31 Tenant Survey Questions to Boost Retention & Property Performance

Maintenance Request Satisfaction Survey

Why & When to Use

Fast, reliable repairs are a tenant’s top priority—nothing tanks a property’s reputation like ignored requests. A maintenance request satisfaction survey should land in a tenant’s inbox right after a maintenance ticket closes. Doing so tells residents you care about both speed and the final result. It’s also an instant feedback loop to flag chronic issues or up the ante on service quality.

Property teams rely on this survey to:

• Instantly measure response times and set benchmarks.
• Spot bottlenecks—did communications lag, or did a contractor fail to show?
• Understand how respectful vendors are of a tenant’s space and routines.
• Reduce callbacks by checking if repairs stick the first time.
• Improve the overall quality of maintenance, from start to spotless finish.

Acting on this feedback can dramatically reduce negative reviews and boost retention. Plus, it gives you rental property feedback you can use to level up your maintenance team or swap out underperforming vendors.

Sample Questions

1. How quickly was your maintenance request acknowledged?

2. Was the technician courteous and respectful of your space?

3. Did the repair resolve the issue the first time?

4. How satisfied are you with the cleanliness of the work area after completion?

5. Overall, how would you rate your maintenance experience?

Implementing tenant satisfaction surveys can lead to a 12% increase in tenant retention rates and up to an 18% boost in satisfaction within six months. (resources.tenex.io)

Community Amenities Feedback Survey

Why & When to Use

Modern tenants want more than four walls—they want resort-style perks! A community amenities feedback survey uncovers exactly which amenities matter most, which are falling flat, and where your investment should go next. Sending this survey quarterly or twice a year puts you ahead of the game, making every dollar earned—and spent—count.

Leverage this survey to:

• Spotlight which amenities (gym, pool, BBQs, lounges) drive happiness and retention.
• Identify problems like dirty laundry rooms or broken equipment, before complaints spiral.
• Validate or rethink your budget allocations for future upgrades or repairs.
• Shape marketing strategies for what makes your property stand out.

Amenity trends change fast—today’s hot tub could be tomorrow’s pickleball court. By checking in, you’ll discover which shared spaces are a hit and which are gathering dust. Investing where it matters ensures tenants feel heard and keeps your property in high demand.

Sample Questions

1. Which shared amenity do you use most often?

2. How would you rate the cleanliness of common areas?

3. What additional amenities would increase your satisfaction?

4. Are current opening hours convenient for you?

5. How safe do you feel when using outdoor common spaces at night?

Lease Renewal Motivation Survey

Why & When to Use

Nothing stings more than an unexpected move-out notice, especially when you’re blindsided right before lease end. The lease renewal motivation survey is your secret weapon, unlocking exactly why tenants stay or go. Send it about 90 days before lease expiry—early enough to negotiate or address concerns, but close enough to catch them at decision time.

Property managers use this survey to:

• Quantify tenants’ renewal intentions and the likelihood of turnover.
• Surface the biggest factors influencing a resident’s decision to stay or leave.
• Test tenant reaction to potential rent increases or incentives.
• Uncover pain points like noise, parking, or safety—often silent deal-breakers.
• Direct improvements and personalized offers that tip the scales in your favor.

Reduce vacancy risk and turnover costs by tailoring your retention approach. Acting on responses shows tenants their opinion shapes property policies and upgrades, making them far more likely to stick around for another lease.

Sample Questions

1. How likely are you to renew your lease?

2. What is the main factor influencing your decision to stay or leave?

3. Which rent-increase range would you find acceptable?

4. How satisfied are you with noise levels in the building?

5. Which improvements would most impact your decision to renew?

A one-point increase in tenant satisfaction correlates with an 8.62% higher likelihood of lease renewal and a 15.80% lower chance of moving out. (therealval.com)

Property Management Communication Survey

Why & When to Use

Every resident craves answers—and fast! A property management communication survey checks if your team’s communication game is as strong as your curb appeal. Sent after major announcements, building repairs, or at set intervals, this survey highlights which channels shine and which fall flat.

Unlock value from this survey by:

• Comparing response times for calls, emails, and your resident portal.
• Discovering which platforms your residents love (or loathe).
• Making sure property updates and rule changes are crystal clear.
• Benchmarking manager professionalism and tone, which builds long-term trust.
• Tracking complaint resolution rates and identifying patterns.

Great communication is the invisible superpower behind high satisfaction scores. This survey helps you sharpen your response times, streamline updates, and make every tenant interaction a breeze.

Sample Questions

1. How promptly does the management team respond to inquiries?

2. Which communication channel do you prefer?

3. Are building updates (e.g., repairs, policy changes) communicated clearly?

4. Have your concerns been resolved to your satisfaction?

5. How would you rate overall professionalism of the management staff?

Tenant Community & Events Survey

Why & When to Use

Apartment life isn’t just about private space—it’s about community! A tenant community and events survey opens the door to bigger, better resident engagement. Send this out every six months and you’ll build a social calendar that actually fits your residents’ lives, tastes, and schedules.

This survey is key for:

• Gauging how connected residents feel to your community and each other.
• Learning which events draw a crowd (and which are awkward flops).
• Unlocking fresh themes or activities, straight from tenant suggestions.
• Fine-tuning event timing so nobody misses out.
• Improving outreach—event invites shouldn’t get lost in a spam folder!

A vibrant social network means happier tenants, more referrals, and a property that stands out from the pack. When residents have a say in the fun, their sense of belonging—and your retention rate—skyrocket.

Sample Questions

1. How connected do you feel to other residents?

2. Which community events have you attended in the past six months?

3. What type of event would you like to see next?

4. Does the property’s social calendar fit your schedule?

5. How satisfied are you with event communication and promotion?

Tenant Exit Survey

Why & When to Use

It’s tough to say goodbye, but every move-out is a final chance to learn. The tenant exit survey asks departing residents for candid feedback as they check out or complete their move-out inspection. Honest insight at this stage can help you stop the next resident from following suit.

Benefits of this survey include:

• Pinpointing the true root causes of departures—was it rent, repairs, or roommate drama?
• Collecting raw reviews of the entire living experience, not tainted by frustration.
• Discovering if maintenance or communication shortfalls tipped the balance.
• Validating (or improving) your move-out and security deposit procedures.
• Gleaning powerful feedback to adjust both retention efforts and future marketing.

You can’t always win someone back, but you can certainly use their commentary to sharpen your operations, delight current tenants, and keep turnover low.

Sample Questions

1. What is the primary reason for moving out?

2. How would you rate your overall living experience?

3. Were maintenance issues a factor in your decision to leave?

4. How fair do you find the move-out inspection and deposit process?

5. What could we have done differently to keep you as a resident?

Best Practices – Dos & Don’ts for Tenant Surveys

Creating impactful surveys isn’t magic—it’s a science and an art. Follow a few core principles and avoid classic blunders to turn every property management feedback tool into a retention engine.

Dos

• Personalize survey invites to each tenant’s journey stage.
• Keep it short—aim for 10 questions or less to respect everyone’s time.
• Use mobile-friendly designs that are easy to complete from a phone.
• Offer incentives to boost response rates (a chance to win a gift card never hurts).
• Provide an option for anonymity so people feel safe sharing honest critiques.
• Always follow up with a thank you email or share a summary of “you said, we did.”
• Use results to drive tangible actions, then communicate those changes clearly.

Don’ts

• Don’t bombard tenants with surveys every other week—timing matters.
• Never ignore negative feedback or dodge tough comments, even if it stings.
• Don’t ask leading or loaded questions that bias the results.
• Never bury “action items” or punt on obvious fixes—residents know when their voice isn’t being heard.
• Skip one-size-fits-all survey templates in favor of more personalized, relevant queries.

By weaving in these tenant survey best practices, you’ll strengthen relationships, increase tenant retention, and give your property an edge in any market.

Property managers, now’s the time to put these eight tenant survey types into action—watch your renewal rates, Net Promoter Score, and maintenance turnaround time soar. The right questions, asked at the right time, are your best tool to turn feedback into long-term success and happy residents. Start surveying, start improving, and build a thriving community your tenants can’t wait to renew with!