Property management in Columbus, Ohio
RL Property Management manages 700+ single-family and small multifamily rentals across the Columbus metro. Management is a flat $117 to $184 per unit per month, the leasing fee is $0, and there is no startup fee on an occupied unit.
The short version
- Flat $117 to $184 per unit per month, not a percentage of rent
- $0 leasing fee on every plan, every time a unit turns
- 700+ units under management, managing since 2013
- Median 20 days on market and 12 days to turn a unit
- 96% of rent collected by the 5th, owner funds sent on the 10th
- Published investor pricing, up to 25% off, and custom from 40 units
How much does property management cost in Columbus?
A flat $117 to $184 per unit per month, depending on which of the three plans you choose, plus $250 when a lease renews. Placing a resident is $0. Most Columbus managers instead charge 8% to 10% of collected rent and roughly half a month of rent every time the unit turns.
$1,500 per-item repair approval limit
$750 per-item repair approval limit
$350 per-item repair approval limit
The plans differ in one variable: how much repair spending we handle before calling you. Everything else is in all three. On the average rent under management of $1,653, a 10% manager collects about $1,980 a year, plus about $827 to place a resident. Plan Two is $1,644 a year, and the placement is $0.
Percentage figures describe common Columbus market rates. They are not a quote from any named company.
What does a property manager actually do?
Eight jobs, all of them included in the monthly fee. Each one has its own page with the process, the limits and the cost written out.
Marketing and leasing
Listing syndication to every major rental portal, self-guided and agent-led showings, and pricing set against our own Columbus portfolio data.
Read moreResident screening
Credit, criminal, income, rental history and eviction checks, applied the same way to every applicant and inside fair housing law.
Read moreMaintenance
In-house technicians at $84 an hour plus a $15 trip charge, vetted vendors for specialty work, and 24/7 emergency coverage.
Read moreRent collection
Online payment, automated late notices after the 5th, and owner direct deposit on the 10th.
Read moreOwner reporting
Monthly statements, year-end reporting, and a real-time owner portal with every invoice attached.
Read moreInspections
Quarterly interior and exterior inspections, including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, with photos.
Read moreEvictions
Filing through the Franklin County Municipal Court with a local eviction attorney. Hard cost is $273.
Read moreCompliance
A custom lease reviewed by legal counsel, Ohio landlord-tenant compliance, security deposit handling and local ordinance tracking.
Read moreThe full service hub is at what we do for owners.
How is the portfolio actually performing?
These are the operating numbers across every unit we manage, as of September 2026. They are published whether they are flattering or not, because a manager who will not show you their numbers is asking you to take leasing speed and collection rate on faith.
Days on market is defined as: Median days from the date a unit is listed to the date a lease is signed, across all units leased in the trailing 12 months. Full methodology and history live on the scorecard.
Do you manage larger portfolios?
Yes, and that is the part of the business we are built around. Investor pricing is published: 10% off monthly management at 5 to 9 units, 15% at 10 to 19, and 25% at 20 to 39. From 40 units, pricing is custom. See the full table.
Out-of-state owners, 1031 buyers and owners consolidating from several managers all get the same thing: a written number, a named point of contact, and a transition plan with dates on it.
What happens when you hire us?
Five steps, in this order. Nothing is signed until you have seen the pricing and the agreement in writing.
- A consultation A call about what you own, how involved you want to be, and what you want the property to do for you. No charge and no obligation.
- A rent evaluation We price the unit against our own portfolio data and current comparable listings, and tell you what it should earn.
- A pre-signature inspection We walk the property so nothing is a surprise later. $300, waived from the onboarding fee if a management agreement is signed.
- The management agreement You sign the Property Management Agreement, fund the maintenance reserve, and hand over keys. Everything is signed digitally.
- We take over If the unit is occupied, we introduce ourselves to the resident and move the lease, deposit and payment method onto our systems. If it is vacant, it goes on the market.
Already have a manager? The transition is a separate process with its own timing rules. Read how to switch property managers before you give notice.
What kinds of property do you manage?
Single-family homes and small multifamily properties, in buildings that do not require on-site staff. We do not manage homeowner or condominium associations, though we manage rental units that sit inside one. We take on properties that are rent-ready or close to it. If yours needs a full renovation first, we will point you at contractors and pick the conversation back up when the work is done.
Median rent across the units we manage: 1 bedroom $1,100, 2 bedroom $1,300, 3 bedroom $1,708, 4 bedroom $2,450.
What areas around Columbus do you serve?
25 communities across Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Union, Madison and Pickaway counties. Each has its own page with local rent data and what we actually manage there.
- Columbus
- Dublin
- Upper Arlington
- Westerville
- Worthington
- Gahanna
- Hilliard
- Powell
- Reynoldsburg
- Canal Winchester
- New Albany
- Bexley
- Grove City
- Pickerington
- Clintonville
- German Village
- Short North
- Grandview Heights
- Blacklick
- Delaware
- Marysville
- Lancaster
- Newark
- London
- Ashville
Not on the list but inside the metro? Ask. See all areas we serve.
Frequently asked questions
Columbus property management questions
How much does property management cost in Columbus, Ohio?
RL Property Management charges a flat $117 to $184 per unit per month depending on the plan, with a $0 leasing fee, $250 lease renewals and no startup fee on an occupied unit. It is a fixed dollar amount, not a percentage of collected rent.
What does a Columbus property manager do?
A residential property manager markets and prices the unit, screens applicants, writes and signs the lease, collects rent, handles maintenance and emergencies, inspects the property, keeps the owner compliant with Ohio landlord-tenant law, files evictions when they are needed, and reports the money monthly.
What kind of properties does RL Property Management manage?
RL Property Management manages single-family homes and small multifamily properties across the Columbus metro, in properties that do not require on-site staff. Homeowner and condominium associations are not managed, though a rental unit that sits inside one is.
Do you work with owners who have more than one property?
Yes. Portfolio owners are the core of the business. Investor pricing is published: 10% off monthly management at 5 to 9 units, 15% at 10 to 19, and 25% at 20 to 39. From 40 units, pricing is custom.
How long does it take to rent a house in Columbus?
Median days on market across the 700+ units under management is 20 days, measured as median days from the date a unit is listed to the date a lease is signed, across all units leased in the trailing 12 months. Median time to turn a vacant unit is 12 days.
Do I still pay a management fee while the unit is vacant?
Yes, management continues while we are marketing and maintaining the unit. If a property has been listed longer than 60 days, we proactively credit management fees back to your account.
What insurance do I need on a Columbus rental?
A Rental Dwelling Policy or Commercial Policy carrying at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage, with RL Property Management listed as an additional insured.
What areas of Columbus do you serve?
25 communities across the Columbus metro, including Columbus, Dublin, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Worthington, Gahanna, Hilliard, Powell, New Albany, Bexley, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Grandview Heights and Pickerington, across Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Union, Madison and Pickaway counties.
There are another forty answers on the owner FAQs page.
Last verified September 2026. Reviewed by Peter Lohmann, Principal Broker and CEO.
Where to go next
- Pricing and the full fee scheduleEvery charge that can appear on an owner statement.
- Portfolio and investor servicesFor owners with several units, in or out of state.
- Switching property managersHow to leave a manager without losing a month of rent.
- How to choose a property managerThe questions to ask any company, including us.
- The published scorecardHow the portfolio is actually performing.
Find out what your Columbus rental should earn
A free rent evaluation gives you a number for your unit and the comparable listings behind it. Own several? Ask for a portfolio quote instead.