Landlords may reply within a few hours or within 24 hours, but response times can vary depending on demand, the number of inquiries, and whether the property is still available.
Typical landlord response times
In general, you can expect that:
- some landlords respond within a few hours
- many replies arrive within 24 hours
- response times may vary depending on the number of inquiries
- some landlords may take longer if they are reviewing several applications
Because every landlord manages their own listing and messages, reply times are not always the same from one property to another.
Why response times may vary
Popular listings receive many messages
Some rental listings attract a lot of attention, especially if the property is in a popular area or priced competitively.
Landlords may review inquiries in batches
Not every landlord checks messages immediately after they arrive.
The property may already be in the process of being rented
If a landlord is already reviewing applications or arranging a tenancy, they may take longer to reply to new inquiries. In some cases, the listing may still appear online even if the property is no longer available.
How to improve your chances of getting a reply
Knowing how to write a strong first message can make a real difference. You can improve your chances of getting a reply by:
- sending a clear and polite message
- including basic information about yourself
- asking specific questions about the property
- contacting several listings instead of waiting for one reply
If a landlord still doesn't respond, there are a few more steps you can take. To make sure you never miss a new listing that matches your criteria, you can set up a Search Agent to get notified as soon as relevant homes are posted. And if you haven't yet — accessing landlord contact details requires an active Premium subscription.