How to write a rental listing for a single-family home or condo

How house and condo renters differ from apartment renters

People who rent a house usually plan to stay longer and want space: a yard, a garage, extra rooms. They often have pets, children or work-from-home needs, and they want to know who handles the lawn, the snow and the repairs. People renting a condo tend to care about amenities, parking, noise and what the association allows.

For the basics that apply to any listing, see how to write an apartment listing. This post covers what to add.

Details to include for a house

• Lot and outdoor space: fenced or not, size of the yard, patio or deck.
• Garage, driveway and street parking, and how many vehicles fit.
• Who does lawn care, snow removal and gutters. State it plainly, because it surprises tenants more than almost any other clause.
• Utilities: which the tenant pays, including water, sewer and trash, which are often separate for a house.
• Heating type and age of major systems if you want to highlight them, such as a new roof, furnace or air conditioning.
• Bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage, plus a basement or attic if usable.
• Pet rules, pet rent or deposit where allowed, and any breed or size limit. See pet deposit and pet rent limits, and note that assistance animals are not pets; see assistance animals.
• Lease length and the move-in date. A one year lease is common for a house; see month-to-month versus one year.

Details and checks for a condo or townhome

Before you list a condo, read the association's governing documents. Many associations limit how many units can be rented, require a minimum lease term, require board approval or an application for the tenant, charge a move-in fee, or restrict pets and parking. A lease that breaks those rules can lead to fines against you. Ask the association's manager in writing for the current rules and keep the reply.

• Association amenities the tenant can use: pool, gym, storage, parking space number.
• Whether the association must approve the tenant, and how long approval takes. Say so in the listing so renters plan ahead.
• Who pays association fees. Usually the owner, but any fee charged to the tenant, such as a move-in fee, should be stated.
• Floor, elevator, noise and quiet hours, and trash or recycling rules.

Legal points that apply to houses and condos

For a home built before 1978, federal law requires you to give the tenant a lead-based paint disclosure and a pamphlet before the lease is signed. See the EPA page on real estate disclosure and our post on lead-based paint disclosure.

Fair housing law applies to the listing text. Describe the home, not the people. Phrases such as "perfect for a family", "great for a couple" or "walking distance to church" can be read as a preference. Naming a nearby school is a fact, but calling a neighborhood "safe" or "family friendly" is a judgment and can steer people. See words to avoid, 42 U.S.C. 3604(c) and 24 CFR 100.75.

Some cities require a rental license or inspection before a house or condo can be rented. See rental license and city inspection programs.

Photos and a sample listing

Lead with the best exterior photo, then the kitchen and living room. Add the yard, the garage and each bedroom, and one photo of the main utility area if it is clean. For condos, add the building entrance and parking.

Example a made-up listing reads: "3 bed, 2 bath house, 1,450 sq ft, fenced back yard, 2 car garage. Rent $1,950 a month, available December 1, one year lease. Tenant pays electric, gas, water and trash and keeps the lawn mowed; owner handles major repairs. Cats and small dogs considered, pet deposit $300. Apply online or call to see the home."

How DoorKeeping fits

DoorKeeping keeps the facts you will quote in one place, whether you own one house or many units: rent, lease terms and open work orders. One LLC owns one property, so a house or condo has its own books. Ask Claude or ChatGPT, connected to DoorKeeping, for the current rent and lease end date when you write the listing.

Sources

1. Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3604 (Cornell LII), read Oct 30, 2026
2. HUD rule on discriminatory advertising, 24 CFR 100.75 (eCFR), read Oct 30, 2026
3. EPA, Real Estate Disclosure (lead-based paint, pre-1978 housing), read Oct 30, 2026

Questions

What should I include in a listing for a rental house?

The yard and who maintains it, garage and parking, utilities the tenant pays, pet rules, lease length, rent and the move-in date.

Can I rent out my condo if the association has rules?

Often yes, but the association may limit rentals, require approval or set a minimum lease term. Read the governing documents and ask the association before you list.

Do I need lead paint disclosures for a rental house?

For homes built before 1978, yes. Federal law requires a disclosure and a pamphlet before the lease is signed.