12 Leasing Leaks We Found on 85 Apartment Websites
Mike Spampinato
Short answer: most leasing leaks on apartment websites aren't strategy problems. They're small, fixable gaps: a tour button that goes nowhere, a special that expired months ago, three phone numbers for one community. In October 2026 we reviewed the websites of 85 regional property management companies, build-to-rent operators and lease-up communities, mostly in the Northeast. These 12 issues came up again and again. Every example below is real; names are left out.
Why do small website issues cost leases?
Renters shop several communities at once, often in the evening on a phone. They don't call to ask what a broken button was supposed to do. They move to the next listing. A page that looks out of date also raises a quiet question about how the building is run.
What are the most common leaks?
1. Tour buttons that don't book a tour
We saw "Schedule a Tour" buttons that opened a general contact form, a contact page with no form at all, and a tour page whose only date field was "Desired Move-In Date." Fix: link every tour button to a real self-scheduling calendar with times.
2. Specials that expired long ago
In late October we found a "Spring Special" still on a homepage, a credit "during the month of March," an April open house with no year, and an office holiday-closure notice from December 2022. Fix: put an end date on every special and check the site monthly.
3. Headlines that the fine print contradicts
One page led with "FIRST MONTH FREE on Select Apartments!" while the fine print said the offer applied to a single unit. Fix: say exactly what's on offer in the headline. Renters who feel misled at the tour rarely sign.
4. Buttons and menu items linked to "#"
A "Leasing Page" button on a build-to-rent community, menu items for whole regions, and a header "Contact Us" link all pointed to "#" and went nowhere. Fix: click every button on your site once a quarter.
5. Links that send renters to the wrong community
One homepage link for a community opened a different community's website. Another company's "click on the individual property here" link sent visitors back to the same page. Fix: test every community link from the corporate site.
6. Template text left live
We found "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet" in a founder bio and inside a renter quiz, a default "Hello world!" blog post, and a login box reading "User registration is disabled for demo purpose." Fix: search your site for "lorem," "hello world" and "demo" today.
7. Conflicting phone numbers
One community showed three different phone numbers depending on the page. Another's phone link displayed one number and dialed a different one. Fix: if you use call-tracking numbers, make sure each one is labeled and routed, and that the displayed number is the one that rings.
8. Conflicting prices
We saw the same community listed at two different starting rents on one page, and a floor plan priced differently in two places. Fix: pull pricing from one source, ideally your property management software feed.
9. "Now Leasing" pages with nothing to lease
New communities announced "Now Leasing!" but showed no rents, no apply or tour link, empty amenity headings, or an availability search that returned no results. Fix: during lease-up, the community page is your best salesperson. Give it pricing, availability and a tour calendar from day one.
10. Applications that start with a PDF
Several community pages asked applicants to download a fillable PDF and upload it. Fix: a mobile-friendly online application cuts incomplete applications and phone traffic, even for waitlisted affordable housing.
11. Listings that hide the price
On one marketplace listing, every floor plan read "Ask for Pricing," and the listing didn't link back to the company's own site. Fix: show a starting price. Renters filter by budget, and "ask for pricing" usually means "skip."
12. Contact paths with no option for renters
A corporate contact form offered Corporate, Careers, Resident Services and Press, but nothing for someone who wants to rent. Another fallback form was titled for residents only. Fix: add a clear "I'm looking for an apartment" option that routes to leasing.
How do you check your own site in 15 minutes?
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tour path | Book a tour on your phone. Did you pick a time? |
| Specials | Read every banner. Is each one current and dated? |
| Buttons | Click every button on one community page. |
| Phone and price | Is there one number and one starting rent everywhere? |
| Leftovers | Search the site for "lorem," "hello world" and "demo." |
Frequently asked questions
Are these big problems or small ones?
Individually small. Together, they decide whether a renter who found you online books a tour or moves on.
Who usually owns these fixes?
Often no one. Website vendors build the site, leasing teams run the office, and nobody is assigned to check the path from search to signed lease.
How often should we audit our sites?
A quick click-through monthly, and a full review each quarter or before any lease-up.
Want us to check yours?
Score one community with our free Leasing Leak Checklist (25 checks, about 15 minutes), or request a free written leasing audit and we'll send you the three biggest gaps we find, with fixes. No call required.