Co-Founder & Head of Product

Staff Writer, Stacker

Belong Co-Founders

Marketing Manager

Content Writer, Stacker

Almost 10 million Americans are behind in their rental payments. Guaranteed rent is a new innovation that protects homeowners when it comes time to collect.

How Guaranteed Rent is Changing Property Management Forever

A recent US Census pulse survey revealed that 9 million Americans were behind in their rent. That’s a figure sure to send shivers down the spine of anyone whose house is in the rental market, or who is considering it.

The last thing a homeowner wants to do is chase down a rent payment. Aside from the time, effort and stress, the obvious reality is that mortgage and expenses don’t stop adding up when a resident home stops paying the rent. Many homeowners resist the rental market for this very reason, even if it’s a better alternative to selling. 

Guaranteed rent keeps the bills in check by paying homeowners rent every month, regardless of when the resident pays. It’s a reflection of Belong’s commitment to creating a painless and friction-free experience for homeowners and confidence in their approach to finding someone to love your home.

Because Belong believes so deeply in their screening process — and because they refuse to leave their homeowners hanging — they step in at this point and start picking up the tab. Not only that, but they take on the responsibility of collecting any outstanding debts from the resident, or in the worst-case scenario, handling the eviction process.

Belong offers two choices to landlords with guaranteed rent:

It’s as simple as it sounds. Belong will make sure payment hits your bank account each and every month, no matter what. You get paid like clockwork. And Belong manages the collection process with your residents if they fall in arrears; it’s their problem, not yours.

Option 2: Guaranteed rent for a year, upfront 

As further evidence of confidence in its community of residents, Belong gives you the option to collect the entire year’s lease upfront. So you can sit back, relax, and let someone else worry about collecting rent every month.  

Hand over the keys and let Belong take it from here 

Guaranteed rent is just one way that Belong is different from traditional property management services. Belong will list the house and use proprietary tech to find the exact right price for your market. Any necessary repairs will be handled by a professional from a vetted network of over 10,000 contractors to get it market-ready for marketing and showings. Belong shows the house, screens tenants, and arranges the move-in. Beyond guaranteed rent, you could say that Belong is guaranteed to be different in every way!

Belong is simplifying the rental experience and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals through real estate. Whether you’re self-managing a rental home or having your home loved by Belong, we're making the rental experience lovable for everyone. 

Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to ditch property management in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami and many more.

Enjoy Guaranteed Rental Income

Bigger, better, easier support has arrived! Learn how Belong's new expert teams are making renting even more lovable for rental homeowners and their residents.

Easier, Better, Faster, Stronger: Our Customer Support Service is Growing!

Easier, Better, Faster, Stronger — our Belong PRO full service management service has gotten an upgrade! 

As of November 1st, we’ve added new teams of dedicated specialists to our full-service management experience. Still 24/7 and available to both homeowners and residents. 

This means when you contact us, in addition to support from your dedicated account manager, you’ll get direct and fast access to the team with the best knowledge and skills to answer your questions. We have dedicated teams with expertise in everything from Resident Placement and Leasing, Maintenance and Home Repairs to Taxes and HOA Management. 

Like your account manager, all team members will help to place high-quality residents, while maintaining, and generating income for years to come. The only difference you’ll notice is faster response times and a few more friendly Belong faces alongside your regular point of contact. 

We’re always striving to innovate and revolutionize the renting experience. We’ve reviewed feedback from homeowners and residents and concluded that specialist teams were a better way forward to speed up and improve the management of your home. While you can still get in touch with your concierge/account manager as you always have, direct access to a wider range of experts will get your questions or concerns taken care of quicker than if your account manager had to find an answer and get back to you. 

Do I still get 24/7 support? What about my residents?

You bet! No change here, open the Belong app or call/email/text us to access support from your success team at any time. This change also applies to your residents, so no need to worry about any late-night phone calls! 

What happens to my concierge and account manager?

Whenever you reach out you will speak to the correct person on your success team. For example, if you have a question about an ongoing repair, your home care associate will be the one to respond. This will allow for quicker response times without any bouncing around or waiting for a call back after being transferred.

But you can still reach out to your account manager as you always did. Moving forward, they may introduce you to other Belongers to support you, depending on your query. If you have any questions about the change or any outstanding queries on your home, your account manager would be happy to assist you.

No! This change will have no impact on your guaranteed rent payment or your management fee. 

Let us give you a brief introduction to who you may meet on your Belong journey:

First up — getting to know you and your financial goals, so we can help you achieve them through renting out your home. We’ll walk you through the process of getting your home loved by Belong PRO and will arrange for an initial inspection of your rental home. 

Stage 2: Getting your home ready for residents

Based on the inspection report, our home preparation and repairs team will take action to get your home listed at the best possible price. If your home needs a lick of paint or some TLC, they can arrange for a professional from our 10,000+ strong vendor network to complete the job to the highest standard. 

Stage 3: Listing your rental home and placing residents

When your home is move-in ready, our Resident Placement and Listing specialists will get your home seen, vet applicants, and secure a rental price that will meet your financial goals. They will also proactively manage the move-in experience to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.

Once a lease is signed, our exceptional customer service will extend to both you and your long-term residents. We’re a proactive bunch — nothing will slide into disrepair on our watch and you won’t need to worry about a thing. Our teams are experts at reducing vacancies and maintenance costs by keeping everything in top shape. 

24/7 support is just the beginning — Belong is always innovating and expanding to make renting lovable for homeowners and their residents. Want to know what all the fuss is about? Learn more about Belong PRO here. 

Get Unmatched 24/7 Support at Your Fingertips

Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio: Belong has arrived in Texas

Belong's Big Texas Launch: Welcome Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio

They say everything is bigger in Texas, so it’s fitting that our next Belong PRO launch is our biggest yet! Today we’re rolling out the welcome mat to rental homes in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. 

So what does that mean for the thousands of Texans that own a rental home? It means there is finally a better alternative to outdated property management companies or going it alone without a financial safety net. 

It means Texas can take part in our vision for the future of the housing market. One where homes are in the hands of real people, not corporations. Where homeowners are supported to achieve their financial goals through real estate. Where people who rent long-term can find a sense of belonging in the houses they call home. 

It means guaranteed rent every month. Real support 24/7 for both you and your residents. Longer tenancies, less vacancies. No more hidden fees. Better cash flow management. It means managing your rental home on your own terms, knowing you have a partner that can help you achieve your financial goals sooner. 

The best alternative to property management in Texas

By partnering with Belong PRO, you won’t have to deal with the common complaints of traditional property management companies including poor communication, bad tenants, hidden fees, low-quality maintenance work, and high property vacancy. 

Our team inspect your rental home and help you get it move-in ready. We’ll use clever tech and real-time demand to find the right rental price. We’ll find and vet great people that will care for your home as you would. And we’ll treat them exceptionally well too, so that they stay longer, reducing vacancy.

Because we’re building modern and future-ready services, everything is handled right through your phone — from speaking with your dedicated concierge to managing rent, maintenance requests, financing and even insurance. Our app and services are always innovating to make sure everyone in our network receives a world-class experience. 

The mission of Belong is to create authentic belonging experiences, empowering residents to become homeowners and homeowners to become financially free. We’ve set about changing every aspect of renting that fails homeowners and residents (we’re even binning the terms landlord and tenant!). We’re challenging the status quo of property management by putting people first, enabled by best-in-class technology and services. 

Earn $1,000 by referring Texas homeowners to Belong

Know someone looking to rent out their home in Austin, Dallas, Houston or San Antonio? Learn about our referral program, where you can earn $1,000 by referring a qualified homeowner when they join the Belong PRO network.

Check out our local pages for more information or to get started:

Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio: it’s time to meet Belong and find out how we’re changing renting and property management in Texas for good.

Secure Guaranteed Rent For Your Texas Home

Learn how inspections can attract long-term residents and get your home move-in ready.

How Belong Inspections Reduce Vacancy and Prepare Your Home For New Residents

For millions of people across the US, renting isn’t a temporary measure. With housing affordability at some of the lowest levels ever, more people are looking for a home to love long-term. Your rental home.  

But a home in disrepair is not going to attract these kinds of long-term residents. It’s a little bit like the ‘broken window theory’ — disorder leads to more disorder. Rent out a home in poor condition and people are less likely to worry about keeping it in top shape. 

This is why Belong conducts a full home inspection of all new rental homes joining our network. We’ll make sure your home is safe, habitable and move-in ready for new, long-term residents. In this article we’ll get into more detail about what we’ll look for and how you can prepare your rental home for a pre-lease inspection. 

Why Belong inspects every rental home in our network

When it comes to placing residents in homes, Belong has a proud track record of attracting the best of the best for our homeowners. More than two-thirds (71%) of Belong residents renew their 1-year lease. This provides stable, guaranteed income for homeowners and a house that stays in great condition. 

A big part of our success is the standards we hold for homes in our network. Belong’s home standards ensure that your rental will attract reliable residents, the best price, and be loved quickly. It also provides assurances that rental homes in our network are safe, livable and don’t pose unnecessary liability risks for our homeowners. 

What Belong looks for in a pre-lease inspection

Even if your home has already been rented out before, we want to make sure it’s seen in the best possible light. Our pre-lease inspections will focus on two main areas: safety and resident experience. 

1. Safety and habitability in rental homes

Rental homes in the US have what’s known as an ‘implied warranty of habitability’. What this means is that as a homeowner, you need to ensure that your rental home meets basic living and safety standards — even if they’re not specified in a lease agreement. If your house becomes unsafe or unliveable and you don’t take action, your residents may have a legal right to stop paying rent, move out without notice, or even sue you. 

To set you on the right track from day one, Belong inspectors will make sure your rental home is safe, comfortable and ready for occupancy. Safety inspections will check for any signs of damage or deterioration of the home, including: 

Structural integrity of the foundation, walls and roof 

Plumbing, including leaks or other issues that could cause water damage or safety hazards

Electrical system hazards, such as overloaded circuits, exposed wires, or outdated wiring.

Safety features such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers

Ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and potential mold growth


Any signs of pests, such as rodents or insects

Exterior areas of the rental home, including the yard, driveway, and sidewalks

Inspections also ensure that homes are welcoming to potential residents. We set standards for rental homes to encourage better pricing, less vacancy and attract dependable, long-term residents who want to call your place home. This means making sure the home is in good condition cosmetically and isn’t likely to turn away applicants. Items on this list will vary depending on your home, but broadly, inspectors will be looking at:

The condition of the walls, checking for holes and damage, poor paint jobs

Age and functionality of appliances and amenities

Lawn care to avoid overgrown gardens and weeds

Anything that could attract pests to the home

Inspectors can also make recommendations for simple, cost-effective improvements to maximize your rental income and ROI. 

How to prepare your rental home for a pre-lease inspection 

1. Empty the home of all personal belongings

Unfurnished homes invite long-term residents to make the space their own. It’s also difficult to assess a home that is being used as a storage site! We recommend removing all personal items such as furnishings, furniture, clothing, and construction materials to make the inspection process smoother. 

In order for our inspectors to complete tests throughout the home, utilities such as water, gas and electricity will need to be connected and running. If you’re moving out of the home, remember to leave utilities connected until a new resident has been found. 

3. Finish any construction or DIY projects on the home

Sometimes homeowners are in a hurry to lease their rental home and may want to list it before improvement projects are finished. Home inspections need to assess the current state of your home to ensure it’s move-in ready, so it’s best to start the process after improvements are completed. 

If your home is in desperate need of some TLC, be sure to let us know. Our extensive vendor network can arrange fast repairs to help attract the best possible price. 

A deep clean of your home is an important step in getting move-in ready and up to Belong’s home standards. To prepare for an inspection (not to mention all-important marketing photos and home tours), make sure the home is spotless and yards are not overgrown. 

5. Provide a complete set of keys for the home

How many locks does your home really have? It’s important to get a full set of keys cut to provide to Belong either before or at the time of inspection. It’s easy to forget things that you don’t often use, such as window locks, a garden shed, or even a mailbox key — but your home inspector and new residents will need them. 

Many homeowners hope to one day return to their homes again or make sure their beloved house is well cared for. With Belong PRO, you’ll never have to worry about bad residents, late rent, cost blowouts, or 2 am phone calls ever again. 

Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to ditch Seattle Property Management, Redmond Property Management, Oakland Property Management, and more.

Safety standards and a positive experience in your rental home are crucial to finding long-term residents. Learn how inspections get your home move-in ready.

Tyler Infelise

Dom Difurio

Ale, Owen & Tyler Founders

Eric Vandekerkhove

Jill Jaracz

Andrea Vale

Dom Difurio

Ale, Owen & Tyler Founders

Eric Vandekerkhove

Jill Jaracz

Andrea Vale