Rental Property Maintenance Costs in 2025

Summary

If you're a homeowner or landlord in 2025, expect to spend between $0.90 and $1.30 per square foot annually on maintenance, depending on the age, size, and location of your rental property. While old-school rules like the "1% rule" still serve as a quick compass, Belong data shows that proactive care and recurring services can cut emergency repairs by 32%, protecting your margins long-term.

Table of Contents

• Why Maintenance Costs Are Rising in 2025
• How to Budget: The "Four Lens" Approach
• Belong Data: What Our Homeowners Actually Spend
• Factors That Influence Maintenance Costs
• Breakdown of Common Maintenance Tasks & Costs
• Preventive Services Every Rental Should Have
• Tips for Smarter Maintenance Planning
• What You Can Deduct From Your Taxes
• How Belong Handles Maintenance for You
• FAQ

Why Maintenance Costs Are Rising in 2025

The cost of maintaining a rental property is rising fast. Material costs are up 11% YoY nationally, and labor shortages in skilled trades like plumbing and HVAC are pushing service prices even higher.

If you're budgeting for 2025 without adjusting for inflation or rising labor costs, you're setting yourself up for financial surprises.

How to Budget: The "Four Lens" Approach

Instead of relying on one generic rule, we recommend viewing your rental through four budgeting lenses, depending on what type of home you have:

1. The "Percentage of Property Value" Rule (1% Lens)

• Set aside approximately 1% of your property's current market value.
• $500,000 home = $5,000 annual reserve.
• Best for mid-tier homes with aging interiors.

2. The "Rent Multiplier" Rule (5X Lens)

• Save 4-6x one month’s rent per year for maintenance.
• $3,000/mo rent = $12,000 - $18,000 annual budget.
• Best for high-end rentals with premium finishes.

3. The "Expense Ratio" Rule (50% Lens)

• 50% of gross rent goes to operating costs; 15-20% of that to maintenance.
• $36,000 annual rent → $5,000 on repairs.
• Best for investors or multi-property owners running income/expense P&Ls who want a conservative, all-in estimate.

4. The "Per Square Foot" Rule (PSF Lens)

• Budget $1.00 per square foot of living area.
• 1,800 sq ft home = $1,800/year.
• Best for owners of homes with similar construction (e.g. single-family homes in tract communities) who want a scalable rule across multiple properties.

Belong Data: What Our Homeowners Actually Spend

Based on more than 15,000 Belong maintenance work orders from 2024 to 2025, here’s how real costs broke down:

• $0.62 per square foot (lower 25%),  typically seen in newer homes, recently renovated units, or homes enrolled in proactive maintenance routines.

• $0.90 per square foot (median),  this is the most common range for Belong homeowners across all property types. It represents the average spend needed to keep a rental in good working condition.

• $1.27 per square foot (upper 25%), usually applies to older homes, properties with deferred maintenance, or residents who report issues reactively instead of proactively.

Overall 32% of repair costs were tied to emergency maintenance, which includes things like burst pipes, HVAC failure, and electrical hazards,  most of which are preventable through recurring services.

Factors That Influence Maintenance Costs

• Age of Home: Older homes with older plumbing, HVAC, wiring, mean higher costs.
• Location & Climate: Homes in wet, coastal, or hot climates need more frequent upkeep.
• Home Size: Larger homes require more square footage of everything (roof, paint, HVAC reach).
• HOA Coverage: If you're in an HOA, it may cover external items like roofs or landscaping, but internal issues remain your responsibility.
• Quality of Materials: Higher-end finishes equal higher repair/replacement costs.
• Resident Behavior: Proactive reporting equals quicker fixes. Neglecting them leads to compounding issues.

Breakdown of Common Maintenance Tasks & Costs (2025 Estimates)

Here’s what landlords are actually spending:

Roof Repair/Replacement:

• Spot repair: $250-$1,000
• Full replacement: $9,000-$18,000 (for asphalt shingles)

HVAC Maintenance & Repairs:

• Seasonal tune-up: $135-$250
• Filter replacement: $20-$40 (every 1-2 months)
• Full system replacement: $7,000-$12,000

Plumbing:

• Leak fix: $200-$450
• Sewer line inspection: $250
• Main line backup: $800-$1,400

Landscaping:

• Monthly mowing: $85-$150/month
• Irrigation repairs: $150-$400

Interior Painting:

• Single room: $400-$600
• Whole home: $2,500-$5,000

Appliance Repair/Replacement:

• Dishwasher repair: $150-$300
• Washer/dryer install: $100-$250
• Replacement: $400-$1,200 per unit

Gutter Cleaning:

• Single story: $100-$250 (2x/year recommended)
• Multi-story: $250-$400

Power Washing (Exterior):

• Driveway or siding: $200-$500
• Annual or seasonal task

Preventive Services Every Rental Should Have

Recurring Pro Services keep homes healthier and residents happier. Here’s what we recommend:

HVAC Tune-ups:

• Done 2x/year (spring and fall)
• Prevents breakdowns in extreme weather

Gutter Cleaning:

• 1-2x/year
• Prevents water damage and mold

Drain & Sewer Line Checks:

• 1x/year
• Prevents costly backups ($2k+ remediation)

Landscaping & Irrigation Audits:

• Monthly for aesthetic + water compliance
• Belong’s vendor network coordinates these seasonally

Pest Control:

• Quarterly treatment to prevent infestations
• Especially important in warm climates

Roof & Attic Checks:

• Annual
• Spot damage early (e.g. missing shingles, soft spots)

All of these can be automated through Belong’s recurring request flow in your dashboard.

Tips for Smarter Maintenance Planning

Create a Maintenance Calendar:

• Schedule each preventive service at the start of the year

Use the Belong App:

• Track past, current, and upcoming work orders

Don’t Ignore Small Issues:

• A $150 fix can become a $1,500 repair in 60 days

Standardize Vendors:

• Build long-term vendor relationships to negotiate better rates

Use Financing When Needed:

• Apply Belong’s Split It to spread large repair costs over time

What You Can Deduct From Your Taxes

The IRS allows most maintenance costs to be deducted the year they’re incurred, but only if they qualify as repairs, not improvements.

Deductible Repairs

• Fixing a leaking pipe
• Replacing a broken light switch
• Annual HVAC service
• Patch roof leaks

Capital Improvements (Depreciated)

• Full roof replacement
• Converting garage to living space
• Replacing entire electrical panel

See more in Are Property Management Fees Tax Deductible?

How Belong Handles Maintenance for You

Managing maintenance on your own is time-consuming and often reactive. Belong offers a fully managed, transparent, and streamlined experience from start to finish.

1. Residents Request. We Triage. You Stay Informed.

• Residents can report issues via app, email, text, or phone.
• Emergency issues are automatically escalated to prevent more damage to your home.
• Non-emergency issues are queued for next-day action by our Homecare team.
• You’re notified at each step, and visibility can be adjusted so everyone involved (residents, vendors, homeowners) stays looped in.

2. Pro Services Are Created with Full Control

• Trade and urgency levels are determined based on your home’s situation.
• Vendors are assigned from our pre-approved partner list or sourced through warranty/HOA networks where applicable.
• Appointment scheduling, quoting, and invoicing all happen through KOA, our AI triage system that can create tickets, provide responses, and schedule maintenance requests.

3. Recurring Services? Just Set and Forget

• Recurring tasks like gutter cleaning, landscaping, and HVAC tune-ups are configured through a smart workflow.
• You (or your residents) can skip, reschedule, or add notes before each visit.
• Quotes and invoices are handled per visit, ensuring clarity and accuracy.

4. Night & Emergency Care, Without the Stress

• Emergencies are triaged and Pro Services created immediately, even overnight.
• Residents are informed in real time; you receive a post-incident summary and ticket log.

5. Transparency in Pricing

• Belong applies a transparent margin and confirms every quote before execution.
• All charges and proposals can be reviewed in your Belong homeowner dashboard.

6. Optional Repair Financing via Split It

• For larger repairs, homeowners can activate Split It financing to pay over time.
• This keeps your maintenance momentum strong without interrupting cash flow.

Belong handles everything so you don't have to chase vendors, compare quotes, or play middleman. We protect your time, and your investment.

FAQ

What’s the most accurate maintenance budgeting rule in 2025?

Belong data shows a hybrid of 1% value + $1 per sq ft aligns closest to actual spend.

How can I avoid emergency repair fees?

Enroll in Recurring Pro Services through Belong to handle issues before they escalate.

Can I finance major repairs?

Yes, qualified homeowners can use Split It to break large repairs into affordable monthly payments.

Is preventive maintenance tax deductible?

Yes, most preventive services (e.g. gutter cleaning, HVAC tune-ups) qualify as deductible repairs.

Learn More

• How Much Does It Cost to Be a Landlord?
• Hidden Property Manager Fees That Cost Landlords Millions
• 10 Proven Ways To Reduce Tenant Turnover