32 Resident Satisfaction Survey Questions to Boost Retention

Explore 30+ resident satisfaction survey questions across key topics to improve retention, communication, and community experience.

Resident Satisfaction Survey Questions template

heysurvey.io

Preview resident satisfaction survey questions template

Resident satisfaction surveys are the secret ingredient to creating thriving communities where people love to live. These quick questionnaires help property managers unlock feedback gold, boost retention, improve their reputation, and, yes, even plump up the bottom line. Survey timing is no shot in the dark—each type fits perfectly into a resident’s journey, from that first move-in taco night to their lease renewal decision and every maintenance call in between. Below, we’ll explore the survey types that give you the clearest window into resident life.

Move-In Experience Survey

Why & When to Use

First impressions are everything, especially when residents unpack their lives into a brand-new space. The earliest moments after move-in can shape a resident’s entire experience, making this survey a must-send within 7–30 days. Catching onboarding friction before it festers is the difference between a simple fix and a future negative review.

Send this survey after your new residents have had enough time to settle in (but not so much that their memories blur). Early feedback shines a light on what’s working, and what’s not, so you can course-correct fast.

By proactively seeking out concerns, you: - Demonstrate genuine care for new arrivals. - Build foundations of trust. - Catch potential deal-breaking pain points early. - Gather feedback that helps refine move-in logistics and communication.

The move-in experience isn’t just about handing someone the keys. It encompasses support, transparency, and every small detail that signals, “You matter here.” When you nail the welcome, you are already on your way to creating loyal brand advocates.

Five Sample Questions

How satisfied were you with the cleanliness of your unit upon move-in?
Did the leasing team provide all the information you needed before move-in day?
How smooth was your key-pickup and access process?
Rate the accuracy of the unit’s condition compared to what was advertised.
What could we have done to make your move-in easier?

Residents satisfied at move-in are 59% more likely to renew their lease. (updater.com)

resident satisfaction survey questions example

Create your own survey

Create your survey, it's 100% free

Creating a survey with HeySurvey is straightforward and user-friendly, even if you’re brand new to the platform. Just follow these 3 easy steps to get your resident satisfaction survey up and running in no time!

Step 1: Create a New Survey

Start by logging into HeySurvey or jump right in without an account if you want to try it out first.
Choose to create a new survey either from scratch (Empty Sheet) or select a handy pre-built template tailored to resident satisfaction.
Give your survey a clear internal name—something like “Move-In Experience Survey” to keep things organized.

Pro tip: Below these instructions, you’ll see a button to open a ready-made template to save time!

Step 2: Add Questions

Click Add Question at the top or between questions to insert new queries.
Pick question types that suit your needs, such as Choice, Scale, Text, or NPS scales.
Write your question text and, if you want, add descriptions or images to make it even more engaging.
Mark important questions as required so no key insight slips through the cracks.
Want to get fancy? Use branching to guide respondents down different paths based on their answers.

Remember, a mix of rating scales and open-ended questions will help you gather the richest feedback.

Step 3: Publish Your Survey

When you’re happy with your questions and look, hit the Preview button to see it as your residents will.
Adjust design elements on the fly using the Designer Sidebar if something looks off.
Ready to go live? Click Publish to generate your sharable survey link.
Pro tip: You’ll need an account for publishing, so create one if you haven’t yet.

You can now send this link to residents or embed the survey on your community website!

Bonus Step: Apply Branding

Upload your property or company logo to the top left corner to give your survey a polished, professional feel.
Customize colors, fonts, and backgrounds in the Designer Sidebar to match your brand.
Add animations or change layouts if you want to spice things up a little.

This simple touch builds trust and makes residents feel the survey is truly part of your community.

Bonus Step: Define Settings or Skip into Branches

Use the Settings Panel to set start and end dates for your survey window.
Limit how many residents can respond by setting a response limit.
Redirect respondents to a custom thank you page or a promotional site after completion.
Already curious about branching? Assign next-questions based on answers to create a smooth, personalized flow.

This power-user functionality helps you tailor the survey experience and collect only the most relevant data.

Start building your first resident satisfaction survey today by clicking the button below to open a template and give HeySurvey a whirl—easy, breezy, and feedback-ready!

Create your survey, it's absolutely free

Maintenance & Repairs Survey

Why & When to Use

Timely, reliable repairs are the backbone of resident happiness. This survey should be sent automatically after every work order closes, instantly capturing the resident’s perspective while their experience is still fresh. Don’t wait for a resident to post a rant on social media—proactively measure satisfaction and keep a constant pulse on your service standards.

By prioritizing quick feedback: - You show residents that maintenance is taken seriously. - Small issues are resolved before they balloon into online complaints. - Maintenance teams receive real, actionable praise and coaching.

Keeping the repair feedback loop tight gives you a playbook for minimizing churn and delighting even the pickiest residents.

Five Sample Questions

Was your maintenance request resolved to your satisfaction?
How would you rate the technician’s professionalism and courtesy?
Was the repair completed within the expected timeframe?
How clean was the work area after the repair?
What additional comments do you have about the maintenance process?

A study found that 92% of residents reported negative experiences with maintenance, highlighting a significant opportunity to improve maintenance services. (parkade.com)

Community Amenities & Facilities Survey

Why & When to Use

Shared amenities shape the heartbeat of community living. Surveying residents quarterly (or after a shiny new amenity launches) helps you prioritize where to pour those precious capital dollars. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but these surveys ensure you’re hearing from everyone—not just the vocal few.

A well-timed amenities survey can: - Reveal hidden maintenance needs before they cause grumbles. - Highlight which amenities residents actually use. - Guide decisions on facility upgrades or expansions. - Uncover safety and accessibility concerns stealthily simmering under the surface.

Gathering consistent feedback separates high-use gems from the under-loved (and underfunded) corners of your property.

Five Sample Questions

How satisfied are you with the fitness center’s equipment variety and condition?
Rate the cleanliness of shared laundry facilities.
Which amenity do you use most often and why?
How safe do you feel in parking areas and common spaces?
What additional amenities would enhance your living experience?

Example image for resident satisfaction survey questions

Create your own survey

Communication & Management Responsiveness Survey

Why & When to Use

Nothing drives a resident up the wall faster than feeling ignored. That’s why a mid-lease pulse focused on communication and management is absolutely worth your effort. Send this survey to gauge the effectiveness of your email blasts, resident portal, and staff approachability before any communication rift morphs into a negative review.

Early detection lets you: - Identify bottlenecks in response times before they become widespread complaints. - Find out which channels residents trust (or ignore). - Ensure your portal and tech tools are assets—not obstacles. - Gather insights for training or process tweaks that ramp up satisfaction.

Letting residents voice concerns mid-lease shows you’re always tuned in, not just when it’s time for renewal.

Five Sample Questions

How clear and timely are community announcements?
How easy is it to reach staff when you have a question or concern?
Rate the helpfulness of our resident portal or app.
Have your issues been resolved on the first contact?
What communication channel do you prefer for urgent updates?

Effective communication and management responsiveness are critical factors in resident satisfaction, as they significantly influence perceptions of care quality and overall contentment. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Renewal Intent & Lease Satisfaction Survey

Why & When to Use

Lease renewal season is crunch time for forecasting vacancy and strategizing your retention offers. Surveying residents 90 days before the lease ends gives you the inside scoop on what’s influencing those “Should I stay or should I go?” decisions. It’s your secret weapon for distinguishing between true deal-breakers and negotiable inconveniences.

By getting granular insights well before move-out notices drop: - You have time to address pain points and create tailored renewal offers. - Residents feel valued, and their voices shape future operations. - Trends emerge around price sensitivity, amenity usage, and location-related concerns.

Crafting renewal plans backed by real feedback makes you far more likely to convert fence-sitters to happy, long-term residents.

Five Sample Questions

How likely are you to renew your lease?
What are the main factors influencing your decision to stay or move?
Rate your overall satisfaction with rent value for money.
How satisfied are you with noise levels in your building?
What one improvement would most influence your renewal decision?

Event & Community Engagement Survey

Why & When to Use

A thriving property is more than walls and windows—it’s about community spirit. Every event you plan, from BBQs to book clubs, is a chance to weave tighter social threads. Use an event survey right after each gathering or quarterly to check on the glue that keeps neighbors connected (or discover the gaps that need closing).

Event feedback lets you: - Know if residents are genuinely enjoying themselves or just showing up for the snacks. - Uncover which events spark connections. - Refine timing, organization, and future activity plans. - Optimize your community-building budget by focusing dollars on what works.

Bring residents into the planning process and you get better turnouts, bigger smiles, and a property everyone’s proud to call home.

Five Sample Questions

How enjoyable was the most recent resident event?
Did the event help you feel more connected to neighbors?
What type of events would you attend in the future?
Rate the event’s organization and scheduling convenience.
What could we improve for the next event?

Create your own survey

Resident Net Promoter Score (RNPS) Pulse Survey

Why & When to Use

Sometimes, you need a survey that doesn’t overstay its welcome in an inbox. The Resident Net Promoter Score (RNPS) is your go-to, offering a lightning-fast pulse on loyalty and word-of-mouth potential. Send this single-question survey monthly or bi-monthly to spot trends and measure the real impact of your bigger survey initiatives.

RNPS works wonders for: - Giving you a clear benchmark of loyalty on a 0–10 scale. - Uncovering drivers of resident delight—and their pet peeves. - Predicting referral potential (and, let’s be honest, which residents might be a flight risk).

Low effort, high return—just the way feedback should be in a fast-moving world.

Five Sample Questions

On a scale of 0–10, how likely are you to recommend our community to a friend?
What is the primary reason for your score?
Which aspect of living here delights you the most?
Which aspect frustrates you the most?
What one change would increase your likelihood to recommend us?

Best Practices & Dos and Don’ts for Resident Surveys

Designing a resident survey is both art and science. To maximize insights and minimize survey fatigue, there are a few golden rules every property manager should live by.

Keep it short and sweet—ten questions is your magic number for completion rates.
Ask questions using clear, unbiased wording, and avoid the dreaded double-barreled prompt.
Mix rating scales for quick answers with open-ended prompts to gather deeper context.
Incentivize responses in an ethical way—think raffle gift cards or small perks, never pressure or manipulation.
Never bombard residents! Surveying too often is a surefire way to tank your participation. Stick to the “30-day rule” for breathing room.
Don’t disappear after collecting feedback. Share your action plan with residents to close the loop and show them their input isn’t headed to a digital black hole.

Blend rigor and respect, and you’ll have a survey program that delivers powerful change, not just stats on a spreadsheet.

Conclusion & Action Plan

A layered survey strategy unlocks a 360° view of resident experience that no snapshot survey can provide alone. By combining different surveys with well-timed touchpoints, you capture first impressions, daily realities, and future intent with unbeatable clarity. The next steps: analyze trends, address the biggest issues, celebrate improvements, and plan your future survey cycle. Engage residents as partners in improvement, and watch your community—and reviews—shine. In the end, happy residents mean a happy, successful property.