Let’s talk about something a little controversial: do landlords prefer female tenants? The answers are mixed!
There are a mix of landlords who lean towards feeling that female tenants are higher maintenance and messier, while others have had good experiences with them.
From our experience in the rental space, the answer is more nuanced than you’d think.
The Perception vs. Reality
There’s a long-standing perception that women—especially older women—are cleaner and take better care of a property. But ironically, some landlords find that older female tenants can actually be higher maintenance. Why?
They don’t always want to—or know how to—handle basic upkeep.
We’re not talking about replacing a furnace. But we’ve experienced cases where tenants will call for help because their toilet is acting funny, while it only required a minor adjustment –an adjustment that many people would know how to do, or at least feel comfortable Googling a DIY solution.
In today’s world, there are endless DIY resources—YouTube, ChatGPT, you name it. But many tenants don’t take that initiative. And when the landlord is responsible for everything, a tenant who won’t lift a finger becomes a full-time job. Landlords will attempt to gauge how high-maintenance a tenant will be in the interview process. Are they moving from a condo to a house? Do they convey a level of confidence, or are they ditsy and leave you with no confidence in their ability to maintain a house, the gardens, etc?
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The Legal Loophole
Let’s be honest—Ontario’s rental laws favour tenants, and many know it. They’re not required to perform basic maintenance, and some take advantage of that. Legally? They’re within their rights. Ethically? That’s a different conversation.
We’re not saying tenants should be doing repairs. But there’s a difference between needing help and outsourcing every minor inconvenience.
So, What’s the Solution?
Landlords: if you want a lower-maintenance tenant, it’s not always about gender—it’s about setting clear expectations from day one. Qualifying the tenant is priority number one, and hiring a good local real estate agent is key here.
Include a quick troubleshooting guide in your lease package, set boundaries around what qualifies as a maintenance issue, and encourage a little initiative from your renters. You’d be surprised how much smoother things run when everyone’s on the same page.
Bottom Line
There’s no clear answer about which gender makes a better tenant. A great tenant—regardless of gender—is someone who communicates well, respects the space, and doesn’t text you every time a lightbulb flickers.
📞 Need help screening tenants or managing rental properties in Milton or the GTA? The KT Realty team is here to help. Call us at 1 (800) 617-0090 or DM us @kormendytrott for real talk on real estate.
