If your home is on the market but you haven’t received an offer you’re happy with, you may be wondering: what if it doesn’t sell? For a growing number of homeowners, that question has led to a new dilemma: should I rent it out?

There’s even a term for this in the industry: the “accidental landlord.” Yahoo Finance defines them as:

“These ‘accidental landlords’ are homeowners who tried to sell but didn’t get the price they wanted, and instead decided to rent their homes until conditions improve.”

Why it’s happening more now

The number of accidental landlords is on the rise. Business Insider explains that while accidental landlords have always existed, a period of slow sales in the midmarket—driven largely by a sharp increase in mortgage rates—is creating a new wave of reluctant rental owners.

Put simply: sales have slowed as buyers wrestle with affordability, leaving some homes stuck on the market. If owners don’t want to cut their price to attract buyers, they may choose to rent instead.

But don’t forget what renting really means

Keep in mind: becoming a landlord was probably not your original plan, and there’s usually a reason for that. Landlording involves far more responsibility—and risk—than many people expect. Before you decide, ask yourself these questions.

Just because you can rent a place doesn’t mean you should. Consider:

1. Are you moving out of state? Managing maintenance remotely is not easy.

2. Does the home need repairs before it’s ready to rent? Do you have the time or funds to make them?

3. Is your neighborhood attractive to renters, and would the rent cover your costs?

If any of these raise doubts, selling might be the better option.

In theory, renting looks like easy passive income. In practice, it often means:

1. Late-night calls about clogged toilets or broken AC units.

2. Chasing late rent payments.

3. Repairs and turnover costs between tenants.

As Redfin notes, owners frequently face essential repairs—burst pipes, failing HVAC systems, structural issues—that can quickly add up. If you don’t have a few thousand dollars set aside for these kinds of fixes, you could be in trouble.

Bankrate highlights some of the hidden expenses of renting out your home:

1. Higher insurance premiums (landlord insurance can be roughly 25% more).

2. Management fees (if you hire a property manager, expect around 10% of the rent).

3. Ongoing maintenance and advertising to find tenants.

4. Vacancy periods, when you still must cover the mortgage without rental income.

All of these costs stack up fast.

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An alternative: revisit your selling strategy first

While renting can make sense for the right owner and the right property, if you’re only considering it because your listing didn’t perform, there may be a better first step: talk with your current agent and rework your sales strategy.

With the right pricing, presentation and relaunch plan, you might relist at a price that attracts real buyers and closes the sale—without assuming the burdens of being a landlord.

In summary

Don’t decide to rent just because selling proved harder than expected. Becoming a landlord carries responsibilities, costs and risks that can outweigh the benefits for many owners. If you’re uncertain, start by reviewing your options with one of our agents—they can help you model the numbers, compare scenarios and choose the path that fits your goals.

⭐ Would you like us to run a quick rent-vs-sell calculation for your property? If you share the expected monthly rent and your current monthly costs, I’ll prepare the numbers for you.