January 16, 2026
The National Rental Home Council (NRHC) represents the single-family rental (SFR) and build-to-rent (BTR) industry and values the essential role professional housing providers play in serving families and communities nationwide. Single-family rentals are a critical and growing segment of the U.S. housing market, now housing more than 14 million households, and despite common misconceptions, large-scale, professional housing providers account for less than 1% of all U.S. housing units and only a small fraction of SFR homes.
Affordability challenges in the housing market are driven by a chronic undersupply of homes, not by ownership structure. The United States faces a housing shortage estimated at 3-5 million homes, the result of a decade of underbuilding following the Great Recession. Restricting investor participation does not create new housing and risks reducing capital flows needed to build and preserve homes. In contrast, investors plays a vital role in expanding supply, stabilizing neighborhoods, and modernizing aging housing stock.
Professional housing providers invest billions of dollars annually in home renovations and maintenance. In fact, research shows that professionally managed homes are more likely to receive timely repairs, and capital improvements. In addition, institutional owners support local economies and jobs, from construction and renovation to property management, landscaping, and maintenance services.
Single-family rentals provide families with the space, privacy, access to good schools, and neighborhood stability they seek—benefits traditionally only associated with homeownership—while offering the flexibility and lower upfront costs of renting. This is especially important for households who are not yet able to buy due to rising home prices, high interest rates, student debt, or access to credit. Notably, more than one-third of renters are families with children, and demand for single-family living continues to grow as millennials form households and seek neighborhood-oriented communities.
Build-to-rent communities, a fast-growing segment supported largely by institutional capital, are also helping to add new housing supply. In recent years, BTR has accounted for tens of thousands of new homes annually with over 100,000 currently in the pipeline. These developments expand choice, relieve pressure on for-sale inventory, and create stability for families who ultimately decide to purchase a home. NRHC and our members remain committed to advancing real solutions to address housing affordability. We look forward to continued engagement with federal, state, and local leaders, and our industry partners to address housing affordability. We will also continue to correct misconceptions about the single-family rental industry. We are proud of the work our members do every day to invest in homes, support their residents, and create local jobs.
If you are not yet a member of NRHC, NRHC invites you to join. Membership strengthens our collective voice, expands our impact, and ensures that the families and communities we serve continue to benefit from a vibrant, well‑supported single‑family rental industry.
To join, please use this link. Thank you.
Warm regards,
Adrianne Todman
CEO National Rental Home Council
