For Rent By Owner: How to Rent Out Your House
A step-by-step guide to renting out your property yourself — price it, list it flat-fee, screen applicants fairly, and keep more of every month's rent without a property manager.
Renting out your property for rent by ownermeans you keep control of the listing, the showings, the screening, and the lease — and you replace a property manager's percentage leasing fee with a one-time flat fee. Here's the process, start to finish.
- 1
Set your rent
Look at what comparable nearby rentals are asking to price competitively. ListMyHomes shows local rental listings to help you gauge the market — these are estimates, not appraisals.
- 2
Prepare and photograph the property
Clean, make repairs, and confirm it's safe and habitable. Bright, full-room photos in daylight get far more inquiries. Note what's included (utilities, appliances, parking) and your pet policy.
- 3
Create your flat-fee For Rent By Owner listing
Sign up free and publish your rental with the guided form — rent, beds, baths, square footage, lease term, and a clear description. You pay a flat fee instead of a percentage leasing or placement fee.
- 4
Market and field inquiries
Your listing goes live on the ListMyHomes.com™ search index and reaches renters directly. Respond to inquiries through your inbox and schedule showings on your terms.
- 5
Screen applicants fairly
Use consistent, lawful criteria for every applicant — income, credit, rental history, and references. Apply the same standard to everyone and follow Fair Housing law (see the note below). Get written authorization before running any background or credit check.
- 6
Sign a lease and handle the deposit per state law
Use a written lease that complies with your state's landlord-tenant law. Security-deposit limits, holding rules, and return timelines vary by state — a local attorney or your state's landlord-tenant statute is the authority. ListMyHomes does not draft leases or hold deposits.
Fair Housing — required reading for every landlord
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in advertising, screening, and renting based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin — and, under the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and many state and local laws, sexual orientation or gender identity. Many states and cities add further protected classes. Your listing language and your applicant criteria must never express or apply a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on a protected class. Apply the same lawful standard to everyone.
LMH Venture Group LLC d/b/a ListMyHomes.com™ is a licensed Tennessee real estate firm that acts only as a neutral facilitator and does not draft leases, hold deposits, or provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant and Fair Housing rules vary by location — consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Common questions
What does 'for rent by owner' mean?
For Rent By Owner (FRBO) means the property owner lists and manages the rental directly, without a property manager or leasing agent. You handle marketing, screening, and the lease yourself and keep more of the rent.
How much does it cost to list a rental for rent by owner?
On ListMyHomes.com™ you pay a flat fee to list instead of a percentage leasing or placement fee a property manager would charge. See current pricing on the pricing page.
Do I need a property manager to rent out my house?
No. Many owners self-manage. A property manager is optional — for-rent-by-owner landlords handle listing, showings, screening, and the lease themselves, often with help from a real estate attorney for the lease.
How do I screen tenants legally?
Apply the same written, lawful criteria to every applicant and comply with the federal Fair Housing Act and any state or local protections. You cannot select or reject applicants based on a protected class. Get written authorization before running credit or background checks, and follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act for any adverse decision.
Who handles the lease and security deposit?
You do, as the owner — LMH Venture Group LLC d/b/a ListMyHomes.com™ acts only as a neutral facilitator and does not draft leases or hold deposits. Use a written lease that follows your state's landlord-tenant law; deposit limits and return timelines vary by state.
List your rental by owner
Reach renters directly and keep more of your rent — a flat fee, not a leasing cut.