5 Tips to keeping happy tenants

5 Tips to keeping happy tenants

For the most part landlords and tenants have a good relationship. As landlords though we should never underestimate the importance of a happy tenant. It is proven that if you look after your tenant they will stay longer, are happier to bear rent increases and are more likely to accept when there are problems. Its a 2 way street so here's a guide to what you can do to foster good relations.

5 tips to keeping good tenants

Set expectations

When it comes to keeping tenants happy, communication is key. This doesn’t mean that you’re on the phone to them every week – it’s about consistency. Depending on what timings work for you, let your tenants know that you’ll drop in once every three months to check how things are going. This will provide some added structure to the tenancy, allowing both parties to discuss things such as property maintenance.

Address problems quickly

We know landlords are busy people and it’s not as though you’re sitting around waiting for a call from a tenant to let them know something’s gone wrong. However, whilst these sorts of issues might seem trivial to you, they can make a big difference to a tenant’s experience of living in your property. So if they report something, or you notice something’s wrong whilst visiting, try and get it sorted as quickly as possible. You can go the extra mile by checking with your tenants afterwards to see if they’re happy with the repair work.

Invest

Nothing says ‘I’d like you to stay’ better than investing in some new fixtures and fittings. This shows that you trust the tenants to treat your property with respect and will also help make their lives easier. What’s more, you may find that tenants are more responsive to paying a higher rent if you offer to improve the property.

 Give them some space

As far as possible, try to avoid dropping in on tenants unexpectedly. Let them know in advance that you’re coming around. Otherwise, they might get a nasty shock if they’re just emerging from the shower when you’re checking the condition of the property. Typically, landlords should let tenants know at least 24 hours in advance that they’re planning to come round. Try and stick to this if you can.

 Surprise them

When we say surprise your tenants, we do of course mean in a positive way. Performing a random act of kindness, like providing a bottle of wine, or putting credit on the electricity meter when they move in may seem like a small act to you, but it can do wonders for the landlord-tenant relationship. In fact, according to our research, 70% of tenants who received an act of kindness stayed in their property for 24 months or more, compared to just 53% who hadn’t.

 These are just some of the ways in which you can foster a healthy relationship with your tenant.

 - See more at: https://www.endsleigh.co.uk/talk-lettings/better-relations/2015-mar/5-tips-to-keeping-good-tenants/#sthash.nbggxpYt.dpuf