How to rent out your home without an agent
Yes, it's legal, and simpler than it looks: seven steps, from the right rent to handing over the keys. On Hoomy you list your rental with no fee, plus a professional for any step that needs one.
₪0 fee, not for you or the tenant
Your rental file
Tick each step you've done
- Set the right rentCompare with similar rentals
- Prepare the home and take photosA livable home and good photos
- Publish a rental listingA listing with all the rental terms
- Screen inquiriesQuick replies and the right questions
- Show the homeOrganized visits, ready answers
- Choose a tenant and settle guaranteesAbility to pay, references and security
- Sign the lease and hand over the homeWritten lease, handover report and insurance
In short
- Is it legal to rent out without an agent?
- Yes. There's no obligation to use an agent to rent out an apartment.
- How much does it cost on Hoomy?
- Rental listing with no fee for the owner, and the tenant pays no agent's fee.
- How much do you save?
- The usual agent's fee is about one month's rent + VAT: around ₪7,080 for a ₪6,000/month home.
- What do you still need?
- A written lease, reasonable security and a handover report. A lawyer, home inspector or photographer as needed, paid directly.
Last updated: October 2026
From your home to the tenant, with no stop at an agency
The usual route goes through an agency and one month's rent + VAT. The direct route goes through seven steps you manage yourself. Click a step to see what it involves, and tick what's already behind you: the white dot moves along with you.
Set the right rent
Compare with similar rentals in the same neighborhood, not just the same city
7 steps to rent out without an agent
For each step: what to do, the Hoomy tool that helps, and the professional worth knowing. Tick what you've done and the file fills up.
Step 1: Set the right rent
Rent that's too high leaves the home empty, and every empty month costs you a full month's rent. Too low and you lose out every month for the whole lease.
Compare with similar homes for rent right now in the same neighborhood: rooms, floor, elevator, parking, balcony, condition and furnishing. A furnished home or one with A/C in every room justifies a different price than an empty one.
What to do at this step
- Compare with similar rentals in the same neighborhood, not just the same city
- Decide what's included: furniture, appliances, parking and storage
- Set an asking rent and a floor you won't go below
Step 2: Prepare the home and take photos
Under the Rental Law, the home must be handed over fit for living. That's also what brings good tenants: a clean, repaired home photographs well and rents faster.
Fix things before the photos, not after the first visit: leaks, shutters, taps, water heater, electricity. Daylight photos of every room, including the kitchen and bathroom, save pointless visits.
What to do at this step
- Check the systems: water, electricity, water heater, A/C, shutters and locks
- Clear out and clean, and decide what stays in the home
- Shoot in daylight, every room from the corner inward
A home inspection before renting: fewer surprises at move-in, fewer disputes at move-out.
Step 3: Publish a rental listing
Tenants filter by terms: when they can move in, for how long, whether it's furnished, whether pets are allowed. A listing that answers this upfront saves dozens of calls.
On Hoomy you choose "For rent", fill in the property details and rental terms (move-in date, lease length, furnishing, pets, roommates and guarantees), upload photos, and the team reviews the listing before it goes live. The full address stays hidden until you approve a visit.
What to do at this step
- Rent, arnona and building fees, so the tenant knows the real monthly cost
- Move-in date, lease length and extension option
- Furnishing, pets, roommates and the guarantees you require
Step 4: Screen inquiries
A good rental gets lots of inquiries in the first days. A few short questions on the phone save visits that lead nowhere.
What to do at this step
- Ask about move-in date, number of occupants and pets
- Make sure the budget fits the rent and expenses
- Keep track of who got in touch, when and what was agreed
Step 5: Show the home
During the visit the tenant asks whether they can see themselves living there, and you ask whether this is the tenant you want. Both questions matter equally.
On Hoomy the tenant requests a time, you approve or suggest another, and the full address is shared only after both sides confirm. You can group several visits back to back on the same day.
What to do at this step
- Schedule visits in daylight, back to back
- Prepare answers: arnona, building fees, average bills, parking
- Show what's included and what isn't, so there are no surprises
Step 6: Choose a tenant and settle guarantees
The right tenant matters more than a few hundred shekels of rent. A tenant who pays on time and looks after the home is worth a lot over the whole lease.
Under the Rental Law, the security you can ask from a tenant is capped: up to three months' rent, or up to a third of the rent for the whole period, whichever is lower. You can choose the type: bank guarantee, guarantors, security check or deposit.
What to do at this step
- Ask for proof of income or pay slips, and a reference from a previous landlord
- Decide on the security: bank guarantee, guarantors, security check or deposit
- Meet again before signing if anything is still unclear
Step 7: Sign the lease and hand over the home
A written lease protects both sides: rent, term, option, guarantees, who fixes what and what happens at move-out.
Hoomy doesn't give legal advice. A real-estate lawyer can draft or review the lease. On handover day, photograph the home's condition, record meter readings and transfer arnona and bills to the tenant's name.
What to do at this step
- A written lease with all terms, including the option and responsibility for repairs
- A handover report with photos and meter readings
- Transfer arnona, water, electricity and gas to the tenant's name
How much you keep
Move the rent and see how much agent's fee you don't pay. The comparison uses a usual fee of one month's rent plus VAT, versus listing your rental on Hoomy with no fee.
- Usual agent's fee (one month + VAT)
- ₪7,080
- Hoomy fee
- ₪0
- What you keep
- ₪7,080
The tenant pays no agent's fee either, an advantage that brings more inquiries. Actual fees vary between agencies.
No agent, but not alone
Pick a service and a Hoomy representative gets back to you within a business day and connects you with the right professional. The connection is free. The service itself is paid, based on a quote the professional gives you directly, with no obligation.
Selling
Present your property well and price it with confidence
- Professional photographyA real-estate photographer who shows your property in its best light, with photos that bring more inquiries.
- Property appraisalA licensed appraiser who gives a professional opinion on the property's value.
- Licensed surveyorAn accurate area measurement and plan, so the m² in the listing and contract are right.
Buying
Check the property and the deal before you commit
Moving
After closing, for a calm move
Tools for landlords
Price it right, understand the yield, and know your options if you decide to sell.
- RentalsWhat's on offer now, straight from owners
- Yield calculatorWhat the property earns in rent
- All calculatorsYield, mortgage and purchase costs
- ValuationWhat the home is worth, if you consider selling
- Selling instead of renting out?The guide to selling without an agent
- Services for ownersLawyer, home inspector, photographer and more
FAQ on renting out without an agent
Can I rent out my apartment without an agent?
Yes. There's no obligation to use an agent to rent out an apartment. You list, show the home and choose a tenant yourself, and Hoomy gives you the tools to do it in an organized way.
How much does it cost to list a rental on Hoomy?
Listing a rental on Hoomy is fee-free for the owner, and the tenant pays no agent's fee. If you choose to use a professional (lawyer, photographer, home inspector), their service is paid, based on a quote they give you directly.
How much do you save renting out without an agent?
The usual rental agent's fee is about one month's rent plus VAT. For a ₪6,000/month home that's around ₪7,080. Actual fees vary between agencies.
Who pays the agent's fee in a rental?
Under the Rental Law, a landlord who hired an agent can't pass the fee on to the tenant. Renting through Hoomy there's no agent in the middle, so no agent's fee for anyone.
How much security can I ask from a tenant?
Under the Rental Law, security is capped at the lower of three months' rent or a third of the rent for the whole lease. You can choose the type: bank guarantee, guarantors, security check or deposit.
What must a rental home include?
Under the Rental Law, the home must be fit for living: among other things a lockable front door, electricity and lighting, hot water, ventilation and a sewage connection. Check this before listing, not after the tenant moves in.
Who's responsible for repairs in a rented home?
The landlord must fix defects not caused by the tenant's unreasonable use, usually within 30 days of the tenant's notice, and an urgent defect that prevents reasonable living within 3 days. The lease can spell this out, and a lawyer can help draft it.
Do I need a lawyer for a lease?
Not required, but recommended, especially for a first rental or when there are special terms. A real-estate lawyer drafts a lease that protects you and checks the guarantees.
How do I report rental income?
Residential rental income has several tax tracks, including an exemption up to a certain ceiling and a 10% track. Check with an accountant what suits you.
Start with the first step
See what's on offer in the area, or list right away if you already know your rent.