
