Managing rental properties can be rewarding, but it comes with a long list of responsibilities. From collecting rent and handling repairs to keeping financial records and communicating with tenants, landlords often juggle many tasks at once.
Whether you own a single rental unit or manage a large portfolio, having essential landlord resources and tools can make your work easier, save you time, and even help you earn more money from your properties. The right apps and services can help with rent payments, tenant screening, maintenance, legal forms, and much more.
Here’s a list of 10 tools every landlord should consider.
1. Landlord Banking
Having a separate banking setup for your rental business makes tracking income and expenses much simpler. While some business bank accounts can work, landlord-specific banking tools are designed with property management in mind.
Baselane is a banking platform made for landlords and real estate investors. It lets you:
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Open unlimited accounts for each property or unit.
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Keep security deposits, operating expenses, and savings in separate accounts.
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Earn competitive interest rates with no monthly fees.
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Use physical or virtual debit cards with spending limits.
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Automate bookkeeping with built-in expense tracking.
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Collect rent online directly through the platform.
By replacing your old spreadsheets and basic accounts with Baselane, you can keep your property finances organized and ready for tax season.
2. Property Analysis
Before buying a property, it’s important to know if it will actually make a profit. Property analysis tools help you see potential returns before you invest.
Baselane’s rental property calculator provides projections for:
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Monthly cash flow
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Return on investment (ROI)
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Cap rate
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Operating expenses
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Cash-on-cash return
You just enter the purchase price, rental income, and estimated costs, and it shows you if the deal makes sense.
Another good option is DealCheck, which lets you compare multiple properties side-by-side. Paid versions also offer market comparisons, after-repair value (ARV) estimates, and more.
3. Tenant Screening
Finding reliable tenants is one of the most important parts of being a landlord. Skipping background checks can lead to late rent, property damage, or even costly evictions.
Baselane’s tenant screening tool provides instant reports showing:
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Credit scores and payment history
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Criminal background
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Prior evictions
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Verified income
A quick screening before signing the lease can save thousands of dollars and give you peace of mind.
4. Property Listing and Leasing
When you have a vacancy, getting it in front of as many qualified renters as possible is key. Online listing platforms help you fill units faster.
Zillow Rental Manager is one of the most popular free options, reaching millions of renters each month. Other good platforms include Realtor.com and Redfin.
Some listing sites also provide digital lease templates you can fill out online. With Zillow or Baselane, you can create a lease, send it for e-signature, and store it for future reference—all without printing a single page.
5. Online Rent Payments
Chasing tenants for rent is time-consuming. Online rent collection makes it easier for both you and your tenants.
Baselane’s online rent collection features include:
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Multiple payment options (bank transfer, debit, credit)
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Automatic payment scheduling
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Late fee automation
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Monthly reminders for tenants
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Payment tracking history
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Direct deposits to your bank account in as little as two days
This system helps reduce missed payments and makes rent day stress-free.
6. Maintenance and Repairs
Repairs and upkeep are unavoidable. Having a quick way to manage maintenance requests keeps tenants happy and protects your property.
Latchel connects landlords to licensed local contractors for plumbing, electrical work, pest control, and more. It also integrates with Baselane so you can schedule repairs, approve quotes, and pay invoices in one place.
If you prefer finding contractors yourself, ZipRecruiter lets you post a job and review profiles from qualified service providers in your area.
7. Cleaning Services
Whether a tenant is moving out or you’re preparing a short-term rental for the next guest, cleaning is essential.
Handy allows you to book a professional cleaner with just a few taps. You can see upfront pricing, choose from flexible scheduling, and know you’re hiring someone screened for quality.
For short-term rentals, Turno automates cleaning schedules by syncing with your booking calendar on Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms.
8. Legal Services
Landlords often need legal help for leases, disputes, or evictions. Hiring a lawyer by the hour can be expensive, but subscription-based services can save you money.
Rocket Lawyer offers:
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Lease and legal document creation
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Lawyer consultations
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Help with eviction notices and disputes
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Guidance on landlord-tenant laws
For a monthly fee, you get ongoing legal support without paying high hourly rates.
9. Document Storage
Paper files can be lost or damaged. Storing your important documents online keeps them safe and easy to find.
Popular options include Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. Google Drive is a great choice for landlords because it’s secure, low-cost, and integrates with many other apps you might use for property management.
10. Project Management
Managing a property involves many moving parts—finances, inspections, lease renewals, repairs, and more. Project management apps help you stay on top of deadlines and tasks.
Trello, Asana, and Basecamp are popular tools that let you:
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Create task lists
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Assign jobs to team members or contractors
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Set reminders for important dates
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Keep all related documents and notes in one place
Final Thoughts
Landlords have a lot to manage, but the right tools can make the job easier, faster, and more profitable. You can use separate apps for each task, or you can choose an all-in-one platform like Baselane, which combines banking, rent collection, bookkeeping, tenant screening, and maintenance management in a single dashboard.
By investing in the right tools now, you can spend less time on paperwork and more time growing your rental business.
