How to Build Apartments in The Sims 4: For Rent

December 15, 2023

Players can be property owners in The Sims 4: For Rent expansion pack and can build shared living spaces, including duplexes, townhouses, and apartments. Any lot can be turned into a rentable property called a Residential Rental. While there are several ways to build Residential Rentals, starting from scratch can be overwhelming.

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Players can build their dream apartments from the ground up or renovate an already-created space to fit multiple households. They have complete control over the entire property, from the design to the Lot Traits, and will be responsible for maintaining their units to keep their residents happy. Here’s a step-by-step guide on building apartments in The Sims 4: For Rent.

The Sims 4: For Rent brings a unique aspect to residential lots, with being able to build apartments, become a landlord and more.

How to Build Apartments in The Sims 4: For Rent

After downloading the For Rent expansion pack, players will be able to purchase and build Residential Lots to enjoy as a landlord or a tenant. Starting from a new save, players must move their Sim into a lot before they can begin managing the world. There are three ways to start building an apartment:

Convert a built residential lot.
Build a new building on an empty lot.
Purchase a pre-built apartment.

If you want to design your own apartments, starting on an empty lot is best. Players can build an apartment on any empty lot in Manage World mode if they want their Sim to be a tenant or have their Sim purchase a Residential Rental from Live Mode.

Change the Lot to a Residential Rental

Players can change a Lot to a Residential Rental from Build/Buy mode. To change the Lot Type, click the small house icon in the top left corner to bring up the lot settings. Click the drop-down menu under “Lot Type” and select “Residential Rental” from the list of venues.

Players can access the Unit Configuration menu by clicking on the gear icons next to the house. This is where they can view the unit information, which includes the value, dimensions, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms it has. It also includes a list of suggestions that players should consider in their builds to make the apartments livable, like adding a toilet and a refrigerator. Having social spaces and a nice environment for renters is also recommended.

Build and Assign the Lot Units

Before building on a Residential Lot, players must ensure there are no Sims on the property. Otherwise, this can cause room and wall placement issues and flag them with a “Cannot make changes outside the owned area” message.

Here’s what The Sims4: For Rent Expansion Pack brings to the CAS

Players can have up to six units on one property without cheats, with a maximum number of 99 rental units per save in total. Each unit can hold up to eight Sims, but there might be performance issues with more Sims on one lot.

Enter bb.increaserentalunitcap in the cheat bar to increase the number of units you can build on one lot.

Players should include all the basics needed for an apartment, including at least one bathroom, a kitchen, and sleeping quarters. Simmers must remember their rental’s star rating when building their units if they play as a property owner. Amenities, decorations, size, and maintenance all affect the overall rating. Players will also want to include mailboxes, trashcans, and a new fully functional water heater and electrical panel.

After building their apartments, players can assign which rooms are units or shared spaces for all renters. To assign unit numbers, click on a room and select the drop-down menu with the rental title.

You can choose if the room is a shared space, attached to a unit, or a new unit. All rooms in the same unit will be outlined in a matching color.

Add Lot Traits and Unit Rules

Players can also access Lot Traits and Challenges from the Unit Configuration menu. Next to the Unit Info is a question mark icon. When players click on it, they can assign Lot Traits and Challenges to each unit rather than having to apply them to the entire lot. Lot Traits are typically positive attributes that affect a Sim’s needs or emotions. Challenges, conversely, make life harder for Sims by adding pests, ghosts, and even mold to properties.

Unit rules that may result in eviction or fines if broken can also be assigned. Players can only decide on unit rules in a lease agreement through the Fill Vacancy feature if they own the property. The lease agreement can also designate the rent per day and lease length.