Do I Need a Property Manager for My ADU?
Barriers surrounding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) continue to ease as an answer to a shortage of housing, and homeowners are attracted the idea of earning extra income.
If renting out your ADU, should you hire a property manager?
Resident, or Guest?
It may not sound like an important distinction, but whether your ADU will be a long-term rental or a furnished short-term stay will have impacts beyond cash-flow and occupancy rate.
Whereas a new AirBnB guest may arrive every few weeks, a tenant will be sharing your backyard for a year or more, making the placement process critical to ensure you’re comfortable and safe. Compared to an distinctly separate rental property, the intimacy involved may itself warrant the professional barrier a property manager provides.
Beyond professionalism, there are legal & regulatory missteps easy to make and often unfamiliar to new landlords. A trusted property manager will be experienced in vetting prospects, and have access to tools that streamline, facilitate and screen applications for fraud.
Passive Income Stream, or Part-Time Job?
Picture this— you’ve just arrived home at the end of the work day, you can either:
A) walk the dog, mow the grass, & cook dinner
B) get handed a list of maintenance issues you’ll need to spend the weekend fixing
Especially with short-term rentals (long-term, too), many first-time landlords underestimate the time committment. Before even getting to a lease, you’ll be fielding phone calls, finding time to arrange and conduct showings, and juggling questions from prospective renters— on top of your other responsibilities.
Once the unit is stabilized, you’ll need to stay on top of rent collection, repairs, lease renewals, and compliance with Raleigh’s evolving ADU regulations.
Considerations Specific to ADUs in Raleigh
Raleigh’s Fast Track program for ADUs “makes constructing an ADU more accessible for Raleigh homeowners. Fast Track plans have been pre-reviewed for building code compliance.”
ADU-Permissable Zoning Districts
R-1, R-2, R-4, R-6, R-10, RX, OX, NX, DX, and CX
No add’l parking requirements
One ADU per lot, two per lot in Frequent Transit Areas
Historic Overlay Districts
When a Property Manager Makes Sense
If you:
Don’t want to screen or manage tenants yourself
Aren’t familiar with Raleigh’s rental rules
Want to treat your ADU as a true investment, not just a side project
...then hiring a property manager is a smart move. At JVM Property, we specialize in managing high-quality single-family homes across Wake County—and our clients often tell us it’s the best decision they made for protecting their time and peace of mind.
We take care of everything from pricing and marketing to maintenance and tenant support—and we’re already familiar with Raleigh’s local ordinances.
When You Might DIY It
If you’re hands-on, live on-site, and already know your way around leases, maintenance, and landlord laws, self-managing might be a fit—just be ready to wear all the hats.
Even then, we’re happy to help get you started or handle parts of the process (like leasing only or legal compliance) if you don’t need full-service support.
Final Word
An ADU can be a great source of passive income—but only if it's run like a business. And that’s where a local property manager makes a real difference.
Whether you’re brand new to rentals or just tired of handling it all yourself, JVM Property is here to help you protect your investment and get the most from your ADU.