liv.rent vs RentFaster

When it comes to finding the right rental platform in Canada, renters and landlords are faced with a wide array of options. Two of the most popular choices, liv.rent and RentFaster, each offer unique features tailored to meet the needs of the rental market. Whether you’re looking for a streamlined search experience or advanced tools to manage your rental properties, understanding how these platforms stack up can make a big difference in your rental journey. We’ll dive into a side-by-side comparison of liv.rent and RentFaster, exploring their key features, ease of use, and which platform might be best suited for your needs.

What renters should look for in a rental website

When choosing where to look for a place to rent, renters can often feel overwhelmed. It’s a very important choice as it influences so many other parts of your life. Renters are also often tied into a minimum of a year-long lease so it’s important to make the right call. For that you need a rental platform that has everything you need, we’ve highlighted some of the most important things to look out for:

• Verified Landlords & Listings – With rental scams prevalent, it’s crucial for renters to differentiate genuine listings from fraudulent ones. Choose a rental platform that employs robust, manual verification protocols to effectively identify and block suspicious listings and user profiles.
• Customizable Search Filters – Finding the right rental can be time-consuming without the right tools. Look for a rental website that offers a wide range of search filters, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, pet policies, contract duration, and amenities, to make your search more efficient.
• Security Features – Renters often need to provide personal and financial information during the rental process. Ensure the platform you choose has robust security measures in place and a transparent policy on how your data is handled and protected and won’t sell your data.

What landlords should look for in a rental website

When looking to find tenants for a rental property it’s important to go with a platform that can meet all of your needs. This is because going with the wrong tenant can cost you thousands of dollars and tie up your rental property for months. That’s why we’ve covered the most important things landlords should look out for in a rental website:

• Tenant Screening Features – Protect your property investment by thoroughly vetting potential tenants. Beyond basic credit checks, use comprehensive tenant screening tools like the TrustScore to gain a complete view of a tenant’s reliability and avoid costly damages or missed rent payments.
• All-in-One Tools – Modern landlords need a rental platform that streamlines every aspect of property management. Look for a platform that integrates listing, leasing, contract signing, and rent payment functionalities to save time and simplify the rental process.
• Flexible Pricing Plans – Choose a rental platform with pricing plans that suit your needs. Opt for platforms that offer free listings or pay-per-use options to maximize your profits, especially if you’re new to renting and want to manage costs effectively.

liv.rent vs RentFaster

1. liv.rent

liv.rent is a Vancouver-based all-in-one rental platform available across Canada that allows landlords and tenants to rent safely and securely thanks to an extensive verification process and tools like the Trust Score tenant screening tools, available on a pay-per-use basis for Essentials users and included in the platform’s Growth and Business plans. As you can see, liv.rent unsurprisingly ticks all of our boxes, and has a variety of features for every stage of the rental process, for both landlords & renters.

Renters

On liv.rent, tenants can easily search for rentals using a variety of filters and even a map view, then quickly message landlords for more information using built-in instant chat. From there, they can submit applications, book viewings and when it comes time, sign lease agreements and pay rent and security deposits through a variety of methods including credit cards, UnionPay and even Bitcoin.

Landlords

For landlords, liv.rent provides pre-filled listing templates to help you create attractive, effective listing pages, including the Smart Description feature which uses AI To write an engaging listing description for you, plus tools to allow for sharing to other platforms like Craigslist and Kijiji. Simply put, liv.rent is a great option to post a rental property for landlords.

For quick and effective tenant screening, liv.rent has refined and added to their innovative Trust Score feature, which gives landlords a comprehensive picture of a tenant’s suitability including a credit summary, a detailed risk assessment, income & employment verification, and more. All in all, this complete platform is a fantastic option to advertise and manage your apartments for rent with a full range of listing, marketing, and tenant screening features.

For landlords looking to find the perfect tenants fast, liv.rent’s Growth plan is here to make renting even easier. The Growth plan is an all-in-one property management software package, with all the tools you’ll need to digitize and streamline your rental process from start to finish. For just $48/month, this comprehensive plan includes:

• Unlimited lease protection addendums
• 2 Trust Score reports with credit check per month
• Automated rental advertising (2 per month)
• Shared management tools for up to 3 users

…plus everything in our Essentials plan.

2. RentFaster

RentFaster is a Calgary-based rental platform designed to connect landlords and tenants across Canada. Known for its user-friendly interface, RentFaster allows property owners to list rentals efficiently while providing renters with a wide selection of properties to search through. Key features include detailed property listings, customizable search filters, and tools like rent comparisons and neighbourhood mapping, helping renters make informed decisions. Landlords benefit from options to promote their listings and access tenant inquiries directly through the platform. RentFaster’s straightforward approach to the rental process makes it a popular choice for both renters and property owners alike.

Renters

On RentFaster, renters can search for available properties using a range of customizable filters, including price, location, and property type. The platform’s interactive map view allows users to explore neighbourhoods and find rentals that match their needs. Renters can directly message landlords through the platform to inquire about listings and arrange viewings. Once they’ve found the perfect rental, they can submit applications and manage communication with landlords all in one place. RentFaster also offers tools like rental comparisons and neighbourhood insights, helping renters make informed decisions quickly and confidently.

Landlords

For landlords, RentFaster offers an intuitive and efficient way to create rental listings using detailed templates that showcase properties with key features and high-quality images. The platform allows landlords to easily promote their listings through enhanced options like featured ads, increasing visibility to potential tenants.

RentFaster also provides the ability to share listings on other platforms and manage inquiries directly through the site, simplifying the rental process. For tenant screening, RentFaster enables landlords to request applications and review potential tenants before proceeding, streamlining the selection process. With its wide reach and robust listing tools, RentFaster is an effective platform for advertising and managing rental properties across Canada.

RentFaster offers flexible pricing options for landlords based on their listing needs. New rental ads start at $47.50+tax, allowing property owners to post detailed rental ads. For landlords looking to enhance visibility, RentFaster offers an option to reactivate your ad for $42.50+ tax.

Additionally, landlords with multiple suits can opt for the multi-unit listing for:

• 3-month activation – $200 +tax
• 6-month activation – $375 +tax

Rental scams: The importance of safety in a rental platform

Given the rapid rise in rental scams in recent years, renters looking for apartments for rent should put their safety & security first when it comes to choosing a rental website. Particularly for first-time renters, students, or those renting from abroad, using a rental website that safeguards you from the stress and financial burden of scams is vitally important. In the absence of face-to-face communications, there are plenty of opportunities for dishonest or deceitful behaviour on either end of the rental process. This is why it’s important to use a rental platform that is built from the ground up with safety and security as a primary focus.

FAQ: liv.rent vs RentFaster

What safety features should you look for in a rental platform?

Verified listings, multi-layered security and payment protections are all important security features to look out for in a rental platform.

How much liv.rent compared to RentFaster?

You can check out the pricing pages for both liv.rent and RentFaster to compare for yourself and see which works best for you.

Which is better liv.rent or RentFaster?

Both platforms offer a lot to both renters and landlords, it’s important to consider what you are looking for and go with the platform that best suits your needs.

What are rental platforms?

Rental platforms are online services that connect property owners or managers with potential tenants. These platforms facilitate the rental process by providing tools and features for listing properties, searching for rentals, and managing transactions.

Rethink The Way You Rent

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