Property managers, here are the 5 top leasing trends of 2025

Despite shifting market conditions, the property management industry continues to grow at a stellar rate. According to Buildium’s 2025 Property Management Industry Report, 82% of the management companies we surveyed experienced portfolio growth within the last two years. And 91% of property managers told us they plan to expand their portfolios in the next two years.

Here are the top five leasing trends we’ve identified for this year. From renters wanting to embrace technology throughout their property search and leasing process to property managers finding ways to increase tenant retention in light of renters’ financial health concerns, this post will provide key insights on what you can do to keep growing.

1. Most Renters Prefer a Digital-First Process

The 2025 Industry Report found that 88% of renters want to complete at least some rental processes online. Renters showed this preference regardless of generation, with 94% of Generation Z and Millennials all the way to 61% of the Silent Generation saying they would prefer digital processes.

As for the technologies renters want most, ease of communication and payment are at the top priorities. 75% of renters say they would like an online portal for tasks like making payments and submitting maintenance requests. Younger renters are most interested in a portal. Even so, 2 in 3 older renters look for a resident portal, as well.

Renters prefer to complete most rental processes on their phones, but they still prefer their computers when applying to a rental. And while most renters prefer to tour units in person, 3D and virtual tours are helpful for those who don’t live nearby.

With that in mind, property managers can take the following steps to weave technology into their leasing efforts:

• Post listings online that include 3D images and virtual tours.
• Allow prospective tenants to apply online directly from listings.
• Set up a tenant portal.
• Enable online rent and deposit payments.
• Send communications via text message and email.
•  Allow for online document signing and distribution.

For more tech-specific stats and industry-specific insights, check our Leasing Technology Trends Report and Leasing Technology Playbook.

2. Renters Want All the Information Up Front

Renters want a more streamlined property search process. In particular, they’d like their decision-making stage to be made easier by having more detailed information about available units, alongside having multiple viewing options.

In our Industry Report, renters wanted to see unit-specific information in listings. While you may think that this extends only to apartment descriptions and current photos, this ask goes deeper. Renters want to see information about the property and the neighborhood, as well. They want to know where to find the features that fit their needs and their lifestyle; features such as schools, grocery stores, public transportation, shops, and restaurants.

They want fee information up front, as well. Beyond just seeing the current rental amount, they want to see utility information and information on any supplemental fees, such as pet fees.

It’s extremely important that your listing information is presented in both an eye-catching and fully transparent manner. Buildium’s Marketplace partners, Goodjuju and Upkeep Media, can help you build cutting-edge, SEO-driven websites that will help your listings stand out from the crowd. Meanwhile, tools such as ShowingHero can provide services like secure self-tours to cut down on the time your renters spend searching for properties.

3. Leasing Renewals Win Out Over Finding a New Rental

Next, after a few years of drastic fluctuations in renter retention, we are finally starting to see more stabilization in lease renewals. When Buildium asked renters whether they planned to move from their current rental or stay put, 47% said they planned to remain at their current place of residence, the highest number we’ve seen since 2021.

Among the factors that influenced their decision, their perception of the value of their current rental weighed against the rent they’re paying. For many, judging that value came down to three major factors:

1. The quality of service they receive from their property manager or landlord
2. The condition of the property and quality of the response to maintenance issues
3. The amenities and services available to them

This is particularly important if you’re planning to raise rents, which 63 percent of property managers from our Industry Report are planning to do in order to offset rising costs. While a new lease may come with a higher rent than a lease renewal, tenants are still concerned about rent affordability and may look elsewhere.

Property managers should consider reaching out to tenants regularly to collect feedback on these three areas and asking what they can do to improve the resident experience. Doing so may go a long way toward increasing lease renewal rates.

4. Property Managers Are Prioritizing Tenant Screening

Our Industry Report found that renters’ incomes are not tracking with rising rent. This has led many renters to struggle to pay their bills on time. While 55% of survey respondents feel that, typically, they’re able to keep up with their financial obligations, 14% say they usually struggle to stay on top of them, 6 percentage points higher than last year.

Meanwhile, according to the National Apartment Association, a rise in tenant application fraud has put rental owners and property managers on alert.

As a result, property managers have begun to make tenant screening a higher priority. Their focus is on signing honest tenants who have the financial means to stay in place long term, even in the event of further economic downturn.

Taking steps, such as setting minimum applicant requirements, requiring a complete rental application, and running a thorough background and credit check can go a long way toward helping you find tenants who will stand the test of time. Going the extra mile and getting references from an employer or landlord, as well as interviewing all prospective tenants can help, too.

5. Property Managers Are Turning to Tech More and More

It’s no surprise that property managers are leveraging all that tech has to offer to cut costs and increase efficiency in leasing processes. It’s an opportunity to streamline processes and reduce in-house staff. In fact, 36% of property managers in our Industry Report plan to use technology to drive greater efficiency.

For leasing, that includes software to:

• List properties across multiple sites
• Sign and store leases electronically
• Schedule and conduct virtual rental showings
• Document inspections

And the tech they’re using goes beyond simple apps. 20% of the property management companies we surveyed said they were using AI. The most common uses include:

• Generating messages for customer communications
• Writing rental listings
• Using chatbots to answer questions submitted through their website

Finally, property managers are leveraging technology to hire virtual assistants and overseas workers. Of those who have outsourced, 39% are using them for leasing coordination.

How to Make the Most of 2025’s Leasing Trends

The bottom line on 2025’s leasing trends is that, despite some challenges, there is still plenty that property managers can do to retain their existing tenant base and draw new leases in the door. When done in concert, both of those things can go a long way toward driving overall portfolio growth.

At base, it has a lot to do with providing quality service, keeping the property in good condition, and offering top-notch amenities. However, you can take your offerings to the next level by relying on technology to lend added convenience to the leasing process on both sides.

Whether you decide that you want to invest in a resident portal, use tenant incentives to assist with rent collection, or invest in tools such as Goodjuju to ensure that your property’s website converts, Buildium’s property management software can help you do it seamlessly with the touch of a few buttons.

Get started with your 14-day free trial of Buildium today.