Being a landlord can be a truly rewarding experience not just in terms of money (although that can certainly be a big part of it) but in terms of helping people and providing a good place to live as well. You can be proud of your work and the property or properties you rent out when you strive to be a good landlord and keep your tenants happy.
The question is how to do this, of course. It’s one thing to own a few properties and rent them out, and another to be the kind of landlord people are happy to keep paying and stay renting from for many years, giving you a stable income. With this in mind, here are some of the ways you can keep your tenants happy as a landlord and continue to make money and build your reputation at the same time.
Have A Clean And Safe Rental Property
Although the internal cleaning is something that tenants need to be responsible for, other areas fall to the landlord to keep well maintained and clean. If you own apartments, for example, you might have communal areas, and these are spaces that a landlord must take care of. You’ll also need to make sure the property is free of pests and that any outside lighting is kept working well, for example.
If any issues could be causing tenants problems and making the property unsafe or uncomfortable to live in, you must address these quickly as well. You can wait for your tenant to mention them and ask for help, but you might also conduct an annual inspection of the property, just in case they haven’t said anything. It’s wise to know the signs your home needs electrical repair or what mold looks like so that you can immediately put things right – this is something your tenants will certainly appreciate.
Respect Your Tenants’ Privacy
Something crucial when it comes to being a good landlord and making your tenants happy (and keeping them that way) is respecting their privacy. Although we mentioned carrying out routine visits in the point above, and although these can be very useful, you should never just arrive at the property unannounced. The tenant has a right to ‘peaceful enjoyment’ of the property, which means that they need at least twenty-four hours’ notice before you stop by, and, of course, they are also well within their rights to say no.
Arranging your annual visit is something that can be done many weeks or even months in advance so that everyone knows it is going to happen and can prepare for it. However, unless your tenant specifically asks you to come by to check on something or you need to carry out repairs, you shouldn’t have to go to the property at all. In fact, it’s better if you don’t; this is your tenants’ home even if it is your property, and if you can leave them be for the majority of the time, they’ll certainly be a lot happier and stay much longer than if you keep bothering them.
Communicate Well
Another good way to keep your tenants happy is to make sure you always communicate well. If there is anything that needs to be done to the property, make sure the information is sent across with plenty of time to spare so that things can be organized.
However, as well as this kind of communication, the initial communication about the property is extremely important. Make sure that all the details of the tenancy are easy to understand and completely clear so there can be no mistakes or errors and everyone – on both sides – knows what is expected of them. In this way, your tenants can be sure they are doing the right thing, and you can be sure you’ll be paid each month. If anything has to change within the tenancy, ensure you are doing so within any regulations and laws and communicate the news clearly and concisely.
Be Flexible
A flexible landlord will always make their tenants happy, and if you can be accommodating when need be, your tenants will stay around for a while, saving you the worry of trying to find new ones.
If your tenant is going to be a little late on their rent, for example, give them the benefit of the doubt. If they have caused some damage to the house and it was an accident, accept their apology. It’s far better to do this than it is to cause disharmony. Of course, if the tenant never pays or trashes the house all the time, that’s different, and you can’t allow it. But once in a while, being flexible can only be a good thing for all involved.