When it comes to renting out a property, there are hundreds of things you need to think about. But in amongst all of the logistical and legal issues is perhaps the most important – how do you make sure you’re a good landlord? It seems silly, but it’s a very important part of being a landlord. If you aren’t a good landlord, you could see a high turnover of tenants, which ultimately isn’t profitable for you, or worse, you could get a bad reputation in the market. So, what can you do to make sure your tenants see you as a good landlord?
Be Engaged
The best types of landlords are those who are engaged in their property, without being overbearing. This means you are up to date on the details of your property, and you’re proactive about anything that needs doing. For example, if you know that there is a boiler service due, make sure you have a note in your diary well ahead of time so that there’s no last-minute rush, as this won’t go over well with your tenants! Similarly, if you know there is maintenance work that needs doing, try not to put it off as long as you can. Instead, be receptive to reports and make sure you are taking action as quickly as you can. After all, it might not impact you, but it does impact your tenants, and if you want them to be happy and respect your property, you need to hold up your end of the agreement.
Be Reachable
No one likes an absentee landlord. Even if all communication is done through an estate agent, it’s important that you are reachable at all times. The last thing a tenant wants is to submit a request and not hear back for months because the landlord wasn’t available for a 5-minute chat. If you’re communicating through an estate agent, make sure you know the protocol and they have your updated information, and more importantly what kind of things you want to know about. If you choose to communicate directly with your tenants, make sure their method of communication matches your own, be it letter, email, phone or text.
Respect Quiet Enjoyment
There is a clause within every rental contract that gives tenants the right to ‘quiet enjoyment of the property’. That means that, unless there is an emergency, your job is to leave them alone. If you do need to access the property for any reason, like repair work or inspections, then you need to give them at LEAST 24 hours’ notice (by law). And if there’s nothing going on, then you don’t need to worry. This might sound silly, but in the past we’ve seen plenty of landlords who like to ‘check in’ on their properties, usually by walking or driving past and taking a look. And if they see something amiss on that journey, they will either knock on the door to let the tenants know, or message them afterwards. This is a one-way ticket to being a bad landlord, and if they feel like they can’t relax in their own home without you looking over their shoulder, it will ultimately lose you tenants. So no matter how local you are, resist the urge to get involved unless someone (estate agent or tenant) tells you there is something wrong.
Consider Allowing Pets
This is always a bit of a controversial one, so bear with us here. The current generation of renters are mostly millennials or older, and they are unfortunately the ones who may have to rent for a large portion of their adult lives before they can get onto the property ladder. So they are looking for properties that they can stay in for a long time, establish themselves in and really call home. And part of that process for a lot of people involves pets. If you’re a landlord who is willing to allow pets in the property, you’ll find you attract better tenants who stay longer, and are happy about it!
Now, we know there are downsides to allowing pets in your rental properties. But there are ways you can protect against them and allow your tenants more freedom when it comes to their furry friends. You used to be able to charge an extra pet deposit that was specifically designed to cover any damage done by the pets, but this is prohibited now – so the most popular option is to charge slightly (and we do mean slightly) higher monthly rent, which you would then put into an account to use to repair any damage at the end of the tenancy. You can also include clauses that make it the tenant’s responsibility to get the property professionally cleaned and pest-sprayed before they leave, so you can be sure the property is left in good condition. So unless you have an iron-clad reason not to, we recommend considering pets as an option where you can.
Of course, there’s a lot more to being a good landlord, but these are some of the more common things we see come up. At Northwood, it’s our job to make sure that landlords understand their role and responsibilities, including how to be a good landlord to their tenants. With our help, you can attract higher quality tenants to your property, and keep them renting from you for longer. If you would like to know more, just get in touch with the team today.
