The purpose was to gain a better understanding of the property owners and managers on whom the nation depends to provide affordable rental housing and what motivates their rental and maintenance policies. Interviewing for the survey was done between November 1995 and June 1996.

A nationwide sample of approximately 16,300 housing units which were rented or vacant-for-rent in the 1993 American Housing Survey National Sample (AHS-N) was selected, and a questionnaire was mailed to the property owner, manager, or other agent of the owner of each property containing a selected unit. Detailed information was collected on maintenance, management practices, tenant policy, financial aspects of rental property ownership, owner characteristics, and related topics.

Analysts can use survey results to answer the question: Who are the owners of the nation's rental units and do their actions differ greatly between different segments of the rental market? The survey results also can be used to analyze the problems facing owners and managers of rental units, and as an aid in understanding more about what are considered priorities by owners and managers.