What Is a Leasing Agent? Duties and Professional Qualities

A home or apartment leasing agent (or leasing consultant) helps prospective renters fill tenant vacancies at open properties. Some leasing agents facilitate commercial real estate transactions for office buildings, stores, restaurants, and so on.

Leasing agents act as liaisons between tenants and the people from whom they lease properties. The agents ensure property owners and property management companies have a steady stream of potential renters ready to move into their rental properties at all times. And they do their best to provide customer service rendering current tenants consistently satisfied, which helps ensure certain occupancy rates remain stable.

For potential tenants, residential leasing agents help set lease terms and pricing, conduct property tours, handle all lease documents and security deposits, and run background and credit checks to ensure the prospective residents are eligible to move in. They also work with current renters, taking care of their needs in a timely manner, following fair housing laws, and securing yearly renewals for lease agreements.

A lot goes into a leasing agent job description, but a few central duties are worth noting specifically. Here are four of the most important responsibilities for anyone in a leasing agent role:

1. 1. Entice prospective tenants. Leasing agents must constantly help sell new tenants on renting from their property owners. This means knowing the property well, as well as being able to authentically connect with potential renters. They should be able to clearly explain the leasing terms at a given property and help assuage any concerns of the prospective clients.
2. 2. Serve current renters. Leasing agents must be on call to help with current resident concerns constantly. This means coordinating with the maintenance department at a property to take care of certain repairs and emergencies, as well as assisting tenants with any other issues they may have.
3. 3. Tour available properties. Leasing consultants must be highly familiar with the properties on their roster, as they will constantly show them to people. Touring vacant apartments or homes with potential renters is a key element of this job.
4. 4. Work flexible hours. Working as a leasing agent is rarely a part-time job. They likely work full-time with extra hours as needed. This is to accommodate both the round-the-clock needs of current tenants and the fact that many potential residents are only able to view new properties on weekends and other days they have off from work.

While both leasing agents and real estate brokers have a great deal in common, there are also some important differences. When it comes to similarities, real estate agents and leasing consultants must both be conversant with real estate law and the real estate market in general.

As for differences, realtors must pass a real estate license exam to sell houses, whereas leasing agents do not need a broker license to lease property. Real estate agents can also work on their own or for brokerages, whereas leasing consultants generally work directly with property owners or companies.

Leasing agents must be empathic, tenacious, and hard-working. Here are five must-have attributes for those considering this career path:

1. 1. Communication skills: Leasing agents need to be able to communicate well on an interpersonal level with new tenants, potential renters, and current residents. Being empathetic and patient is key, as is being able to break down the exact requirements of leasing terms and documents.
2. 2. Education: A GED, high school diploma, or bachelor’s degree should be on your résumé. A master’s in business administration would really make you stand out as an applicant but is not necessary. Some states or regions might have specific licensing requirements for leasing agents, but these are optional in many other places. If you choose to become licensed, you can consider taking a licensing course to prepare for your exam.
3. 3. Multitasking abilities: Leasing consultants should be natural multitaskers, as they work regularly with long lists of current and prospective residents. On an average day, leasing agents must be able to help sign up new residents and assist all current tenants with their own issues.
4. 4. Previous work experience: Some leasing agents might get hired for the position as their first job, but most property owners and companies prefer someone with a few years experience. It can be advantageous if that experience proves your ability to interact well with people, handle documentation, and juggle multiple tasks.
5. 5. Problem-solving skills: Leasing agents need to know how to figure out thorny and complex situations. They’re in the business of helping people find or upkeep their homes, and that comes with a lot of stress for everyone involved. They should be able to keep their heads cool and solve problems in a way that behooves both the property owners and the tenants.

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