Where can I list my ADU for rent?

A-du is a rental marketplace built specifically for Accessory Dwelling Units, currently covering Los Angeles County, San Francisco, San Diego County, and New York City. Unlike general listing sites, every unit on A-du is an ADU, so your listing is not competing for attention against large apartment buildings and renters arrive already looking for exactly what you have.

Does my ADU need a permit to be listed?

Yes. A-du lists ADUs that have been permitted and finaled, meaning the local building department inspected the work and signed off. A finaled permit is what makes the unit a legal rental, and it is the thing renters on A-du are specifically looking for. If your unit is an unpermitted conversion, look into your city ADU amnesty or legalization program before listing.

Do I have to live on the property to rent out my ADU?

Not for a standard ADU in California. State law prohibits cities from imposing an owner-occupancy requirement on standard ADUs. Junior ADUs (JADUs) are the exception and generally do require the owner to live on the property.

How does tenant screening work?

A-du runs credit, background, and income verification through TazWorks/RentPrep, applying the same FCRA-compliant process to every applicant. Consistency matters here for more than convenience: evaluating applicants differently is how fair-housing problems start. Adverse-action notices are handled automatically when a decision goes against an applicant.

Do I need my own lease?

No. A-du generates a California-compliant lease through Anvil, including the required state disclosures and ADU-specific terms such as shared utilities, parking, and yard access. You can add supplemental documents if your situation needs them.

Rent is collected online and deposited to your bank account through Stripe. Rent accrues automatically each month, tenants get due-date reminders, and late fees apply according to the percentage you set on the listing.

How long does it take to list an ADU?

Creating the listing itself typically takes under 30 minutes: describe the unit, upload photos, set the rent and house rules, and publish. Identity verification through Stripe Identity happens once and is required before you can accept payments.

List Your ADU for Rent

Listing your ADU is publishing your permitted Accessory Dwelling Unit to renters who are specifically looking for one, then screening, leasing, and collecting rent through the same platform.

On A-du this is free to do, and the unit stays yours to manage — A-du is software and a marketplace, not a property manager taking a cut of your rent.

1. Check that your ADU qualifies

A-du lists ADUs that are permitted and finaled — inspected and signed off by your local building department. That is the whole premise of the marketplace: renters come here because every unit is a legal, inspected ADU rather than an unpermitted garage conversion. If you are not sure of your permit status, your city or county building department can confirm it from your address or APN.

A-du currently covers Los Angeles County, San Francisco, San Diego County, and New York City. You do not need to live on the property — see the FAQ below on owner-occupancy.

2. Create the listing

Create your listing by describing the unit: bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, parking, whether it is furnished, which utilities you cover, and your house rules. Photograph the separate entrance and any private outdoor space — privacy and a private entrance are what renters are choosing an ADU for in the first place, and listings that show them plainly do better than listings that bury them.

3. Set your rent

Price against comparable ADUs, not against apartment averages — a 600 sq ft detached unit with its own yard is not the same product as a 600 sq ft apartment, and pricing it like one leaves money on the table. A-du suggests a market rent from the unit you describe, and you can browse current ADU listings for local comparables. Check whether your unit falls under local rent stabilization; newer ADUs are frequently exempt, but the main house's status can matter.

4. Screen applicants

Applicants apply through A-du and are screened with a consistent, FCRA-compliant process — credit, background, and income verification through TazWorks/RentPrep. You set your own criteria (minimum credit score, income multiple, occupancy limits, pet and smoking policy) and every applicant is measured against the same bar, which is both fairer and considerably safer under fair-housing law than judging case by case.

5. Sign the lease and get paid

A-du generates a California-compliant lease through Anvil with the required disclosures and ADU-specific terms, and both parties sign electronically. Rent is then collected online and deposited to your bank through Stripe, accruing automatically each month with due-date reminders and any late fee you configured. Maintenance requests, expenses, and renewals live in the same dashboard.

What it costs

Listing is free. A service fee applies to rent payments — 3% by bank transfer and 6.25% by card at current rates — and by default the tenant pays it on top of rent, so you receive 100% of what you listed. If you would rather show a lower all-in price, you can choose to cover part of the fee. See pricing for current terms and worked examples.

Ready to list? Create your ADU listing — it is free, and takes about half an hour. Newer to this? Read the legal guide to renting out an ADU in Los Angeles or how A-du works end to end.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I list my ADU for rent?: A-du is a rental marketplace built specifically for Accessory Dwelling Units, currently covering Los Angeles County, San Francisco, San Diego County, and New York City. Unlike general listing sites, every unit on A-du is an ADU, so your listing is not competing for attention against large apartment buildings and renters arrive already looking for exactly what you have.
What does it cost a landlord to list an ADU on A-du?: Creating a listing is free. A service fee applies to rent payments — 3% by bank transfer and 6.25% by card at current rates — and by default the tenant pays it on top of rent, so you receive 100% of your listed rent. You can optionally cover part of the fee (between 5% and 95% of it) to show tenants a lower total price.
Does my ADU need a permit to be listed?: Yes. A-du lists ADUs that have been permitted and finaled, meaning the local building department inspected the work and signed off. A finaled permit is what makes the unit a legal rental, and it is the thing renters on A-du are specifically looking for. If your unit is an unpermitted conversion, look into your city ADU amnesty or legalization program before listing.
Do I have to live on the property to rent out my ADU?: Not for a standard ADU in California. State law prohibits cities from imposing an owner-occupancy requirement on standard ADUs. Junior ADUs (JADUs) are the exception and generally do require the owner to live on the property.
How does tenant screening work?: A-du runs credit, background, and income verification through TazWorks/RentPrep, applying the same FCRA-compliant process to every applicant. Consistency matters here for more than convenience: evaluating applicants differently is how fair-housing problems start. Adverse-action notices are handled automatically when a decision goes against an applicant.
Do I need my own lease?: No. A-du generates a California-compliant lease through Anvil, including the required state disclosures and ADU-specific terms such as shared utilities, parking, and yard access. You can add supplemental documents if your situation needs them.
How do I get paid?: Rent is collected online and deposited to your bank account through Stripe. Rent accrues automatically each month, tenants get due-date reminders, and late fees apply according to the percentage you set on the listing.
How long does it take to list an ADU?: Creating the listing itself typically takes under 30 minutes: describe the unit, upload photos, set the rent and house rules, and publish. Identity verification through Stripe Identity happens once and is required before you can accept payments.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Rental, zoning, and rent-control rules vary by city; confirm requirements with your jurisdiction.