Renting Rooms FAQ: Answers for Hosts on CoRent

This renting rooms FAQ answers what hosts ask before they list a room on CoRent: what it costs, who pays which fee, how applicants are checked, and how move-in works. Listing is free, the platform fee is 5% of rent collected, and you keep 95%. Every answer here comes from the CoRent host page. It is not legal, tax or financial advice.

Renting rooms FAQ: fees and money

What does it cost to list rooms on CoRent?

Nothing. Listing is free. The platform fee is a flat 5% of rent collected, so you keep 95%. There is no booking fee and no management fee. The full detail is on the fees page, and our post on how the 5% works walks through it line by line.

Who pays the processing fees?

Renters pay card processing fees at checkout, and the exact amount is shown before they pay. When a renter pays a full month by bank account, the processing fee is waived for the renter, and the host covers the bank cost. That cost is 0.8%, up to $5 per room per month.

Is there a worked example?

The host page uses an example house. In the example, a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house on a traditional lease brings $1,650 a month in rent and about $860 a month in net operating income. A 7 bedroom, 3 bath setup rented by the room brings $4,550 a month in rent and about $2,872 a month in net operating income.

These are assumed example amounts, not averages and not a promise. Your rent, costs and vacancy will differ. If you want a plain walkthrough, read how to rent rooms in your house on CoRent, start to finish.

Is the rent I collect taxable?

Rent you receive is generally taxable income, and many rental costs can be deducted. The IRS explains the basics in Topic No. 414. For your own situation, ask an accountant.

Applicants, verification and fair housing

How do renters get verified?

Renters verify their ID once, with a government ID and a selfie match. A host never sees the renter's ID or selfie. You still decide who lives in your home: hosts approve each application.

Can I pick any applicant I like?

Treat every applicant by the same written standards. Federal fair housing law protects people from discrimination in housing, and Virginia has its own fair housing rules. Never choose or reject someone based on a protected class. HUD's fair housing office is a good starting point, and a Virginia attorney can answer specific questions.

What if I need house rules?

Write them down and share them up front. Short, specific rules that apply to every tenant keep a shared home calm. Our guide to house rules for renters covers what to include.

Utilities, listings and move-in

How do shared utilities work?

Hosts can let tenants share utilities. Tenants pay their share of electricity, water, gas and internet in the app, on top of rent. Some hosts include utilities in the rent instead. Decide which you prefer before you list, and say so clearly in the listing.

Can I move my listings over from another site?

Yes. The CoRent team imports listings from other sites, so you do not have to start over.

How does move-in work?

Renters pick a move-in date when they apply. The street address is shared only after you confirm the booking. Before that, listings show the area, meaning the city and ZIP, and nothing more.

What does a host run in the app?

Hosts can run applications, payments and maintenance in the app. That means one place to review who applied, see rent come in and handle requests from the house.

Getting started as a host

What do I do first?

Create a free host account and list each room. Then review applications and confirm bookings in the app. If you already list elsewhere, the CoRent team can import your listings.

Can tenants pay weekly?

Yes. Rent can be paid weekly or monthly, by card or bank account. Plan your own cash flow around that, because weekly payments mean more, smaller deposits.

What should I decide before I list?

Decide your rent for each room, whether utilities are included or shared, your house rules and your move-in amounts if you use them. Write it all down so every applicant sees the same terms.

Service area and support

Where can I list a room?

CoRent.AI serves Richmond, Petersburg and Colonial Heights, Virginia. CoRent.AI is operated by CoRent Trust. Founder Moe Mathews is a Marine Corps veteran and licensed Class A contractor who runs shared homes in the Richmond area. Learn more on the about page.

Where do I get help?

Support is available in the app or at support@corent.ai.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience to start renting rooms?

No. Start with one room, write clear terms and use the app for applications and payments. Learn as you go, and ask a professional about legal and tax questions.

How long does it take to list a room?

Creating a host account is free and you can list each room from there. If you already have listings on another site, ask the team to import them.

What should I do first?

Read the host page, look at the example numbers, then run your own. When you are ready, create your free host account.