How to be a good landlord

As a landlord, it's important to have a clear idea of what your rights and responsibilities are. Here we will look at the most important areas and give you some tips on how best to manage them.

Be thorough in your selection of tenants

Before you sign a lease with a tenant, you should be sure that they are a good fit for your property. Some landlords choose to do this themselves by conducting interviews and background checks. Others rely on their leasing agents or property managers to make all of these decisions for them.

If you have chosen not to conduct interviews yourself, then it's important that the people who are doing so check thoroughly into each applicant's history before signing them up as tenants. They should check:

Credit score/history-A good credit score can indicate an ability (or inability) on behalf of the applicant in paying bills on time and respecting other financial obligations like loans or mortgages.

Never forget the value of a written tenancy agreement

A written tenancy agreement is a vital part of being a good landlord. It sets out the terms of your relationship with your tenant, including how much rent you are charging, what repairs are expected from them and how long they can stay in the property.

It's important to remember that not all tenants will read and understand everything that is written in their tenancy agreement. If you want to make sure everyone understands what they are signing up for, consider having an independent person explain things before signing anything - such as an estate agent or solicitor who has experience dealing with rental agreements.

Set out clear terms regarding repairs and maintenance

Make sure you have a good working relationship with your tenants.
Make sure your tenants know what is expected of them.
If you're renting out a property, make sure that there is an agreed tenancy agreement between yourself and the tenant(s). This should include details such as; how long they can stay in the property for, how much rent must be paid each month and what happens if either party wants to end the agreement early?

Make sure you have an emergency number for your tenants to call in case of an emergency

Make sure you have an emergency number for your tenants to call in case of an emergency.

Be sure to have a contact number for the tenant(s) in case of an emergency or if there is a problem with the property.

It is important that you maintain a good relationship with the people who live in your property, so make sure that they can get in touch with you if there is an issue or question that needs answering. Make sure that this goes both ways; if there are any problems with their rental agreement or any other aspect of living at one of your properties, be open to talking about how best to resolve those issues.

A good landlord will always put their tenants first: they will keep their needs in mind while also making sure they're honest and fair when dealing with them-even if this means telling someone "no" sometimes! If a tenant has something urgent on their mind (like needing repairs done), then try not only answering their questions but also to help them find solutions as quickly as possible

Landlords need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Landlords are responsible for ensuring that their properties are safe and well-maintained. They have a duty to repair, maintain and keep the property in a good state of repair. Landlords should also carry out any necessary health and safety inspections on their rental properties regularly.

In addition to these general responsibilities, landlords must ensure that the property is in reasonable condition when they let it out. This means that:

The property should be clean and tidy when you move into your new home (and this applies whether it's furnished or unfurnished). If there is any damage caused by you or your tenants during your tenancy then both parties will be liable for fixing this before moving out.
All electrical equipment must be working properly; if not then it must be repaired immediately. You must have a valid EICR to prove that the electrics in the home are safe. This will also go for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Conclusion

As you have seen, it is important for landlords to be aware of their rights and responsibilities. Landlords should always remember that there are ways to deal with problems before they become too big to handle. By following these tips, you will be able to make sure that your tenants are happy with their homes and save yourself from any future headaches! If you would like help managing your rental property, sit back and relax - let Evolution Properties manage it for you! Call us today on 01233 501601 to speak to Michelle or Andrew.