In today’s day and age, you can manage rental properties from just about anywhere in the world. There’s no need to be tied to your apartment complex or duplex; landlords can travel or even live far from their properties without sacrificing income.
To help, many landlords rely on high-quality property management software, like Rentec Direct. Rentec Direct allows for efficient remote management, so you don’t have to worry about your tenants or your properties, no matter where you might be.
Naturally, Rentec Direct isn’t perfect for everyone and everything, so you’ll need to read up on the software’s pros, cons, and other features to decide whether it’s the right fit for you. In this review, we’ll explore those details to help you make your decision.
What is Rentec Direct?
Rentec Direct is a rental property management software program that uses cloud-based computing, allowing landlords and property managers to stay up to date on the needs of all their rental properties. From maintenance coordination to rental advertising, Rentec Direct can help.
Though most property management software is geared solely toward residential landlords, Rentec Direct offers additional perks for property managers (though those perks come at a price; more on that shortly).
Tens of thousands of landlords and property managers use Rentec Direct, making it one of the most popular programs in the business. But still—is Rentec Direct right for you? You should probably learn more about the pricing and features before you decide.
Reviewing Rentec Direct’s Features
Rentec Direct provides a far-ranging suite of tools to help landlords and property managers handle all aspects of the rental process. These are some of the program’s essential features:
Rental Advertising
Rentec Direct provides a robust rental advertising service that helps landlords and property managers quickly fill vacant properties. Users can easily upload photos and property descriptions, and post listings across multiple partner sites, including Zillow, Trulia, and Apartments.com.
Rentec Direct also offers a ChatGPT-powered listing generator that lets landlords create unique listing descriptions seamlessly. Additionally, Rentec Direct enables you to advertise your properties on your own rental website, enhancing the professionalism of your rental business.
Before syndicating property listings, Rentec Direct will verify the identities of all first-time users over the next few days. However, you won’t have to go through the process again in the future. Allow a little extra downtime as you list your property.
Rental Applications
Landlords and property managers can create and send rental applications right on Rentec Direct. Tenants can also apply to rent your property directly through your rental listing, providing a smooth experience that encourages them to apply faster.
During the application process, Rentec Direct will prompt tenants to upload any required supporting documents. Meanwhile, landlords can charge customizable application fees and include specific questions to ensure you don’t miss any critical information.
Some landlords have reported issues using Rentec Direct to decline applicants Because It does not automatically generate denial letters. Since certain states require landlords to send these letters, you may be slowed down by the extra step of writing them yourself.
Tenant Screening
Rentec Direct uses comprehensive tenant screening to help you determine whether a potential renter is the right fit for your property. Landlords can expect to receive quick, detailed reports on a tenant’s credit, criminal, and eviction history.
Rentec Direct partners with TransUnion to deliver background reports within 60 seconds. You can choose from multiple report types, from a basic screening to a more detailed check that provides all the information above.
Rentec Direct automatically asks tenants to consent to a background check during the application process, so you won’t need to conduct follow-ups to get these reports. Additionally, Rentec Direct’s screening costs are much lower than average, at around $18 per tenant.
Lease Agreement Generation
Rentec Direct makes it easy for landlords to sign a lease and secure a new tenant. With a library of landlord documents available, including leases, signing on a new tenant is simply a matter of downloading the correct form, customizing it, and sending it over.
Rentec Direct also allows landlords to customize leases with their letterhead, style, and state-specific language. However, Rentec Direct does not offer pre-made, state-specific lease templates. You’ll need to customize the documents yourself to comply with your local laws.
To that end, Rentec Direct partners with services like LawDepot and Blue Moon to assist with the leasing process. Though this can certainly help landlords, it still adds one extra step that landlords can’t complete directly through Rentec Direct.
Maintenance Coordination
Handling property maintenance is one of the most important, and often most headache-inducing, parts of being a landlord. To help, Rentec Direct allows tenants to submit maintenance requests directly through the platform, where landlords can track and update the progress of each request.
This feature can really come in handy for property managers who oversee others’ rentals. You can create a work order, track repair progress, and communicate effectively with vendors, tenants, and property owners, all from your Rentec Direct account.
Maintenance coordination won’t be entirely hands-off; you’ll still have to oversee the process and keep track of costs, after all. If you want to leave all maintenance work entirely to the professionals, you may need to consider other programs.
Rent Collection
Landlords can accept rent payments online with Rentec Direct, simplifying payment processing. Tenants can make payments through a secure online portal using either ACH direct deposit, credit, or debit cards. Renters can even pay using cash with PayNearMe.
Unlike other rental property management software, Rentec Direct does not charge landlords or tenants fees for ACH payments. Tenants can also benefit from automated online payments, which lead to fewer late payments and less stress over rent payments.
Should payments become late, landlords can choose whether to automatically charge late rent fees. And if you’re a property manager receiving rent payments on behalf of an owner, you can easily transfer payments to the owner using ACH direct deposit.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Rentec Direct provides integrated accounting to track rent payments, stay on top of expenses, and provide an overall picture of a rental property’s profitability. No matter how many units you have, Rentec Direct thoroughly simplifies accounting.
To start, Rentec Direct’s ledger-based accounting provides ample financial detail. The program can generate reports such as rent rolls, available rentals, and operating statements, all of which landlords and managers can use to assess a rental property’s cash flow.
Landlords who work with CPAs can also download information and upload it into QuickBooks for easy third-party access. Last but not least, Rentec Direct is a Trust Account Certified by state real estate boards, so that you can approach your finances with confidence.
Mobile App/Compatibility
Rentec Direct offers a mobile app compatible with both iPhone and Android, allowing you to manage your rental properties from anywhere. Tenants can also use the app to pay rent, handle leasing, file maintenance requests, and more.
Most of the core tools from the desktop software program are available in the app, and customer service is highly responsive. However, many landlords report frequent bugs and glitches, and the user interface reportedly isn’t the most intuitive.
If you’re willing to put in the time and energy to learn how to use the mobile app, this probably won’t be too big of an issue for you. However, it could be problematic for landlords who aren’t the most tech-savvy or those who expect a more straightforward interface.
Rentec Direct Pricing
Rentec Direct uses an unusual pricing model that varies by portfolio size and whether you’re a property manager or a landlord. Here’s what to know:
Rentec Pro: For landlords and investors; starts at $45 to manage one unit and goes up to $4,500 to manage more than 2,500 units
- Rental property advertising
- Tenant screenings
- Accounting and financial reporting capabilities
- Maintenance coordination
- Online rent collection
- Setup and onboarding assistance
Rentec PM: For property managers; starts at $45 per month to manage one unit and goes up to $5,625 per month to manage more than 2,500 units
- All Rentec Pro features
- Marketing and maintenance assistance
- Outgoing ACH direct deposits to pay owners
- Trust account management and reporting
- Setup and onboarding assistance
As you might imagine, Rentec Direct’s costs can be a major downside for landlords on a tight budget. For comparison, here’s how Rentec Direct stacks up against similar software:
- TurboTenant: Starts free; paid plans from $12.42 per month
- RentRedi: From $5 per month
- Avail: Starts free; paid plans from $9 per month
- TenantCloud: From $16.50 per month
- Hemlane: Starts free; paid plans from $30 per month
Pricing for Premium Add-On Features
In addition to the payment options listed above, Rentec Direct charges extra fees for particular add-on features. You’ll have to pay more for:
- Electronic cash payments: $200 setup cost
- Outgoing ACH payments: 50 cents each
- Additional bank accounts: $5 each per month
Rentec Direct also charges tenants additional fees, including $4.99 per electronic cash payment and up to $18 for tenant screening. You’ll need to keep a close eye on these costs as you ensure the profitability of your rental properties.
Who Rentec Direct is for
Landlords and property managers alike can benefit from Rentec Direct, but certain types of people will get the most out of it. Rentec Direct might be the right fit for:
- Landlords and property managers who oversee large portfolios
- Landlords and property managers who want to automate many features of the management process
- Landlords and property managers who prioritize responsive customer service
- Landlords and property managers who need comprehensive accounting services
Rentec Direct really excels in accounting, an area where many other property management software fall short. There’s also plenty of room for growth, as your Rentec Direct membership and tools can grow right along with your portfolio.
Who Rentec Direct isn’t for
Despite its many uses, Rentec Direct won’t be the right choice for everyone. These landlords and property managers likely won’t find Rentec Direct to be very useful:
- Landlords and property managers on a budget
- Landlords and property managers who want to use a simple mobile app
- Landlords and property managers who manage commercial properties
Though Rentec Direct can technically help landlords and managers oversee mixed-use portfolios, including commercial properties, reviewers say the program is better for residential management. Additionally, landlords and property managers on a budget may balk at Rentec Direct’s pricing.
Is Rentec Direct for you?
Now that we’ve explored the features, pricing, and best uses for Rentec Direct, you should be ready to make up your mind. If you want to automate much of your management duties and cost is no object, Rentec Direct could be just what you need.
You can sign up for an account and try Rentec Direct with a 14-day free trial before deciding whether to commit to a paid membership. And if you later add to your rental portfolio, you can scale up your membership accordingly.
If, on the other hand, you’ve decided that you want to try out a different rental property management software, you’ll find numerous other options on the market. Check out our reviews on TurboTenant, TenantCloud, RentRedi, and more for more ideas.
FAQs: 2025 Rentec Direct Review
Is Rentec Direct legit?
Yes, Rentec Direct is a legitimate rental property management software designed to help landlords and property managers oversee their rental portfolios. The program offers tools such as leasing, online rent collection, tenant screening, and more to streamline the rental process.
Does Rentec Direct do a hard credit check?
No, Rentec Direct does not do a hard credit check during tenant screening. Instead, Rentec Direct runs a soft inquiry that won’t damage renters’ credit scores, encouraging tenants to apply to rent while still providing crucial information about a renter’s finances.
Does Rentec Direct have a free version?
No, Rentec Direct does not have a free version. Though you can try Rentec Direct at no cost with a 14-day trial, memberships start at $45 per month and can exceed $5,000 depending on the membership and size of your portfolio.