Belong analyzed Census Bureau data to see which counties had the largest increase in renters from 2016 to 2021

30 counties seeing the greatest increase of renters

Belong analyzed Census Bureau data to see which counties had the largest increase in renters from 2016 to 2021.

The share of renter-occupied homes in the U.S. decreased by 2.3 percentage points from 2016 to 2021 as more Americans were able to buy houses. But certain communities are bucking that trend and seeing an influx of renters.

Belong analyzed Census Bureau data to see which counties had the largest increase in renters from 2016 to 2021, the most recent data available. The Census Bureau calculates the number of housing units in a county that renters occupy. Each county included in the analysis had at least 50,000 occupied housing units.

We ranked the top 30 counties by the percentage point increase in their rental population. The ranking also lists each county's median rent and median household income, which refers to the pay received by all members of the household. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines affordable housing as costing no more than 30% of a household's income.

Many of the counties that recorded increases in the number of renters are suburbs or exurbs—which refers to prosperous areas beyond a city's immediate suburbs—as people look for more space, rents rise in major metro areas, and remote work becomes more popular.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 27.5% (+3.3 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 9,806
-- Median rent: $664
-- Median household income for renters: $33,395

Manitowoc County is southeast of Green Bay, along Wisconsin's Lake Michigan shoreline. The overall cost of living compared to Green Bay is similar, although Census Bureau data show median rent is about $100 cheaper in Manitowoc County.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 23.7% (+3.3 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 11,781
-- Median rent: $997
-- Median household income for renters: $50,798

Saline County sits southwest of Little Rock, the state's capital. The cost of living and median rent prices are similar in the county and the nearby city.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 29.8% (+3.3 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 8,135
-- Median rent: $872
-- Median household income for renters: $30,936

Marquette County is the most populous county in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with 66,661 residents. The county, situated along Lake Superior, is home to Northern Michigan University. NMU's enrollment dropped from 2016 to 2021, however, so college students do not account for the overall increase in renters during that time.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 34.1% (+3.4 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 17,561
-- Median rent: $813
-- Median household income for renters: $25,842

Florence County is located about 100 miles east of Columbia, the state's capital. Median rent is about $200 more in Columbia compared to Florence County, and the overall cost of living is 6% higher.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 32.5% (+3.4 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 32,789
-- Median rent: $1,034
-- Median household income for renters: $43,541

Clay County is northeast of Kansas City, which straddles the Missouri-Kansas border. The cost of living is slightly lower in Clay County compared to the larger metro area, and median rent is about the same.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 34.0% (+3.5 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 26,136
-- Median rent: $1,081
-- Median household income for renters: $46,278

Located in south-central Washington, Benton County is about 200 miles east of both Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The cost of living in Benton County is about 15% lower than those larger metro areas, which may appeal to renters who want to live within a day-trip distance of those cities.

Learn more about how our Seattle property management team can help you build financial freedom by getting rental payments on time every time.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 33.0% (+3.7 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 12,760
-- Median rent: $793
-- Median household income for renters: $35,195

Tuscarawas County sits in eastern Ohio, centered between Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The cost of living in Tuscarawas County is about 8% lower than in those metro areas.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 29.1% (+3.7 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 18,981
-- Median rent: $1,143
-- Median household income for renters: $44,258

Olmsted County is about 90 miles southeast of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. But there is not a significant difference in median rent or overall cost of living among the three areas.

- Share of homes that are rentals: 32.7% (+3.8 percentage points from 2016)
- Total rental units: 10,763
-- Median rent: $799
-- Median household income for renters: $37,278

Erie County hugs Lake Erie and sits about midway between Toledo and Cleveland. The county seat is Sandusky—known for the Cedar Point amusement park—and the area is known for its relatively low cost of living.

Counties seeing the highest number of renters in 2023

Reduce your financial risk of flood with 7 tips for rental home owners.

What Landlords Should Know About Flood Damage (And How To Reduce Risk)

Flood is the most common natural disaster and the most expensive when it comes to damaging a home. 

According to FEMA, one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage to a home. That’s a big cost to wear for the unprepared, especially in a rental home that should be earning you money, not losing it. 

All landlords need to ensure their rental home is in a liveable condition. After a flood, that could mean arranging for urgent repairs or ending the lease. If you’re uninsured, that means wearing this cost yourself. Flood insurance is not included in standard homeowners or landlords insurance policies, leaving you exposed to expensive risk unless you take action. 

This article will look at ways homeowners can mitigate and recover from the financial risk of flood damage to a rental home. 

Does landlords insurance cover damage caused by floods?

Will federal disaster payments cover flood damage to my rental homes?

What happens to a lease agreement if my rental home floods?

Am I responsible for paying relocation costs for tenants if my rental property floods?

How much does it cost to restore a home after water damage from a flood?

How can I minimize the financial risk of flood damage in my rental home?

Disclaimer: We’re on a mission to upend and redefine the traditional landlord-tenant relationship, so we refer to members in our network as homeowners and residents. That said, this article is for people who are looking for answers with more common industry terms like ‘landlords’ and ‘tenants’, so in some instances we have had to stick to the old moniker for owners of rental homes. This article provides a guide for homeowners, but should not replace legal or financial advice. Natural disasters create emotional and unique situations, so speak to a professional about your exact situation in the event of a flood or storm. 

Does landlords insurance cover damage from floods?

Flood insurance is not standard in most policies. Even if you have landlord insurance to cover a tenant-occupied home, there’s a good chance you’re not covered for floods unless you request it. 

There are two ways to get covered with flood insurance. The first is to opt for coverage in your own private landlord policy. The other is to join FEMA's national program. A policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will protect the following items in a rental property:

Refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances like dishwashers

Permanently installed cabinets, paneling, and bookcases

Foundation walls, anchorage systems, and staircases

Fuel tanks, well water tanks and pumps, and solar energy equipment

If you have flood coverage with FEMA, this will cover for flood-related loss only. It won’t cover water damage unrelated to a natural disaster, such as burst pipes. There’s also no coverage for financial loss on an unlivable rental. For these reasons it’s a good idea to combine flood insurance with a robust landlord insurance policy for total peace of mind. 

Unless you have a furnished property, you won’t need to opt for a contents policy. Residents in your rental home need to have their own coverage to protect their belongings. This is why Belong insists that everyone in our network has insurance coverage for peace of mind and financial security.

If the President declares a federal disaster after a flood or storm, you may be eligible for financial help for your rental home. This could be a loan (which must be repaid) or a FEMA disaster grant. 

The average payout from a disaster grant is about $5,000 per household — not even close to what you’ll need to rebuild or make significant repairs to the home. A flood insurance payout will cover your individual claim based on the policy held and won’t need to be repaid. 

After a flood, you will be responsible for restoring the home to a livable condition. Your residents will continue to owe rent, but you may need to negotiate a rent pause or reduction while repairs are happening. 

If the home is not in a habitable condition, either you or the resident can end the lease with notice. You won’t be able to collect rent from the time the home was deemed uninhabitable, until repairs have been made. 

In the instance of severe property damage or total loss of the home, the lease will end immediately as the home will no longer be fit for use as a rental. You will have approximately 21 days to return the security deposit and any rent that has been paid in advance.

This question often comes up after a flood or major storm because the residents will often need to move out after a flood. 

Most state laws, including Washington and California, stipulate that landlords are not required to pay relocation costs if their home is damaged by:

Hurricane and storm damage are natural disasters. In these instances, you won’t need to front up costs to move the resident out while repairs happen.

Landlord negligence is a different story. Say for example you were notified of faulty plumbing and you didn't have it fixed. If a major pipe burst and flooded the home, you could be liable. In a scenario like this, seek advice from a lawyer immediately. The resident may pursue legal action to recover damages and relocation costs.

It's also worth noting that some lease agreements have specific clauses on relocation costs, so check the fine print. If your agreement includes relocation or accommodation for natural disasters, residents will be able to ask you to cover these costs.

The average cost of restoring a rental home after a flood depends on how bad the water damage is. Water damage falls into four classifications, 1 being a minor leak (like a toilet overflowing) to 4 for damage caused by a hurricane or major disasters. Most flood damage will fall somewhere between classes 2 and 4, with Forbes Home listing these average costs: 

Average cost to fix ‘Class 2’ Water Damage: $550 - $1,000

If a whole room is damaged, it is classified as Class 2 Water Damage. This may be a simple cleanup but requires professional help to fix the walls and possible flooring damage.

Average cost to fix ‘Class 3’ Water Damage: $1,100 - $3,200

If water damage is extensive in one room or spread to a few rooms, this is classified as Class 3 Water Damage and could cost a couple of thousand dollars to fix. This could include fixes to ceilings, walls and flooring and could be cost per-room depending on the extent of the damage. 

Average cost to fix ‘Class 4’ Water Damage: $20,000 - $100,000

Flooding from a natural disaster such as a storm or hurricane is likely to cause the worst damage, which is Class 4 Water Damage. When water spreads quickly through the home it can require extensive repairs and replacement of furnishings. 

Flood damage is a risk to rental homes in ALL areas and isn't covered by standard insurance. Reduce your financial risk of flood with 7 tips for landlords.

Property management services make it easier for rental property owners to make a passive income - Belong takes that to a whole new level

What are Property Management Services? How is Belong Different?

Is owning a rental property a fast-track to passive income? Not without a lot of active work! Managing a rental home is anything but passive if you're doing the heavy lifting on your own. This is why many people opt to use property management services, outsourcing this 24 hour, 7 day a week job to professionals.

The problem is, property management companies come with their own headaches. But if you want rental income that is passive, there's been no better solution — until now.

Belong was born to disrupt the way renting works by creating a unique humanized service that puts people first. Belong's human approach and industry-busting innovations support the financial freedom of homeowners while providing a better rental experience for everyone.

This article will dive into exactly what property management services entail — and how Belong’s services are different.

Comprehensive property management takes care of your rental home or real estate investment on your behalf. That could mean anything from collecting rent to scheduling repairs to leaky faucets.

Full service property management includes:

A property evaluation to determine pricing

Reviewing applications and tenant screening

Managing contractors for home maintenance

Belong offers the above services, but in a completely different way — and with many more benefits and innovations at no extra cost. Belong is making renting lovable for everyone — both homeowners and their residents. We are ditching the broken, outdated property management model in favor of a more human, hospitality experience.

Here is a look at what you’ll get by engaging a property management company vs having your home and residents taken care of by Belong.

Property management services vs Belong services

A property manager will suggest what rent to charge for your home, based on local comps. That is, how much rent is for a home of a similar size in your local neighborhood.

When Belong evaluates a home, we assess how to maximize your rental cash flow and best achieve your long-term financial goals.

We review your home and prepare it for renters. Some homes won’t need anything done, but if they do, we’ve got you covered. Our network of over 10,000 expert tradespeople will boost your ROI, making repairs or updates based on optimizing your rental income.

Once listed, we use a clever combination of expertise and technology to get your rental price. We can even account for real-time demand for your home!

If you still live in the home, we can even move you out and your new residents in with our relocation services.

Property management companies handle the marketing of your home. Property management fees include the basics such as photos and descriptions, but most charge extra for video or online tours.

As a tech-forward company, we don’t believe that video is optional. 3D and virtual tours of single family homes work to expand your market, so we include this service in our fees.

Belong also integrates with major rental listing sites such as Zillow, Hotpads and Zumper. When you list with Belong, you’ll be automatically featured on all the top sites. This is important because it means you’ll get 30-50% more views for your home as well as a direct feed of applicants from these sites into the Belong system. This lets us find the best applicant faster than an old school property manager could.

It’s another way that Belong reduces vacancy times and costs for homeowners, with 66% less vacancy than competitors and an average of 29 qualified applications for every home listed.

Property management services may include tours of the home for prospective tenants to see. Some low-cost companies bill each physical inspection as an extra cost.

We host tours of your home the way people want to see it. In person, online, via 3D video in their own time — it’s a new world and we’re part of it.

Effective tenant screening protects your home and cash flow by finding reliable and trustworthy people to live in your home. Property management companies should screen rental history, credit check, background check, referrals, and employment verification for every applicant.

Belong goes the extra mile to find the perfect, long-term resident for your home. As well as screening, we conduct interviews with applicants to find the right fit. We want people to take care of your home as if it’s their own and do everything we can to foster that unique feeling of belonging.

Managing rent collection and communication

Property managers get a lease agreement signed, collect a security deposit, and schedule a move-in date. Your property manager will also be responsible for collecting rent and ongoing communication.

A recent US Census pulse survey revealed that 9 million Americans were behind in their rent. To avoid being a statistic, you should ask your property manager about their policies for late rent. The company should enforce late fees, administer warnings and manage eviction notices.

The biggest difference that Belong offers is that we guarantee rent every month — regardless of when your resident pays. It’s rental income and cash flow you can count on.

We also protect all homeowners against the legal costs of evictions, offering up to $15,000 coverage for any resident we place. Most management services only cover filing costs (~$500) even if you’re paying for “eviction protection”.

Speaking of protection, Belong also offers insurance products through the Belong app. Rental Home Insurance and Renter’s Liability coverage gives everyone better peace of mind.

Property management services make it easier for rental property owners to passive income. Belong takes that to a whole new level to achieve financial freedom.

Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and now Tallahassee — it’s time to meet Belong and find out how we’re changing renting and property management for good.

10 Ways Belong is Redefining Property Management in Florida

Belong has revitalized our Florida offering to be bigger and better than ever. We’ve been hard at work expanding our capacity and capabilities throughout Florida, to make sure we could commit to the best possible service to more neighborhoods than ever. This means after a brief hiatus, we’re back and ready to make waves across the rental markets of Miami, Tampa, Orlando. We’re also welcoming Jacksonville and Tallahassee to the Belong network for the first time.  

Because let’s face it, property management in Florida is more 80s than Miami Vice. And it hasn’t aged as well, either. Property management is transactional and the whole ‘landlords and tenants’ shtick is based on archaic views that don’t reflect the modern world of homeowners and residents. Whether you’re on that journey as a renter or a homeowner, it's full of stress, anxiety, headaches — and often ill will. Belong is back to change that.

Why Florida deserves much better than even the best property management experience

When looking for a place to call home, most people have experienced first-hand how terrible the traditional property management and the landlord-tenant relationship can be. It’s a long-held belief that this is a ‘zero-sum’ game; meaning landlords only benefit at the expense of their tenants. It’s accepted that property management companies can hide fees, offer poor communication to both sides and only ever be contacted after 5pm in an emergency. 

It’s incredible how dysfunctional these relationships still are in this day and age, given that renting is a universally shared experience.

This is the type of experience Belong is transforming across Florida. We’ve set about changing every aspect of renting that fails homeowners and residents (we’re even binning the terms landlord and tenant!). 

It’s not the easy route, but we're obsessed with eradicating the poor standards we’ve all come to expect and replacing it with something truly great. 

How Belong is changing renting across Florida 

Belong is on a mission to create authentic belonging experiences for those who own much-loved homes, and those longing for that feeling. We’re changing what it means to rent a home by putting people first. It’s where hospitality meets consumer real estate — and it’s about redefining an entire industry.

When comparing property management companies, you’ll be looking at a handful of differences between them all. How much do they charge for management fees and how often you are going to get slogged for more. With Belong, there’s no comparison. Because Belong isn’t a traditional property management company, it’s a completely unique experience that is humanizing the rental market. 

Here are 10 ways that Belong is redefining renting for homeowners in Florida:

Guaranteeing rent for homeowners, regardless of when it’s paid by residents



Providing real 24/7 concierge-level support for both homeowners and residents (not just logging maintenance emergencies)



Not charging hidden fees like setup costs and lease renewal charges



Providing cutting-edge marketing and video tours at no extra cost



Taking a human approach to placing the right long-term residents that match your home (and shielding owners from costly evictions if we ever get it wrong)



An app that puts everything at your fingertips — from documentation and cash flow insights to finance and insurance solutions 



Connecting you with the most expansive, vetted vendor network of more than 10,000 professionals that can handle everything from regular repairs to full renovations



Offering insurance solutions that protect you, your home, and your residents



Innovating financial solutions for managing cash-flow on your terms, letting you split the cost of repairs, maintenance, and even your placement fee



Using true market data in Florida and real-time interest from potential residents to maximize the value of your home

The best way to rent out your Florida home

With incredible beaches, athletic enthusiasm, grandiose theme parks, and year-long tropical weather — there are many reasons that keep people flocking to the sunny weather and never-ending energy of Florida’s many cities. 

As a land of sunshine and low taxes, Florida is also an attractive state for real estate investors and a great place for homeowners to enter the rental market. If you own a home in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Tallahassee or Jacksonville, now is the time to find out if you’re eligible to join the Belong residential network. We specialize in single-family homes and condos, helping individual homeowners to achieve their financial goals in the rental market. 

When it comes to finding the best way to manage your Florida rental home, Belong offers industry-first fintech solutions to manage your cash flow more effectively — even if you want to self-manage your properties. From guaranteeing rent to credit reporting and insurance, Belong has modern solutions for a market that is changing daily.

If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional property management, our full-service offering, Belong PRO has you covered. Our team will take care of all inspections, maintenance, and reconditioning on your home to get it ready to be loved by new residents. 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. 

Earn $1,000 by referring Florida homeowners to Belong

Know someone looking to rent out their home in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville or Tallahassee? Learn about our referral program, where you can earn $1,000 by referring a qualified homeowner when they join Belong. 

Certified Florida realtors can earn revenue by referring rental leads with our Florida Realtor Partner Program. Swap the paperwork, the listings admin, home showings — the works. Belong will take care of that and still deliver you the commission, with 50% of the first month going to the referring realtor. Contact Belong at referrals@belonghome.com or (786) 628-0600. If you prefer Español, call (786) 786-1073 or visit Belong Español.

Belong goes out of its way to find residents that will love your Florida home as much as you do. But don’t take our word for it, here is what local homeowners are saying about us...

What a seamless, personal and wonderful experience this has been! I am not only surprised at their level of professionalism but also their exceptional service. Response time on questions & support were incredible! Highly recommend!!”
- Ciel K

The Belong team is top notch, and we are very fortunate to have them managing our property… They have consistently pursued the best options for both the Landlord and Tenants, and are a model of what professional management companies should be. I highly recommend Belong!"
- Frank L

I'm an owner who uses Belong for property management. They have been really great. Whenever there's an issue, they proactively work to find a resolution. They've also done a great job keeping the tenant happy. Their rental guarantee is why I chose them, but their customer service is what's keeping me!”
- Peter G

Think your Florida home belongs with us? Find out if you qualify here or check out the neighborhoods below:

Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville & Tallahassee: it’s time to meet Belong and find out how we’re changing renting and property management in Florida for good.

Unlock pricing trends, vacancy rates, price-to-rent ratios and more to make informed decisions about rental investments in LA, SF, Seattle, Miami and more

Unlock Insights into Major Rental Markets with Belong and BiggerPockets

Belong is making it easier for people to find financial freedom through real estate, while humanizing the rental experience, — in a market that has been long-dominated by major corporations and institutional investors. 

To kick-off this partnership, Belong worked with BiggerPockets to put together rental reports for three key markets:

California (SF Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego) 

Florida (Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville)


In less than 10 minutes you can unlock pricing trends, vacancy rates, and more to make informed decisions about your rental properties. 

Check out the full reports on BiggerPockets here:

Is Seattle A Good Market For Real Estate Investing? Here’s The Latest Trends

The State Of Florida’s Rental Market: What The Data Means For Investors

We’ve included a brief highlight of what to expect from these reports. 

Disclaimer: The report data was accurate at the time of writing, with data collected between January and April 2023. Data collection and macroeconomic factors are subject to change without update. These reports are designed to provide information to assist your research and should not be considered financial advice. Please speak to a Belong consultant or a financial advisor before making any decisions on your rental property. 

What do investors need to know about the rental market in California?

There are few real estate markets with as many attractive cities as California. From the allure of luxury and lifestyle in Los Angeles to the tech scene of San Francisco, there’s a reason why California rents are often reported to be the highest in the nation. Yet these dramatic figures and bar graphs aren’t always a reflection of reality, incorporating everything from a studio apartment in Brentwood to a mansion in Beverly Hills. We wanted to provide you with a more accurate view of the rental income real people are earning, so this report delves into the average rent earned in the past 12 months on single-family homes and condos across Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco’s Bay Area. 

We also examine the rent earned month-by-month, alongside the number of applications to give a picture of the market peaks and patterns of rental demand. Hot markets can go cold or turn quickly due to the balance of supply and demand, so to optimize cash flow and achieve the best price for your rental, you need to have a strong pulse on the market and adapt quickly.

Watch the BiggerPockets video on achieving cash flow in California

What are the current rental market trends in Seattle?

Our next report heads north on the west coast, to the State of Washington, narrowing in on the city of Seattle, where real estate has appreciated by 137% over the past 10 years. This places the Seattle market in the top 10% for appreciation in the US.

But in 2022, Redfin reported that Seattle was the fastest-cooling market in the U.S. Is this providing the bargaining power that investors need to get into the Emerald City? Or are rocketing interest rates canceling out any savings from the market dip? As with the Californian report, the Seattle trends guide will look at real earnings and demand in the Seattle rental market in 2023, as well as macroeconomic factors to consider that may impact residential real estate. 

Watch the BiggerPockets video on Seattle's falling house prices here

Is Florida still an attractive market for real estate investors?

The land of sunshine and low taxes, Florida has long been an attractive state for real estate investors. With strong rental demand and no rent control laws, it was already a favorable state for landlords before the massive pandemic-fuelled migration and spike in home appreciation. But after years of reported rent hikes and affordability issues, is Florida still an attractive option for investors and renters? 

Our third and final report looks at housing appreciation, wage growth, and price-to-rent ratios in key markets across Florida including Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. 

Watch the BiggerPockets video on the fast-changing Florida housing market here

How real estate investors can keep a pulse on the rental market

Whether you’re new to real estate investing, dealing with a problematic property management company or burnt out on self-managing your rental home, BiggerPockets and Belong can help. 

BiggerPockets gets you battle-ready to invest in any market, even competitive ones like California, Miami, and Seattle. And when it comes to optimizing your rental pricing and day-to-day management of your home — Belong is upending the traditional property management model to deliver unique and innovative services to both homeowners and their residents. 

From not charging fees for the essentials to guaranteeing rent, Belong will partner with you to make owning a rental property worth it. And you'll never need to lift a finger. Learn more and find out if your home is eligible (even if you’re mid-lease!) at belong.com/homeowners.

Before renting out a house in Sacramento, find out how Belong is changing the entire rental experience for the homeowners and residents of Sacramento California

Sacramento Homeowners, Here's Why 2023 Is a Great Time To Rent Out Your Home with Belong

It’s time to roll out the welcome mat as we open our doors to California’s capital, Sacramento. Since our successful launch in San Francisco’s Bay Area, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes. We’ve built up our capacity and expanded our network to bring our top-rated, industry-busting property services to homeowners in the City of Trees.

Finally, our latest launch has arrived. Belong is here and ready to take down all preconceived notions about what it means to own and manage a rental home in the historic and beautiful city of Sacramento, California. 

Why Sacramento deserves much better than even the best property management experience

Sacramento is an incredible place to rent and own a rental property, attracting plenty of job seekers, families and outdoor lovers. Yet when looking for a place to call home, most people have experienced first-hand how painful the traditional property management and the landlord-tenant relationship can be. It’s a long-held belief that this is a ‘zero-sum’ game; meaning landlords only benefit at the expense of their tenants. It’s accepted that Sacramento property management companies can hide fees, offer poor communication to both sides and only ever be contacted after 5pm in an emergency. 

It’s incredible how dysfunctional these relationships still are today. This is the type of experience Belong is already transforming across California. Across Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, we’ve set about changing every aspect of renting that fails homeowners and residents (even binning the outdated terms landlord and tenant!). 

How Belong is changing renting in Sacramento

Here are 11 ways that Belong is revolutionizing renting for homeowners in California:

Taking a human approach to placing the right long-term residents that match your home



Shielding owners from costly evictions if we ever place the wrong people



Using true market data in California and real-time interest from potential residents to maximize the value of your home


Know someone looking to rent out their home in Sacramento? We also have a referral program, where you can earn $1,000 by referring a qualified homeowner when they join Belong. 

The best way to rent out your Sacramento home

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. 

Think your Sacramento home belongs with us? Find out if you qualify here. 

Fire damage is a real risk to rental homes. Find out your responsibilities as a landlord in the event of fire and 9 tips to minimize risk of rental home fires

Reducing Fire Risks: 9 Tips for Landlords to Safeguard Rental Properties

From raging wildfires to kitchen mishaps, fires are a real risk for all rental homes. If disaster strikes, where does that leave you as the homeowner?

All landlords need to ensure their rental home is in a liveable condition. After a fire, that could mean arranging for urgent repairs or ending the lease.

It's hard to prevent house fires, but you can reduce your risk by knowing how to handle the situation. In this article, we will answer common questions on fire damage in rental homes and provide vital fire safety tips for landlords:

What happens to a lease if a rental home is damaged by fire?

Does landlords insurance cover damage from fire?

Do I need to pay relocation costs for tenants if my rental property is damaged by fire?

9 tips for reducing fire risks in a rental home

Disclaimer: We don’t enjoy using the word ‘landlord’. We refer to members in our network as homeowners and residents, not landlords and tenants, since we’re on a mission to upend and redefine the traditional landlord-tenant relationship. That said, this article is for people who are looking for answers with more common industry terms like ‘landlords’ and ‘tenants’, so in some instances we have had to stick to the old moniker for owners of rental homes. This article provides a guide for homeowners, but should not replace legal advice. Fires create emotional and unique situations, so speak to a professional about your exact situation in the event of a fire.

After a fire, landlord responsibilities vary depending on the extent of the damage. Common issues include:

The nature of the damage also impacts your lease. Here is an overview of three common scenarios:

If you own a rental home that has minor damage from a fire:

Minor damage would be something that could be repaired reasonably quickly (1-3 months) and has not destroyed a significant amount of the property. 

Residents will still owe rent and either remain in place or move out temporarily while repairs are completed

You will need to arrange for repairs urgently

Depending on the situation, you may need to negotiate a rent pause or reduction while repairs are carried out

If the home becomes uninhabitable, residents may take steps to end the lease

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