If you are looking for your own place to rent, but are tired of roommates and crowded apartment complexes, then an ADU may be just the thing for you. But where can you find an ADU to rent?
How to Find an ADU for Rent?
The best way to find an ADU for rent will be to search online for ADUs listed near you that are available for rent. The website that works best when searching online for ADU’s for rent is Craigslist, but there are other sites that provide good listings as well.
One thing to consider when searching ADUs for rent near you is that ADU has multiple names and may be known by something different in your particular area; for example, ADU itself stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit.
Other popular names for ADUs are granny flats, in-law apartments, basement apartments, secondary dwelling unit, backyard cottage, JADU (Jr. Accessory, Dwelling Unit), laneway houses and lastly Ohana Unit (Aloha Hawaii).
So if you are having trouble finding ADUs for rent, try searching using some of the other common names for ADUs and see what comes up.
As I mentioned above, Craigslist is the best and easiest way to find ADUs for rent, but it is not the only website that will provide you with quality ADU listings.
Below I will give you my top 4 websites to use when searching for ADUs to rent as well as things to look for before renting an ADU.
Best Websites to Find an ADU for Rent
As I have already mentioned, the best way to find an ADU for rent is through Craigslist. Craigslist makes it easy to find an ADU for you to rent, regardless of what city you live in.
I like Craigslist because you can easily search for an ADU in San Francisco, or Portland or Los Angeles by simply changing the area that you want to search in.
All you have to do is go to the housing section and under search “ADUs for rent” and you will be presented with hundreds of options.
You can also use the tools on the left side of the page to filter your search to get exactly what you are looking for. These listings usually contain several images which gives you an idea of what the ADU will look like before you go see it in person.
Now although Craigslist does have many great options when searching for ADUs, it is not perfect.
As you know, ANYONE can post on craigslist and so some of the listings may not be what they appear to be and some of the postings for ADU rentals may actually just be builders trying to promote their services.
If you have used Craigslist in the past then you already know that you must be careful but if you are new to the site just make sure to do your research before you jump into anything.
Other than that, if you are looking for a large list of ADUs for rent in a specific area then there is no better option than Craigslist.
Another website that I like for finding ADUs for rent is Hotpads.com. The website is clean looking and easy to use.
I like it because there are not a ton of spammy ads on the website that slow the site down and make it look cluttered. It is easy to maneuver around the site and to search what you are looking for.
If you are looking for ADUs on this website you will want to begin by inputting the city for which you are looking to rent. After you have done this you will want to click on the “filter” tab and under “keywords” you would type ADU.
This will give you a list of all living spaces with the word “ADU” in the description.
Now filtering your results in this way may not bring up many results if you just type in ADU and so you may want to input some of the other names for ADUs we mentioned above such as granny flat or secondary unit.
Even when searching for ADUs using the filter with the keyword, your results will still be limited, especially if you do not live in California or Oregon where ADUs are more common.
Even though the listings on Hotpads are not as extensive as those on Craigslist, it is still another valuable resource that you can use when looking for an ADU to rent.
Apartments.com is another great resource to finding ADUs for rent; however, similar to Hotpads, you will need to add ADU as a keyword to the filter in order to filter out several of the rental options that do not include ADUs.
Again, Hotpads and Apartments.com are very much alike, I just feel like Hotpads has a better design and that the site runs faster.
I will say though that in doing my research Apartments.com did seem to have more rental listings than did Hotpads and so this will be something to keep in mind as you are searching for an ADU to rent.
- Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace CAN be a great tool to find an ADU for rent, but it can also be filled with a lot of other things.
When I searched for ADU rentals on the Facebook Marketplace I was able to find some ADUs for rent, but I also came across several builders offering to construct ADUs for you as well as other people trying to sell their tiny houses.
Facebook is neat because you can often view the person’s profile and know you are connecting with a real person and not some total stranger.
The downside though to Facebook Marketplace is that the rental options may be very limited. As I touched on already, you will get ADU rentals mixed in with a bunch of other things and so this will make finding a rental space more difficult.
If you are looking to get a feel for whom you will be renting from then Facebook Marketplace is a good option for you. If you prefer to have several options available to you then consider using the other resources listed above.
These resources are all great tools to help you find an ADU to rent, but this is only half the battle. There are still a few things you must consider before you sign that lease agreement.
Things to Consider Before Renting an ADU
Size of the ADU
How big an ADU is will undoubtedly factor into how much you will be paying for an ADU. Obviously the more square feet, the more you will be paying to rent the space.
The size requirements of an ADU will vary from city to city, but in Los Angeles for example there is not a minimum size requirement for an ADU, but the law does state that an ADU can not exceed 1200 sq. ft.
If you are a single person looking to rent an ADU, size may not be a major concern, but if you have a family and are looking for extra space for you and your kids then you must decide if 1200 sq. ft. will suffice for your family.
Again just keep in mind: more sq. ft. typically equals more money.
Parking
This may not seem like a big deal, but if you have ever lived in cities where ADUs are popular such as Los Angeles, San Francisco or Portland then you know this can be a game changer.
Unfortunately for you the renter, landlords can be exempt from providing you with your own parking space, especially if the ADU you will be staying in is a garage conversion.
Be mindful of this when you are searching for ADUs to rent. If parking is not a big deal to you then carry on; but if it is make sure the space you will be renting will be providing you with a parking situation that serves your needs.
How Utilities will be Divided
Knowing how your utility bills will be divided is important as your ADU will often be supplied with power and water from the main house.
For example, If your potential landlord tells you that you will be sharing the electricity bill 50/50 then you might want to reconsider as the main house will obviously require much more electricity than your tiny ADU.
This goes for all utilities and I encourage you to find a situation that works best for your budget.
Wrapping Up
An ADU can be an affordable way to rent your own space and to avoid crowded apartment living. Using websites like Craigslist and Hotpads you can easily find an ADU that fits your specific needs.
ADUs are a growing trend and this trend will continue to grow as individuals search for quality housing at an affordable price.
If you are looking for a space to rent, make sure to check out an ADU or two before signing your new lease.