# Risk Reduction for Rentals (TIDY)

> TIDY is an AI Property Manager that reduces rental risk with insurance setup and tracking, compliance filings completed for you, FCRA-compliant tenant and guest screening, noise alerts with 24/7 monitoring, and local regulation tracking — across short-term, mid-term, and long-term rentals, for 3.9% of gross bookings or rent.

Last updated: 2026-08-21
Canonical HTML: https://www.tidy.com/rentals/reduce-risk

## Scope and limits

TIDY is a technology platform with human account managers. It is not a law firm, a tax preparer, an insurance broker, or an insurer, and nothing here is legal, tax, or insurance advice. TIDY researches requirements against official sources and completes work per the owner's instruction; ambiguous legal questions and decisions outside its authority are routed to the owner or qualified counsel. TIDY does not guarantee a regulatory, insurance, or legal outcome — it helps owners stay on top of eligibility, filings, deadlines, screening, and rule changes.

## Risk-reduction capabilities

- **Insurance setup & tracking** — Policy details kept on file, coverage gaps flagged as tracked compliance items. TIDY generally recommends an owner-level homeowner policy that explicitly covers rental use (underwrite once, get the exact coverage needed) instead of relying on each pro or vendor to carry their own. Works with any provider; prepares insurer documentation and can do some of the filing work. Not an insurance broker — cannot quote — and does not cover damage itself. Docs: https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/insurance-recommendations and https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/damage-claims
- **Compliance filings completed for you** — Requirements at the address become tracked items grouped into Blockers, Before Listing, Operate, Taxes, Admin, and Recommended. Automation assembles the paperwork; the owner's dedicated account manager completes authorized filings per the owner's instruction and attaches the approval or evidence. Each item shows STR/LTR applicability, an importance level (critical, required, admin, recommended), and source attribution. Docs: https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/rental-compliance
- **FCRA-compliant tenant & guest screening** — Ordered through an FCRA-regulated partner (TransUnion SmartMove by default). The applicant receives a secure invite and authorizes the pull directly with the partner, so neither the owner nor TIDY handles the SSN. Reports cover credit score, income verification and income-to-rent ratio, criminal background, and eviction history, and lead with a Recommended / Review / Not recommended signal that is a summary, not a decision. Adverse action notices are sent automatically when an application is declined. Docs: https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/tenant-screening and https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/rental-applications
- **Noise alerts & 24/7 monitoring** — The TIDY Wi-Fi Router & Noise Sensor measures sound level around the clock and charts it in decibels. It measures how loud it is, not what is being said; no audio is recorded. Third-party devices (Minut, NoiseAware) can run alongside, though their readings do not appear in TIDY. Hardware: https://www.tidy.com/hardware — Docs: https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/noise-monitoring
- **Local regulation monitoring** — Eligibility verdicts of Allowed, Prohibited, Conditional, or Unknown for the rental type at the address. The check re-runs when a property is added, the strategy changes between short, mid, and long-term, or a tracked rule needs refreshing; the report carries a last-updated date. Docs: https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/rental-compliance
- **Lodging & occupancy tax filings** — Each applicable tax tracked by name, rate, remitting agency, frequency (monthly or quarterly), next due date, and estimated amount, flowing into the monthly P&L. Returns prepared and filed per the owner's instruction. Tracking is not filing advice. Docs: https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/taxes
- **Pro compliance & safety** — Pro insurance requirements, certifications, and background checks tracked, with custom per-property requirements, automated reminders to pros, and document storage. Docs: https://www.tidy.com/docs/pm/compliance-safety

## Five rental risks and what TIDY does about them

| Risk | What can go wrong | What TIDY does about it |
|---|---|---|
| Unpermitted operation | Fines, forced delisting, or a shut-down order for renting without a required permit or registration | Eligibility check against local rules for the address, blockers surfaced first, permit filings prepared and completed per the owner's instruction |
| Uninsured damage | A fire, major water loss, or liability event a standard homeowner policy does not cover for rental use | Policy details tracked, coverage gaps flagged as compliance items, claim documentation prepared, platform disputes filed on the owner's behalf |
| Bad tenant or guest | Missed rent, an eviction, or property damage from an unscreened applicant | FCRA-compliant screening through TransUnion SmartMove — credit, income, criminal, eviction — with automatic adverse action notices |
| Noise complaint | Neighbor complaints escalating into fines, a revoked permit, or a lost listing | Decibel monitoring on the TIDY sensor with spikes charted over time; sound level only, no audio recorded; readings usable as objective evidence |
| Missed tax filing | Penalties and interest on unremitted lodging, occupancy, or transient tax | Every applicable tax tracked by rate, remitting agency, frequency, and next due date, with returns prepared and filed per the owner's instruction |

## How compliance monitoring works

1. **Property checked against local rules** — TIDY runs a compliance check on the address for the intended strategy (short, mid, or long-term) and returns an eligibility verdict.
2. **Gaps flagged and prioritized** — Requirements become tracked items grouped into Blockers, Before Listing, Operate, Taxes, Admin, and Recommended, each with an importance level and source attribution.
3. **Filings prepared and completed per the owner's instruction** — Automation assembles the paperwork; the dedicated account manager completes authorized filings and marks items complete once the filing, approval, or evidence is in hand.
4. **Ongoing monitoring for rule changes** — Tracked rules are refreshed and the check re-runs when strategy changes or a requirement moves, updating the verdict and adding new work.

## Key facts

- Trusted 13+ years by 100,000+ homeowners & property managers; 4.5+ Google rating (TIDY first-party data, as of August 21, 2026)
- Risk reduction is included in TIDY's 3.9% of gross bookings (or rent), with a $19 per-unit monthly minimum
- Traditional property managers charge 20–35% (about 30% typical) — TIDY saves up to 85%
- Covers short-term, mid-term, and long-term rentals; long-term adds tenant screening, applications, and leasing compliance
- Automation the owner controls, plus a dedicated human account manager

## FAQ

**Is my property legal to run as a short-term rental?** TIDY checks eligibility against local rules for the address and returns Allowed, Prohibited, Conditional, or Unknown, with source attribution on each requirement. Informational, not legal advice.

**Does TIDY file my permits and taxes?** TIDY prepares the paperwork and, where authorized, the account manager completes the filing per the owner's instruction and attaches the approval as evidence. Which taxes apply and what is owed remain the owner's responsibility.

**How does tenant screening work — is it FCRA compliant?** Yes. Screenings run through an FCRA-regulated partner (TransUnion SmartMove by default); the applicant authorizes the pull directly, and adverse action notices are automatic on decline.

**What happens when a noise alert fires?** The TIDY sensor charts a decibel spike so the owner can message the guest or dispatch a pro before a complaint escalates. Sound level only — no audio recorded.

**Does TIDY track my insurance?** Yes — policy details, coverage gaps as compliance items, and pro-side insurance and certification requirements with automated reminders. TIDY is not an insurance broker and does not cover damage itself.

**What if my city changes its short-term rental rules?** The compliance check re-runs when a tracked rule needs refreshing, updating the eligibility verdict and adding new requirements as tracked work.

**Does TIDY guarantee that I stay compliant?** No. TIDY helps owners stay on top of eligibility, filings, deadlines, screening, and rule changes; decisions and legal responsibility stay with the owner.

## Related pages

- Risk Reduction (this page): https://www.tidy.com/rentals/reduce-risk
- Increase Revenue: https://www.tidy.com/rentals/increase-revenue
- Automate Operations: https://www.tidy.com/rentals/automate-operations
- Guest Experience: https://www.tidy.com/rentals/guest-experience
- TIDY hardware (Wi-Fi router & noise sensor): https://www.tidy.com/hardware
- TIDY for rentals: https://www.tidy.com/rentals
- Pricing: https://www.tidy.com/pricing

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Source: TIDY (https://www.tidy.com). TIDY is a technology platform, not a service provider. TIDY does not provide cleaning or maintenance services directly and does not employ cleaners. Pros on TIDY are either the user's own pros or independent businesses.
