Renters’ wants and needs are constantly changing, but recently there has been a huge change. There’s a new must-have amenity, and it’s A/C. For the longest time, the top amenity was in-unit laundry.
At halfway through the year, renters’ desires have changed significantly compared to the start. Apartments.com polled 20,000 renters to find out what renters want in Q2 2025.
Key Takeaways
- A/C is the top amenity with 70 percent of renters choosing it as a must-have
- Besides price and availability, the top types of information renters wanted to see online were photos at 77 percent and floor plans at 68 percent.
- 81 percent of renters are interested in 3D tours.
- The top three considerations for renters are price (82 percent), location (58 percent), and safety and security (48 percent).
- Renters will stop considering a rental if it is out of their budget (80 percent), they have concerns about crime or safety (66 percent), or they have concerns about maintenance or condition of property, unit, or appliances (62 percent).
What Amenities Do Renters Want Most?
For the first time, A/C was ranked as the top must-have amenity for renters with 70 percent of renters choosing it. In-unit laundry used to be the most wanted amenity, but it dropped eight points to 68 percent, letting A/C take the number one spot.
In cities where summers are especially hot, A/C won an even higher percentage of renters: 82 percent in St. Louis, 81 percent in Houston and Dallas, and 80 percent in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Take your location into account when deciding which amenities to offer as renters have different priorities depending on the city.
Landlord tip: With both A/C and in-unit laundry ranking so high, it shows they are highly desirable amenities for renters. Consider renovating your property to include these amenities as it will draw renters in and increase your rental income.
What Information Do Renters Want in a Listing?
Renters are searching online more and more as 76 percent of renters use rental search apps or websites to find their next home. So, having an accurate listing that includes key information, such as photos and floor plans, can be the difference between a vacancy and a signed lease.
Photos
Besides the basic information of price and availability, the top types of information renters wanted to see were photos and floor plan. In fact, 77 percent of renters wanted to see photos as it captures their attention and helps them imagine what living in your property is like. Take high-quality photos that showcase the beauty of your rental but also catch renter’s eyes.
Floor plans
Another way to help renters picture themselves in your property is to include a floor plan. It’s a popular piece of information to provide as 68 percent of renters said they’d want to see a floor plan in a listing.
Floor plans help renters figure out if your property would work for them in a couple of ways:
- Determine if all their furniture and belongings will fit
- See how the space flows together
- Get the exact dimensions and layout
- Gauge specific placements of features, like doors, windows, and appliances
A 35-year-old woman in Bangor, ME explained why photos and floor plans are so important to her:
“When you’re viewing an apartment online, it’s important to have a floor plan or real photos of the unit so you can determine if the place’s layout will work for you. It’s hard to picture a whole apartment without photos or a floor plan, and it can change your mind entirely about a place.”
How Renters Want to Tour a Rental Property
Technology and the Internet are also changing how renters want to tour properties. Renters increasingly want 3D tours — 81 percent of surveyed renters express interest in 3D tours.
3D tours help renters make sure the property meets their criteria, or they might not be able to make an in-person tour. While it may seem complicated or expensive to do, it’s not. You can easily create a virtual tour with your phone.
What Renters Consider When Choosing a Rental
To attract and retain renters, it’s vital to know what they want in their next rental property. Here are the most important considerations for renters when selecting their next residence:
Price
There was one clear winner when it came to the top considerations for renters: price. When selecting their next residence, 82 percent chose price as one of their top 3 most important considerations. The 24 percent difference between price and the second-place consideration of location shows just how much it matters to renters.
Location
In second place, location came in at 58 percent. Many renters only look for rentals that are close to specific places. When asked which places they wanted to be close to, these were renters’ responses:
- Grocery stores: 53 percent
- Work: 47 percent
- Parks or outdoor green spaces: 37 percent
- Restaurants, cafes, and dining options: 37 percent
- Friends or family: 32 percent
- Public transportation: 26 percent
Safety and security
Renters want to be able to come home and be comfortable. This is difficult if they don’t feel as though they are safe, which is why safety and security was chosen by 48 percent of renters as a top consideration.
To help your renters feel at ease, consider adding security features such as surveillance cameras, secured entrances, motion-activated flood lights, smart locks, and alarm systems. Both in your listing and when potential tenants tour, make sure to highlight these features.
What Are Deal-Breakers for Renters?
While knowing the top considerations for renters is helpful, knowing what renters don’t want is just as important. This allows you to get the full picture so you can optimize your rental and listing. These are the top deal-breakers for renters:
Out of budget
Just as price was the top consideration for renters, it’s also the biggest deal-breaker. An overwhelming 80 percent of respondents chose the rental being out of budget as the top deal-breaker. Price transparency remains in the spotlight with price being such an important factor for renters.
With 83 percent of renters saying they would prefer to see the all-in pricing (monthly rent including all fees that apply), you might want to switch your pricing style if you don’t include fees. All-in prices help renters see that your rental matches their budget without any surprises or additional fees.
Concerns about maintenance or condition of property, unit, or appliances
A well-maintained property is critical for most renters, with 62 percent of respondents saying that concerns about maintenance or condition of property, unit, or appliances were a deal-breaker.
Make sure to take care of your property through proper maintenance, renovations, and upgrades. Creating a maintenance schedule helps you keep track of what needs to be done around your property to ensure everything is in good condition.
Concerns about crime or safety
Safety and security is a hot topic for renters. Sixty-six percent identified safety and security as a deal-breaker rather than a consideration, highlighting that while safety can attract renters, the absence of it could drive them away.
Attract renters by proactively promoting safety at your property. Part of this is having security measures, but it also means creating a plan for how to respond to security issues and being prepared to answer questions about safety that prospective tenants ask.
Highlight Your Property’s Desirable Features on Apartments.com
You’ve seen what renters want and now it’s time to highlight how your property meets those needs by listing on Apartments.com. Highlight the amenities that renters are looking for, offer multiple ways for them to tour, and showcase your rental’s location to get renters interested.
Disclaimer: The data presented in this article was collected by CoStar Group in May 2025. All references to renter preferences are based solely on survey results gathered by CoStar Group.
FAQ
What do people look for in a rental?
The top amenities renters want most are air conditioning, in-unit laundry, and off-street parking or garage.
How important are pet-friendly policies for renters?
Pet-friendly rentals are becoming increasingly popular. A recent survey by Apartments.com found that 40 percent of renters live with pets. If you decide to allow pets in your rental, you’ll attract a much wider audience of potential renters.
