Travel Blog

Senior Getaways: Why It’s Nearly Impossible to Find 55+ Rentals Online

Are you a senior looking for a peaceful mountain getaway? Do you want to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy some alone time? Maybe you’re not worried about orthopedics and are happy to get a workout? Perhaps you would even enjoy a rough road that makes it hard to get to, but still close to town? There are options out there for you, but you might not know about them.

Despite the Fair Housing Law allowing advertising for ages 55+ (or 62+), none of the mainstream rental websites allow such designation. We know this from personal experience, as we have tried to advertise our cabins on websites such as Apartments.com, Avail.co, Hotpads.com, Rent.com, Trulia.com, and others, only to find that they restrict any designation or searching of 55+ for small rental listings. While a few have paid subscriptions costing hundreds or thousands of dollars for large-scale commercial advertisers, not one has an option for an owner renting just a few cabins. Airbnb.com, Flipkey.com, VRBO.com, and others also offer no option. In fact, a few of them specifically mention restrictions on advertising for age without mentioning the Fair Housing Law. Although agencies like A Place for Mom exist, they appear to focus on locations that offer assisted living or nursing care services, which isn’t our target market.

1468 path excavated in front of cabin deck
Two units, top and bottom. Back entrance is only 2 steps off the ground.

We’re the Blue Ridge Mountain Retreat Company, and we’re having trouble advertising our rental cabins to the right rental market. Our cabins are turnkey, fully furnished, and include everything from in-suite laundry to a fully automatic espresso machine. They also have huge decks, bigger than the cabins themselves, making them perfect for a long-term retreat or for a writer or artist looking for inspiration. Our rentals are available for month-to-month or annual leases, and while you can stay for a shorter time, the minimum rental period is one month.

Stick built modular log cabin

We had difficulty finding contractors to build these rental cabins. To solve this issue, we started our own construction company called Pavarini Greer Construction Co. (Pavarini, a well known name in construction since the 1800’s!) After renting for a few months or a year, if you like the experience, we can help you build your own mountain retreat. The first cabin built was a modular log cabin, and we are currently working on a site-built cedar log cabin. These cabins are perfect for seniors looking to escape the city and enjoy the peace and quiet of a mountain retreat. If you’re interested in learning more, visit our website at www.MountainRetreatCompany.com. Rentals will be available soon.

If you’re a senior looking for a peaceful mountain getaway, we have the perfect retreat for you. Despite the obstacles we face in advertising our rental cabins, we’re determined to make your stay unforgettable.​

Senior Housing Crisis: How Apartments.com and Other Websites Limit 55+ Advertising, Hurting Small Owner-Operators and Limiting Senior Choices

Active adult 55+ senior housing communities have become a popular choice for seniors looking for a supportive and engaging living environment. However, for small owner-operator landlords looking to advertise their 55+ senior housing communities on popular rental websites like Apartments.com, Realtor.com, and Zillow.com, the process can be frustrating, complicated, and costly.

Despite being explicitly permitted under fair housing regulations, many popular rental websites prohibit landlords from mentioning age restrictions in their listings. This means that landlords looking to specifically advertise to the senior population are forced to use alternative marketing methods or pay for costly upgrades that allow them to include age restrictions in their listings.

For example, some landlords have experienced difficulties when trying to list their 55+ senior housing communities on Apartments.com. Despite the website’s help files stating that landlords should contact support to add the 55+ designation to their listing, many landlords have found that the process is more complicated than advertised. Some landlords have reported having to make over a dozen phone calls and messages to the support team, only to receive conflicting information and false promises.

One landlord reported that after paying for a listing, Apartments.com told them that they could not designate their listing as 55+ as promised. This experience highlights the challenges and frustrations that small owner-operator landlords face when trying to advertise their 55+ senior housing communities on popular rental websites.

In addition to these advertising challenges, small owner-operator landlords also face unique difficulties in managing active adult 55+ senior housing communities. These communities require specialized knowledge and resources to operate effectively, including expertise in geriatric care, understanding of regulatory compliance, and knowledge of marketing to the senior population. These challenges can make it difficult for small owner-operator landlords to effectively manage their communities and attract new residents.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only made these challenges more pronounced. Many older adults are wary of living in shared spaces due to the increased risk of exposure to the virus. As a result, many active adult 55+ senior housing communities are struggling to attract new residents, exacerbating the already difficult task of managing these communities.

It’s important for policymakers and rental websites to recognize the unique needs of the senior population and work towards making the process of finding and advertising senior housing options more accessible and streamlined. By supporting small owner-operator landlords and addressing the challenges they face, we can help ensure that all seniors have access to safe, affordable, and welcoming homes.

In conclusion, the restrictions placed by popular rental websites on advertising age-restricted housing can be a significant challenge for small owner-operator landlords looking to manage active adult 55+ senior housing communities. These challenges ultimately limit the housing options available to seniors and make it more difficult and costly for them to find the homes they need. By recognizing the unique needs of the senior population and supporting small owner-operator landlords, we can work towards a future where all seniors have access to safe and welcoming housing options.