SourceAs a new landlord, it can be hard to fit in. You’ve got little experience with property management, you don’t know any other landlords, and you’ve just about managed to attract a tenant. Well, well done on that! But now you’ve got a tenant, you need to keep them. To do that, you need to impress with your know-how – if you don’t know where to start, here are some very effective points to keep in mind.
Be as Communicative as Possible
It’s often hard for a tenant to get in touch with their landlord. Messages can go for days unanswered, and sometimes it’s difficult to even get a callback in a timely manner.
In the meantime, issues can turn into much bigger problems, and any late rent could be collecting interest or damaging a credit score while it’s ready to be paid. To avoid potential legal issues, make it clear to a tenant how you can be reached and when.
If they text, email, or call during your ‘off hours’, let them know how long it’ll take for you to get back to them. In doing so, you well fulfill your side of the tenancy contract. You could even go the extra mile here and send them a message at the end of each week to see how they’re getting on.
Be Proactive About Issues
The more you take up a tenant’s cause, the longer they’ll stay on the lease. And for well paying tenants who always get their rent in on time, this is an invaluable way to make money!
As such, it’s best to be proactive about issues, such as broken pipes, faulty extractor fans, cracked tiles, or a bad air conditioning or heating system. You should try to establish a relationship with services like Katy Plumbers, local carpet layers, guttering experts, and painters and decorators early on.
Creating a good relationship on either side means the work will get done quickly and always to a satisfactory level, and your reputation as a landlord stays intact.
Be Empathetic Over Rent Issues
We all have money troubles from time to time, and those renting homes are more keen to avoid them than anyone else! But even with this in mind, going into arrears over rent can be common.
As a landlord, it’s good to have some empathy here; be sure to talk to your tenants about what’s happening, and issue polite notices first of all.
Of course, they’re only living in the property because they pay to do so, and if they miss more than one payment it’s an issue. But even in this scenario, go the extra mile to allow them some concessions, especially if they’ve been good tenants thus far. You never know when you might find their like again!
Final Thoughts
Remember, impressing in your new status as a landlord doesn’t need to be tough. Use tips like these to guide you in the early days before you find your rhythm with your tenants.
