The 2026 Tenant Insights Report:
What Renters Want, Need, and Expect

We surveyed more than over 4,000 renters across the country to understand how tenants feel about their homes, landlords, and leases. The findings reveal a tenant base that largely values their rentals but has clear preferences for digital communication, transparent pricing, and practical amenities.

Inside you'll learn:

• What tenants say about the value they receive for the rent they pay
• How renters prefer to communicate with landlords and pay rent each month
• Which amenities matter most to tenants and which ones fall flat
• What drives tenants to renew their lease and what puts renewal at risk

Key Takeaways:

• Tenants feel good about their rent: 64% of renters say they receive fair or great value, and 54% report that recent rent increases have had no financial impact.
• Digital communication is the expectation: 84% of tenants prefer online portals, text messages, or email, and 80% want to pay rent via ACH bank transfer.
• Practical amenities win every time: Parking and storage top the priority list at 37%, followed by in-unit laundry at 17%. Smart home features rank last at 1%.
• Retention is strong but not guaranteed: 54% of tenants are very likely to renew, but 20% remain undecided, representing a significant retention opportunity for landlords.