RentCaddie
Property management, on your brand
Skip to content
Annual plans start at $27/month. 2 months free when you pay for the year. Start free →
Property management glossary
Property investing

Debt service

Plain-English definition

The principal and interest payments due on a property’s loan during a period.

What debt service means in practice

Debt service is a financing cost, not an operating expense in the standard NOI calculation. Tracking it separately helps owners distinguish property performance from the effects of leverage.

Example

A property’s mortgage requires $1,200 per month in principal and interest, or $14,400 of annual debt service.

Learn the full workflow

Related field guides

Keep exploring

Related rental terms

This glossary is educational and not legal, tax, lending, or accounting advice. Rules and terminology can vary by jurisdiction and professional context.