As a building caretaker. Opportunities to get free rent by all three of these methods may be found simply by checking the classified advertising section of newspapers in the area you wish to live in. Managing apartments consists of collecting rents, showing vacancies, making minor repairs such as leaky faucets, replacing light bulbs - and taking care of the grounds.
Some units even pay a small salary - depending on the size of the complex.
The manager only handles rent collecting and showing the vacant units. These positions normally pay only a token salary along with free rent. House-sitting is much more attractive to the average person. However, if you only want to locate to an area for a short period of time, this is the way to do it and live rent-free. Many people would rather have someone occupy their home during their absence than have it sit empty.