A new study shows that a 30-minute delay in responding to a tour request by leasing agents reduces renter engagement likelihood from 40% to just 10%.
Renter interest does not just fade gradually over days. It drops sharply in the first hour. In a market where renters are comparing multiple properties at once and can book a competitor tour instantly, response time is becoming one of the most consequential things a leasing team controls, according to the new Rently 2026 Renter Touring Expectations Report.
The study says 47% of renters have chosen, or seriously considered choosing, a less ideal rental simply because it was easier to tour.
“Rental search has become a digital-first experience. Renters compare listings, prices, neighborhoods, photos, reviews, amenities, and availability from their phones. But when they are ready to see a home in person, the process can still become manual and slow. A renter may have to call, email, wait for a response, repeat the same information, work around office hours, and coordinate with a leasing agent before they can make a decision,” the research says.
In May 2026, Rently partnered with the third-party survey platform Pollfish to conduct an online survey of 800 U.S. renters aged 18+ who had tried to schedule or attend a tour for a rental home or apartment in the previous 18 months.
Highlights of the tour request report:
- Only 12% of renters say tour convenience would not affect their rental decision.
- 68% of renters have lost interest in a rental because scheduling a tour was too difficult.
- 88% of renters say a disorganized tour process changes their view of the property itself.
- 42% of renters prefer a self-guided tour as their first step, more than any other tour format.
- 57% of renters still want a person available to answer questions about fees, rent, or lease terms
