Here Is How You Can Find The Perfect Tenant
A decent tenant vetting process is one of the most crucial things that you can do when you are renting out a home that you own. Good tenants are those who are responsible and whom you can rely on to take after one of your most important assets, to communicate any difficulties that arise, and to pay their rent in full and on time on a consistent basis.
There are, of course, more decent tenants than bad tenants in the world, but how can you know whether the tenant you choose will not leave you in a dire state? Here, we look at how to find a decent tenant for your rental property.
What characteristics distinguish a good tenant?
Someone who will speak to you – if they see that there is a leak coming from somewhere or that the heater is making an unusual noise, they will inform you so that you can get it fixed or a new boiler installation organised before it becomes a much bigger and a much more expensive issue.
- Someone who will look after the property – they do not have to maintain it as a model home, but they should take care in keeping it clean and presentable and refrain from causing damage on purpose.
- A reliable payer – Having to hunt them down every month because they have not paid the rent is something you really do not want to deal with.
- Someone who is willing to make compromises – as a landlord, you want to have any concerns resolved as quickly as possible, but things can occasionally take a bit longer than you would like. A decent tenant will see this and be willing to work with you to find a solution.
- Someone who adheres to the terms of the contract – did you specify that there would be no smoking in the property or that there would be no pets? You will want to make certain that your tenant follows through on this. After all, you included the condition in the contract for a specific reason.
The question is, how do you go about locating a suitable tenant?
If you are attempting to do everything yourself, this can be a difficult task but experienced letting agents will know what to look for and how to separate the poor properties from the good properties. They are also excellent at assisting you in the management of the property and resolving any difficulties that arise on your behalf.
There are several more things you can do to increase your chances of obtaining a suitable tenant, including the following:
- Advertising as widely as possible: letting is a business, and marketing is critical to the success of any business. When you promote, you will reach a larger number of people, which will boost your chances of procuring an excellent egg.
- Carry out comprehensive checks: if you are using a letting agent, they will take care of this for you, but if you are not, you should carry out affordability and credit checks, proof of income, references from employers and previous landlords, and, if necessary, guarantor checks on the applicant.
- Make a list of everything: Before the tenants move in, walk around the property and take photos of any blemishes or damage, as well as any furniture or fittings that are in place. You can then inspect this when your tenants vacate the premises and charge them for any damage that has occurred.
- Maintain the property: If the property appears messy, rundown, and generally uncared for, you are more likely to attract tenants who feel the same way. Maintain the property: Good tenants are more likely to be found if you keep up with upkeep and maintain high standards in your property.