{"id":4037,"date":"2026-07-09T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentler.com\/blog\/?p=4037"},"modified":"2026-07-09T07:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T13:44:12","slug":"how-to-find-private-landlords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentler.com\/blog\/tenants\/how-to-find-private-landlords\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Private Landlords as a Renter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019re looking for your next apartment or house to rent<\/a>. But you\u2019re done dealing with property management companies. Instead, you want to find private landlords who will be more personally invested in leasing their properties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you don\u2019t know how to find private landlords or where to start, we\u2019ve got you covered. Here\u2019s the process you should follow to find them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Renters Look for Private Landlords<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Private landlords manage their own properties, including the leasing process. Renters tend to prefer private landlords as they\u2019ll have a more personal relationship with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the landlord leases the property directly, they\u2019ll likely have more flexible screening criteria and could make decisions on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many tenants also search for private landlords as they may have imperfect credit scores<\/a>, recent evictions, or irregular incomes. Connecting directly with the landlord increases their chances of getting the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several ways to find these landlords, which we\u2019ll cover in this article. But first, let\u2019s understand what a private landlord is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s the Difference Between a Private Landlord and a Property Manager?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A private landlord is an individual or a small LLC that owns less than 5 properties. This is in stark contrast to property managers who usually oversee multiple properties from different landlords simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Private<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here are some core differences between the two:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private Landlord<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They typically own the properties and oversee their rentals themselves. From showings and lease agreements to rent collection and maintenance, they handle everything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, you deal directly with the landlord. This provides greater flexibility as they tend to consider tenants on a case-by-case basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are some trade-offs. Private landlords can take longer to fix things and may not have 24\/7 maintenance lines. This could spoil your rental experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Property Manager<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They don\u2019t own the property but instead work for the landlord or a large property management company. As a result, they follow strict corporate policies. This leaves very little wiggle room compared to private landlords. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, when you connect with a property manager, you\u2019ll rarely get to talk with the landlord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, as property managers dedicatedly work for leasing properties, you\u2019ll get superior services. These include faster responses to maintenance requests and a straightforward leasing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s now look at the different strategies you can apply to find private landlords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rentler’s For-Rent-By-Owner Filter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Using Rentler is one of the simplest ways of finding private landlords. When you search for properties on Rentler, you can filter them with the \u201cFor-Rent-By-Owner\u201d filter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All you have to do is click the filter, and Rentler will do the heavy lifting, showing only properties listed by private landlords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But filtering and finding private landlords isn\u2019t the only advantage here. You can usually message owners directly through Rentler. This makes it easy to start connecting with them for the lease. You can also start the application process online<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you\u2019re looking for private landlords, consider using this filter on Rentler<\/a> as the first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zillow, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you couldn\u2019t find a private landlord through Rentler, you can also try other popular property listing websites like Zillow. This platform comes with a built-in \u201cowner\u201d filter, much like Rentler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using this filter, you can easily find properties listed by private landlords. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, you can use Craigslist. Private landlords tend to be heavily featured on this online classified site. Many also post their rental listings on Facebook Marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you need to tread with caution on both of these channels. Scams are more common on these websites compared to vetted platforms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do decide to go ahead with a listing, be sure to meet in person, verify the ownership before paying, and remain wary of listings with extremely low prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good idea would be to cross-check ownership against county property records. Proceed only if everything matches up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drive-by Method: Find Signs and Local Listings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apart from online methods, you can also try the old-school approach of searching listings manually. You can drive or walk in the neighborhood you want to live in and look for \u201cFor Rent\u201d signs on lawns or buildings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of these signs come from private landlords, as larger property management companies tend to use other channels to attract tenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you come across a \u201cFor Rent\u201d board, take images of the phone numbers and follow up with the landlords promptly. Being quick can help you get ahead of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This method tends to work best in single-family-rental-heavy neighborhoods. If you\u2019re planning to use it while searching for apartments downtown, you might find little success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search “For Rent By Owner” Keywords Directly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another helpful strategy for finding private landlords is to use the keyword \u201cFor rent by owner\u201d directly in search engines like Google. Pair this keyword up with your target city or neighborhood to bring up search results that might feature private owner house rentals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some handy Google searches you can try: <\/p>\n\n\n\n