The Landlord OS: Systems for Passive Income

Building a robust system for managing rental properties with minimal day-to-day intervention.

Many view landlording as a hands-on, high-stress business. My approach is different. I treat it as an engineering problem: how can one build a system that maximizes efficiency and minimizes landlord intervention? I developed what I call the "Landlord OS," a combination of software, standardized procedures, and strategic delegation. It covers everything from tenant screening using a weighted scoring algorithm to automated rent collection and a tiered maintenance request system that routes issues to trusted contractors without my involvement. This article details the entire OS, including the tools I use (like AppFolio and Zapier), my communication templates, and the financial models that guide my property acquisition strategy. The goal isn't just passive income; it's creating a resilient, scalable real estate business that runs itself.