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Written by Ethan M. Stone

The collaboration aims to provide independent landlords with more practical guidance on renovations, investment strategies, and long-term property management.

Independent landlords are increasingly being asked to wear multiple hats at once. Beyond collecting rent and filling vacancies, many are now expected to think like investors, oversee operations, and make renovation decisions that can affect their properties’ long-term performance.

That growing pressure is at the center of a new partnership announced by TurboTenant and real estate investor and television host Scott McGillivray. The collaboration is designed to provide independent landlords with more accessible education around rental ownership, property improvements, and investment strategy.

TurboTenant, an all-in-one property management platform focused on small landlords, says the initiative reflects changing expectations across the rental market. Many owners are now looking beyond basic management tools and seeking guidance to help them make stronger long-term decisions about their properties.

A Broader Role for Property Management Platforms

The partnership signals a broader move toward educational support within the property management space. For independent landlords, software may simplify day-to-day tasks, but larger decisions often involve balancing renovation costs, tenant expectations, maintenance concerns, and future property value.

According to TurboTenant, the collaboration with McGillivray will focus on practical advice that small property owners can apply directly to their rentals. Topics are expected to include renovation planning, operational improvements, investment strategy, and the identification of upgrades that can provide meaningful long-term value.

“Independent landlords are the backbone of the rental market, and they deserve access to the same level of expertise as large-scale investors,” said Seamus Nally, CEO of TurboTenant. “Scott has built incredible trust by helping people make smart real estate decisions, and together, we’re bringing that knowledge directly to landlords in a way that’s practical, approachable, and actionable.”

That message may resonate with landlords who often manage properties without the consultants, in-house teams, or institutional resources available to larger operators. For many smaller owners, even relatively modest upgrades can carry financial and operational consequences that extend well beyond appearance alone.

Why McGillivray Fits the Partnership

McGillivray has spent more than two decades building a reputation around practical real estate and renovation advice. As host and executive producer of the HGTV series Income Property, he became known for helping homeowners and investors evaluate upgrades through the lens of long-term value and functionality.

Across more than 400 television episodes and a portfolio of properties throughout North America, his approach focused on making investment and renovation concepts easier for everyday property owners to understand and apply.

That perspective aligns closely with the needs of independent landlords, who are often forced to make decisions quickly and without extensive outside guidance. Flooring choices, kitchen updates, exterior improvements, and maintenance investments can simultaneously influence tenant retention, operating costs, and rental appeal.

McGillivray said the collaboration is intended to help landlords approach those decisions more strategically.

“Real estate has always been one of the most powerful tools for building long-term wealth, but success as a landlord takes more than just owning property: it takes the right strategy, smart upgrades, and the right support,” McGillivray said. “TurboTenant is giving independent landlords access to tools that make managing rentals simpler and more professional.”

Launching Through Educational Content

The partnership officially begins with McGillivray’s appearance on TurboTenant’s Be a Better Landlord podcast, where he discusses the current rental market and shares guidance on renovation priorities and investment decisions for smaller property owners.

For TurboTenant, the collaboration reflects an effort to position education alongside software as part of the support system independent landlords increasingly need. As operating costs, tenant expectations, and market competition continue to affect small rental owners, practical guidance may become just as valuable as the tools used to manage their properties.