How to Boost Satisfaction and Retain Rental Residents
Rising home prices have caused renters to remain in their homes for longer, and as such their expectations are evolving beyond simply finding a place to live. According to the 2025 Resident Experience Trends and Insights Study from residential data provider Chamberlain Group, today’s renters value meaningful connections and engaging amenities, which are often overlooked by rental community developers.
To boost resident satisfaction, the report recommends that developers focus on enhancing technology, providing quality amenities, and fostering a greater sense of community. The study highlights four areas that respondents believe would most improve their overall living experience, including:
- Property Management Staff: Residents value friendly day-to-day interactions, a simplified maintenance request process, and flexibility during extenuating circumstances more than formal major touchpoints like move-in or routine outreach. The #1 resident priority is overall friendliness when they interact with staff, with a current satisfaction rating of 41%.
- Technology Solutions: The gap between high importance and low resident satisfaction makes technology investment a key area for growth. Seamless, high-quality access options like key fobs, mobile credentials, and smart locks are the strongest drivers of satisfaction with technology. Additionally, apps that help residents engage with the community and reserve amenities are also highly valued. A top resident priority is the availability of access options, which only 33% of residents rate as excellent.
- Community: It’s no surprise that the most important community factors for residents are a clean, respectful, and welcoming environment. The study also found that a genuine and personalized building tour is crucial for setting expectations and helping residents determine if the community is the right fit for them. The #1 resident priority is their fellow residents being clean and respectful of common areas, with 35% of residents being in complete agreement.
- Amenities: Residents prioritize amenities that are modern, new, and save them time and money. Convenience and value are strong drivers, as residents want amenities that reduce their monthly costs, such as an on-site gym. The top resident priority is how modern and new amenities are, with only 18% of respondents rating them as excellent.