A register of rents that includes the names of tenants and amounts due, including any rent in arrears. A lender will typically ask a borrower to furnish a copy of the rent roll as proof of the property’s cash flow.

A rent roll is a document used in real estate management and investment to keep track of rental properties, their tenants, and the associated rental income. It serves as a summary of the revenue generated by a property portfolio. It provides essential information for property owners, managers, and investors to understand the financial performance of their real estate assets.

It is a register of rents that includes the names of tenants and amounts due, including any rent in arrears. A lender will typically ask a borrower to furnish a copy of the rent roll as proof of the property’s cash flow. Any income-producing real estate can have a rent roll.

Information Rent Roll Includes

The information on the rent roll can vary because it was made to satisfy the landlord’s particular requirements. Still, a reasonable rent roll document includes a few standard pieces of information.

  • Property Information
  • Tenant Information
  • Lease Terms
  • Financial Information
  • Payment History
  • Notes and Comments

What is the Difference between Rent Roll and Rent Ledger?

A rent roll and a rent ledger are tools used in real estate management to track rental income, but they serve different purposes and contain different types of information. Here’s the difference between the two:

A rent roll report is a comprehensive summary of the rental income generated by a property or a portfolio of properties. It provides an overview of all the rental units within a property, including tenant information, lease terms, and financial details.

Key features of a rent roll include:

  • Property information (addresses, unit numbers, property type)
  • Tenant names and contact details
  • Lease start and end dates
  • Monthly rent amounts
  • Total rent income for each unit
  • Vacancy status and rates
  • Other income sources (additional fees, utility payments, etc.)
  • Aggregated data for the entire property or portfolio

A rent ledger is a detailed record of transactions related to a specific rental unit. It’s a more granular document that tracks individual financial interactions between a tenant and the property management. The rent ledger is used for the day-to-day management of the rental units and provides each tenant with a comprehensive history of financial transactions.

Key features of a rent ledger include:

  • Tenant payment history (dates and amounts of rent payments)
  • Record of security deposits and any deductions
  • Breakdown of rent and additional charges
  • Outstanding balances
  • Any late fees or penalties
  • Details of payment methods (check, electronic transfer, etc.)
  • Notes on specific payment-related interactions

While a rent roll provides an overview of the entire rental property’s financial performance, a rent ledger delves into the individual financial transactions of each tenant.

List of resources: 

  1. https://www.landlordstudio.com/blog/what-is-a-rent-roll
  2. https://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/property-management/real-estate-investing/what-is-a-rent-roll/