Family-Friendly Rental Properties: How to Make it Happen
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Family-Friendly Rental Properties, How to Make it Happen?
By ExactEstate6 min read
Last reviewed: July 2026
Property Management
In 2022, 85% of parents in the U.S. planned to travel in 2023 with their children. If you’re a property manager or owner of a rental property, this means that having family-friendly rentals can make a huge difference. You’ll want everyone in the family to stay in your apartment comfortably while enjoying their vacation.
Wondering how to make a property family-friendly? Read on to learn some practical tips and what tools you can use to attract more families and increase your ROI.
Keep the Property Easy To Clean
It’s natural for kids to make messes when playing, eating, or simply running around the house. That is why parents like family-friendly apartments that make cleaning easier. If you have stained carpet, replace it with wooden floors, vinyl, or tile. Instead of using flat paint, use a more durable satin paint. Add reliable door stoppers too, so the door handles won’t make holes in the walls.
To help make property maintenance easier for you, use effective property management software like ExactEstate. Both your staff and residents can submit work orders and track the status wherever they are. Through the online resident portal, families can easily communicate their requests and stay updated with any changes.
Consider Welcoming Pets
Welcoming both children and pets into your rental property might sound risky. However, allowing pets will mean a lot to renters who are also fur parents. Whether families are taking a vacation or moving to a new rental home, they would love to bring their furry friends because they’re also part of the family.
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If you want to accommodate families in your rental property, make sure there’s enough storage space. This includes space for clothes, kids’ toys, books, and other valuable items. However, keep some of these storage spaces out of reach of children for safety.
Moreover, provide adequate storage in the kitchen, living room, and other gathering places. If your rental property has enough space, you can provide a shed, so there’s more room for storage.
Provide Safety Features
Creating family-friendly apartments requires adding safety and security features. Examples include gate sensors, alarm systems, and security cameras. If you’re managing a large rental property, consider adding a fence to prevent intruders, create boundaries, and provide privacy.
Furthermore, keep the inside of the rental home safe for children. There shouldn’t be sharp items that can injure kids. Check for cracked tiles or live wires, and add cabinet locks and outlet covers. Baby-proof your basement doors, too.
Provide baby gates and carbon monoxide detectors. Your cleaning team should also use baby-safe and non-toxic cleaning solutions, and store these in places that are beyond the children’s reach. Also, make sure your renters have access to several keys in case kids get locked out in their room or bathroom. If your rental home has a pool, keep it secure with proper locks and fencing.
Suggest Local Family-friendly Activities
Learning how to make a property family-friendly includes recommending things and places that the whole family can enjoy in the neighborhood. These include parks, picnic spots, movie theaters, ice cream stores, kid-friendly or pet-friendly restaurants, beaches, and more.
Let them know about the festivals, concerts, and family events near the neighborhood, or create one. Doing so helps renters bond with family members and discover places that will soon be their favorites, too, giving them more reason to stay in your rental property.
Prepare Your Property for Emergencies
Emergencies can happen at any time. That is why you must prepare your rental home for any unforeseen events. This way, parents or caregivers won’t panic and will know what to do in case they encounter emergencies with their children. Provide a first-aid kit, like ice packs, bandages, gauze, antibiotic ointment, anti-itch cream, thermometers, first-aid manuals, and more.
Moreover, let the family know about the hospitals, clinics, convenience stores, or drug stores near your rental property. Give them a list complete with your personnel’s contact information. You can also place such information on the fridge or somewhere else that they’ll easily notice.
Ensure Comfortable Sleep
Another way to keep your rental property family-friendly is by making sure kids can sleep safely. Invest in bed rails, so parents will have peace of mind that their kids won’t fall out of bed in the middle of the night and get injured.
Consider including a folding crib, too. To make it easier for kids to take a nap, use blackout curtains. You can also add sleep accessories, such as a night light, humidifier, and a white noise machine. Tell parents about the quietest bedroom, so they know where to take children for nap time. Families will appreciate these efforts and be more convinced to stay at your rental home.
Offer Forms of Entertainment
Family-friendly rentals provide different sources of entertainment. These include adding a smart TV, where family members can watch or stream movies together. Place board games, puzzles, and a game table too. Parents can play with the kids or simply use the time to prepare meals or continue to work from home.
You can also provide children’s books, and a large bean bag chair or a small nook with great lighting can urge kids and even adults to read and enjoy their alone time. Furthermore, consider adding basketballs, frisbees, footballs, skateboards, and bicycles so the whole family can enjoy different activities within your rental home.
Add More Sleeping Spaces
If you’re welcoming more family members, the more that you need additional sleeping spaces. Consider pull-out sofas and bunk beds. Make sure there are enough pillows and blankets as well.
Ask Renters Questions
Knowing how to make a property family-friendly includes asking the residents themselves. They might have concerns or suggestions that can make your rental home safer and more relaxing for families. Respond to their requests promptly and effectively. If their requests don’t seem feasible to you, offer some form of compromise.
One great thing about ExactEstate as a property management platform is it gives you room for customization. From reporting to system settings, you can modify them based on your needs while ensuring that residents are enjoying their stay at your property.
Final Thoughts
To keep your rental property more family-friendly, invest in child-friendly amenities, consider allowing pets, provide different entertainment options, ensure enough storage, and prioritize safety and security.
Using ExactEstate can also help you manage your property more effectively, from tenant screening and online leasing to maintenance and reporting. Schedule a demo today to learn how we can help your business succeed while welcoming more families into your property.
