How to Write Rental Property Descriptions That Fill Vacancies Fast (2025 Guide)

Every day your rental property sits vacant costs you money. For the average UK rental property at £1,200 pcm, a single week of vacancy costs £276 in lost rent.

Yet, the difference between a property that rents in days versus weeks often comes down to one thing: your property description.

A well-crafted rental description doesn't just list features,it helps quality tenants visualize their life in your property and compels them to book a viewing immediately.

This comprehensive guide shows you exactly how to write rental descriptions that minimize vacancy periods and attract reliable, long-term tenants.

Why Rental Descriptions Matter More Than Ever

The rental market has changed dramatically:

• 89% of tenants start their search online (Rightmove, Zoopla, SpareRoom)
• Average time spent viewing a listing: 47 seconds
• Listings with professional descriptions receive 3.2x more enquiries
• Well-written descriptions attract higher-quality tenants (better credit, longer tenancies)

You have less than one minute to capture attention and generate interest.

Your description needs to work harder than ever.

The 5 Key Differences Between Sales and Rental Descriptions

Many landlords and letting agents make the mistake of writing rental descriptions like sales listings. They're not the same.

Sales Descriptions Focus On:

• Long-term investment and value
• Unique features and character
• Emotional connection ("your dream home")
• 200-300 words

Rental Descriptions Focus On:

• Practical benefits and convenience
• Move-in readiness and amenities
• Lifestyle fit ("perfect for professionals")
• 100-150 words (shorter = better)

Key insight: Renters are making a practical decision, not an emotional investment. Focus on convenience, value, and lifestyle match.

The Proven Formula for High-Converting Rental Descriptions

Follow this structure for maximum impact:

Line 1: The Hook (Who Is This Perfect For?)

Start by identifying your target tenant immediately.

Examples:

• "Ideal for professionals seeking city center convenience"
• "Perfect family home with garden and excellent schools nearby"
• "Student-friendly 5-bed house moments from [University] campus"

Why it works: Tenants immediately know if this property is for them.

Paragraph 1: Key Benefits + Availability (50 words)

Include the most important information upfront:

• Available date
• Rent amount
• Top 3 features
• Location highlight

Example:

"Available from March 1st, this stunning 2-bedroom apartment (£1,400 pcm) offers modern living in the heart of Clapham. Features include a spacious open-plan living area, contemporary kitchen with integrated appliances, and allocated parking,just 5 minutes' walk from Clapham Common tube."

Paragraph 2: Property Details (40-60 words)

Concisely describe the accommodation:

• Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
• Living spaces
• Standout features
• Furnishing status

Example:

"The property comprises two double bedrooms with built-in storage, a bright lounge with large windows, modern bathroom with shower, and fully fitted kitchen. Recently redecorated throughout with neutral décor, new carpets, and ready to move straight in. Offered unfurnished."

Paragraph 3: Location & Lifestyle (30-40 words)

Highlight why the location is convenient for your target tenant:

For professionals:

"Clapham Common station is a 5-minute walk (15 minutes to Victoria), with Waitrose, cafes, gyms, and restaurants all within 2 minutes. Perfect for commuters seeking work-life balance."

For families:

"Walking distance to Ofsted-rated Outstanding St. Mary's Primary School, local parks, library, and family-friendly amenities. Safe, established neighborhood with excellent community feel."

For students:

"Just 8 minutes' walk to campus, on direct bus routes to city center, and surrounded by student-friendly shops, takeaways, and nightlife. Ideal for [University Name] students."

Final Line: Call-to-Action

Tell readers exactly what to do next:

Strong CTAs:

• "Available now,call today to arrange a viewing before it's gone"
• "Early viewings recommended,properties here rent within days"
• "Contact us immediately on [phone] to book your viewing"
• "Apply online now at [website] to avoid disappointment"

Weak CTAs to avoid:

• "For more information, please contact us" (too passive)
• "Viewing by appointment" (no urgency)

Essential Information to Include

Every rental description must include:

✅ Rent amount: £X pcm (per calendar month) ✅ Deposit amount: Typically 5 weeks' rent ✅ Available date: Exact date or "Available now" ✅ Minimum tenancy term: Usually 6 or 12 months ✅ Furnished/unfurnished status ✅ Number of bedrooms and bathrooms ✅ Parking availability (if applicable) ✅ Pet policy: Allowed, considered, or not permitted ✅ Council Tax band ✅ EPC rating

Optional but valuable:

• Bills included/excluded
• Transport links and commute times
• Broadband speed (important for remote workers)
• Outdoor space description
• Storage availability

Power Words for Rental Descriptions

Replace weak language with these proven high-performers:

Instead of "nice" → Use:

• Well-presented, immaculate, beautifully maintained, pristine

Instead of "big" → Use:

• Spacious, generous, ample, substantial

Instead of "good location" → Use:

• Prime location, sought-after area, convenient location, well-connected

Instead of "new" → Use:

• Contemporary, modern, recently refurbished, brand new

Instead of "close to" → Use:

• Just X minutes from, moments from, walking distance to, on the doorstep

Key principle: Be specific. "Just 3 minutes from Tesco" beats "close to shops" every time.

Different Tenant Personas: How to Tailor Your Description

1. Young Professionals (22-35, Singles/Couples)

What they value:

• Commute time to work
• Modern fittings and appliances
• Social amenities (bars, restaurants, gyms)
• High-speed internet
• Low maintenance

Language to use:

• Contemporary, sleek, modern, convenient, connected, vibrant, stylish

Example hook:

"Perfect for professionals, this stylish 1-bed apartment offers convenient city living with everything on your doorstep."

What to emphasize:

• Transport links ("12 minutes to Canary Wharf")
• Modern kitchen and bathroom
• Nearby cafes, gyms, social scene
• Move-in ready condition

2. Families (30-50, Children)

What they value:

• School proximity and quality
• Garden/outdoor space
• Safe neighborhood
• Storage space
• Parking

Language to use:

• Spacious, family-friendly, safe, established neighborhood, excellent schools, private garden

Example hook:

"Wonderful family home with private garden, located within the catchment area of Outstanding-rated schools."

What to emphasize:

• Distance to good schools (with Ofsted ratings)
• Garden size and safety
• Number of bedrooms
• Nearby parks and family amenities
• Quiet, established area

3. Students (18-24, Groups)

What they value:

• Proximity to campus
• Affordability
• Social atmosphere
• Bills included (if possible)
• Transport to nightlife

Language to use:

• Ideal for students, perfect for [University] students, great value, close to campus, all bills included

Example hook:

"Fantastic 5-bedroom student house just 8 minutes' walk from [University] campus, available for 2025/26 academic year."

What to emphasize:

• Walking distance or bus time to university
• Price per person per month
• Bills included/excluded (be clear!)
• Number of bathrooms (important for groups)
• Nearby student amenities

4. Retirees/Downsizers (55+)

What they value:

• Ground floor/no stairs
• Low maintenance
• Proximity to amenities
• Quiet location
• Community feel

Language to use:

• Peaceful, quiet, low-maintenance, convenient, community atmosphere, level access

Example hook:

"Delightful ground-floor apartment offering peaceful, low-maintenance living in a sought-after retirement development."

What to emphasize:

• Accessibility (ground floor, lift, no steps)
• Low maintenance (small garden, managed communal areas)
• Nearby shops, doctors, community facilities
• Safety and security features

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Being Too Vague

Bad: "Close to station" Good: "5-minute walk to Clapham Junction station (17 minutes to Victoria)"

❌ Using Jargon

Bad: "Benefits from UPVC double-glazed fenestration" Good: "Modern double-glazed windows keep you warm and quiet"

❌ Writing Too Much

Bad: 400-word essay about every detail Good: 120-150 words hitting key points

Renters skim. Long descriptions get abandoned.

❌ Focusing Only on Features

Bad: "The property has 2 bedrooms" Good: "Two generous double bedrooms with built-in wardrobes provide ample storage"

Features tell. Benefits sell.

❌ No Call-to-Action

Bad: Description ends abruptly Good: "Call today on 020 XXXX XXXX to arrange your viewing,this won't last long!"

❌ Ignoring Mobile Users

89% of renters search on mobile. Use:

• Short paragraphs (2-3 lines max)
• Bullet points for key features
• Clear, scannable layout

❌ Grammatical Errors

Nothing says "unprofessional landlord" like typos. Proofread everything.

Before & After Examples

Example 1: Professional Flat

❌ BEFORE (Weak):

"Nice 1 bed flat available. Has living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Close to station. £1,200 per month."

✅ AFTER (Strong):

"Ideal for professionals, this beautifully presented 1-bedroom apartment (£1,200 pcm) offers modern living just 4 minutes' walk from Balham station (16 minutes to Victoria).

Features include an open-plan living area with contemporary kitchen (integrated appliances), spacious double bedroom with built-in wardrobes, and sleek bathroom with rainfall shower. Offered unfurnished and available from March 1st.

With Waitrose, cafes, and gyms on your doorstep, this is perfect for commuters seeking convenience and style.

Call today on 020 XXXX XXXX to arrange your viewing."

What improved:

• Target tenant identified immediately
• Specific details (4 minutes, 16 minutes to Victoria)
• Benefits highlighted (convenience, style)
• Professional language
• Clear CTA

Example 2: Family Home

❌ BEFORE (Weak):

"3 bed house with garden. Good area. Near schools. £1,800 pcm."

✅ AFTER (Strong):

"Perfect family home in sought-after Teddington, this spacious 3-bedroom semi-detached house (£1,800 pcm) offers a large private garden and excellent local schools.

Accommodation includes a bright lounge with feature fireplace, modern kitchen-diner with patio doors to garden, three double bedrooms, and contemporary family bathroom. Recently redecorated throughout with new carpets and ready to move in.

Located just 6 minutes' walk from St. Mary's C of E Primary (Ofsted Outstanding) and moments from Bushy Park, this peaceful residential area offers the ideal setting for family life.

Available from April 15th. Contact us today to arrange a viewing,family homes in this location are highly sought after."

What improved:

• Family focus front and center
• Specific school details (name + rating)
• Garden emphasized (key for families)
• Location benefits clear
• Urgency created

Advanced Techniques

1. SEO Optimization for Online Portals

Include keywords tenants actually search for:

• Location names (neighborhood, nearby areas)
• Property type (flat, apartment, house, studio)
• Key features (garden, parking, en-suite)
• Nearby landmarks (station names, parks, schools)

Example:

"2-bedroom flat Clapham with parking" (this exact phrase gets 400+ monthly searches)

2. Use Numbers and Specifics

Numbers stand out and build trust:

• "5-minute walk" (not "close to")
• "60ft garden" (not "large garden")
• "12 minutes to Waterloo" (not "near station")
• "Ofsted Outstanding school" (not "good school")

3. Create Urgency

Techniques:

• "Available now,call today"
• "Just been refurbished,first to view will rent"
• "Rarely available in this location"
• "Properties here typically rent within 7 days"

4. Highlight What Makes You Different

If your property has ANY of these, shout about it:

• Parking (huge in cities)
• Garden (rare in flats)
• Recent renovation
• High-speed broadband
• Pet-friendly policy
• Bills included
• Flexible tenancy terms

The AI Shortcut: Write Rental Descriptions in 30 Seconds

Let's be honest: Even with templates and formulas, writing quality rental descriptions takes 15-30 minutes per property.

For letting agents managing dozens of properties, that's simply not sustainable.

This is where AI comes in.

Tools like PropertyScribe can:

1. Analyze your property images automatically
2. Identify key features and target tenant type
3. Generate professional rental descriptions in 30 seconds
4. Create multiple styles (modern, concise, premium)
5. Optimize for SEO and conversion

Real example:

Input: Upload 6 photos of a 2-bed flat in Clapham

AI Output (30 seconds later):

"Ideal for professionals, this stunning 2-bedroom apartment offers contemporary living in prime Clapham location. Features spacious open-plan living area with modern kitchen (integrated Bosch appliances), two double bedrooms with built-in storage, and stylish bathroom with rainfall shower. Moments from Clapham Common tube (15 mins to Victoria) and surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and amenities. Available March 1st at £1,450 pcm. Call today to view!"

Time saved: 25 minutes Quality: Professional, optimised, compelling

Try PropertyScribe Free - Generate Rental Descriptions in 30 Seconds →

Quick Checklist: Is Your Rental Description Ready?

Before publishing, check:

✅ Target tenant identified in opening line ✅ Rent, deposit, and available date clearly stated ✅ Key features mentioned in first paragraph ✅ Specific location benefits (not vague) ✅ Furnished/unfurnished status included ✅ Practical details (parking, pets, bills) ✅ Strong call-to-action at the end ✅ No grammatical errors or typos ✅ Length: 100-150 words (not too long) ✅ Mobile-friendly formatting (short paragraphs)

The Bottom Line

Writing rental descriptions that fill vacancies fast requires:

• Understanding your target tenant
• Leading with benefits, not just features
• Being specific with details and numbers
• Creating urgency and clear next steps
• Keeping it concise and scannable

Every day your property sits vacant costs money. A great description can reduce your average void period from 3-4 weeks to 7-10 days.

On a £1,200 pcm property, that's £700-900 saved per vacancy.

The time you invest in crafting (or automating) quality descriptions pays for itself many times over.

Ready to write faster and better? Use the templates and formulas in this guide, or try AI-powered tools like PropertyScribe to generate professional descriptions in seconds.

Try PropertyScribe Free - 3 Rental Descriptions on Us →

Have questions about rental property descriptions? Need help with a specific listing? Drop a comment below or contact our team.