Posted: Tuesday, December 8, 2020

How to be a good landlord

Being a good landlord requires time, effort and money, but it’s worth it to find and keep good tenants for longer who will help to pay your mortgage and put money in your pocket. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some uncertainty in the property market and changing regulations can be difficult to keep up with, so it's important to understand what your responsibilites are.

For those seeking the best practices for letting a property, we delve into our top tips for how to be a good landlord.

 

1. Be clear in the tenancy agreement

tenancy agreement with keys on document

Write up a fair tenancy agreement, clearly outlining who has responsibility for the maintenance of the property. This is known as the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), which can be written up with the help of a solicitor or a Guild letting agent.

To make life easier, be sure to include specific details, such as, allowing pets, having guests for certain periods and how the deposit may potentially be deducted once the tenancy ends, so it is clearly understood and recorded officially on paper.

 

2. Don’t visit unannounced

cheerful young couple man and woman welcome  at open front door new home apartment

Tenants have the right to be informed 24-hours prior to any visits to the property. Inspections are important to ensure the tenancy agreement is being properly upheld, however, you should give your tenant plenty of notice and all the details of any visit to the property. It is especially important to ensure you are following COVID-19 safety rules and regulations and that your tenants feel safe. A little communication will go a long way to keep your tenants happy.

 

3. Treat your letting like a business

Female Estate Agent On Phone In Office

Your property letting is a form of income, so why would you not run it like a business?

Make sure to:

● keep your tenants well-informed of repairs, visits and alternative contacts for while you are away

● have plans in place for void periods, unexpected costs and late payments

● deliver good customer service: introduce yourself, be approachable and be responsive, or hire a good agency to do this if you don’t have time

 

 4. Take prompt and effective action

Middle aged man repairing burst pipe,plumbing, focus on foreground

Ensure a prompt response to any reports from tenants of any issues or necessary repairs. Never overlook the issues and keep the tenant informed with your progress on dealing with it. Properties need maintaining so issues and repairs are certain to arise. Have contacts of tradesmen on-hand for any potential issues that you can’t solve on your own and don’t skimp on quality repairs to prevent botched jobs that create further damage long-term or repairs that don’t last.

 

5. Follow rules and regulations

Male Technician Checking Smoke Detector

It is important for a landlord and a tenant to follow ever-changing regulations that are set in place to ensure reasonable living conditions for tenants and to outline the responsibilities of a landlord. 

Some of the basic rules and regulations are to:

● Meet safety standards

Possess an Energy Performance Certificate

● Give reasonable notice when visiting the property

● Be responsible for repairs to the structure and basic equipment of the property

● Meet HMO standards

● Protect your tenants' deposit

COVID-19 rules and regulations

The pandemic has meant we have had to quickly adapt to ever-changing rules and regulations to ensure everyone's safety. Here are a few COVID-19 safety procedures to be aware of:

● Ensure social distancing is maintained when visiting the property

● Routine maintenance to the property can be carried out in accordance with the latest public health advice and the relevant coronavirus (COVID-19) legislation

● Landlords should respect tenants wishing to exercise caution with their safety

● Find more Government guidance for landlords here

 

Contact us

For further advice or to start letting your property, find a Guild Member here.

 

FIND YOUR LOCAL MEMBER

 

Looking to buy?

Looking to buy?

We'd love to help you on your journey home.
Don't miss out on on the latest properties by registering for our property alerts.

Register with us today

Read What Our
Customers Say

I can't speak more highly of the team at Homesearch. When I met Michael to discuss the sale of my home instantly from that meeting, I could tell how knowledgeable they were. From that moment until closing, everything went absolutely flawless. This experience of selling went without a hitch with them giving great tips on preparing my home for viewings. Thank you. I really appreciate all your help during this process. I highly recommend Homesearch to any person who is looking to sell their home or buy a new home.

Loretta Barrett, Seller

I started with two very well known real estates, but I hated it. I was simply another number to them and I didn't feel they were honest and transparent. With HomeSearch I felt comfortable that they were on my side and they were always available to help. The process is hard enough, so having a team who supports you can make such a difference. Highly recommend.

Arian Barvarz, Seller

The reason we chose Homesearch to sell our property was that we liked the straightforward, no-nonsense approach of both Anna and Michael. They gave an honest appraisal of our property and a clear idea of what we could expect to sell it for. In fact, the offer we accepted exceeded our expectations. The sale took longer than we would have liked, due to delays caused by the buyers' solicitor, but Michael was tenacious and must have worn his phone out keeping everyone informed of progress.

Nicola Watson, Seller

Homesearch are hands down the best agent I have ever worked with ! The team helped me in an extremely complex sale. Without the knowledge and experience of the whole team, my sale would not have completed. I dont normally write reviews, only when they are truly deserved. An exceptional team! Very kind and personable, reliable & trustworthy.

Leslie John, Seller

My experience with Homesearch is that they are professional, friendly and go above and beyond to ensure that something stressful like selling a house runs as smoothly and stress free as possible. They work hard to get the results and have kept me updated throughout the process. I honestly could not recommend them enough, they are easily the best company I’ve dealt with in the buying/selling houses field. And to top it all off, they always answer the phone in the most pleasant tone and always provide service with a smile.

Chanelle Hunte, Seller

Homesearch are PROFESSIONALS. I sold my property through Homesearch and I have not dealt with a more competent agency. Every single person  dealt with knew exactly what they were talking about and I can tell that they all have knowledge in the industry and were not just picked up from the street. From the get go I was impressed and I will certainly do business with them again.

Paul Hobbs, Seller

Many thanks Homesearch for locating professional corporate tenants for my property. I am very happy with your property management service as you always ensure that the tenants give the property back in good order at check out. Five Stars!

Maria Foran, Landlord

I have been absolutely delighted with the exceptional service I have received from Homesearch. They have removed all the stress & hassle of renting my property and dealt with all manner of situations I would have struggled with in such a professional & courteous manner. They give valuable unbiased advice with such a wealth of experience. Nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff, who are always friendly & helpful. Homesearch let and managed my property and I am very happy with their property management services, they are very knowledgeable.

Paula Carter, Landlord

Homesearch always do what they say they will do. They are efficient and raise any issues early and provide options to resolve them. Homesearch is very  easy to get hold of and talk to, no matter where I am in the world! My property is well looked after, regarding tradesmen, replacement of items swiftly etc. with the minimum of fuss.

David Connells, Landlord

From our first viewing right through to the present, Home Search were brilliant. They helped make the whole process quick and stress free and even now we are in and settled, they are still happy to assist us with any queries we may have. We couldn't recommend them highly enough.

Julie Maney

Home Search helped us move into our new flat smoothly and Tim was always happy to provide help to put our nerves at ease. Arranging a viewing was easy and Home Search were happy to open after hours for us to sign the paperwork. They were very helpful and often would offer to help! Having moved in we received a lovely card and they have always been swift in communicating with Usif we have any questions. Would recommend it.

Will Houghton

Michael and his team were simply amazing!! They helped us to find the perfect house, offering a nice and attentive service from the beginning through to the end. Thank you so much!! 5 stars service. Highly recommended!!!

Giordana Sicali

Very helpful and friendly staff. Tim, Michael and the team Made the whole renting experience easier.

Amol Sinare

I had a very difficult situation as I did not have a guarantor and my dad was earning enough but was not a homeowner. It took a about 3 weeks but Michael sorted it all out in the end and my dad became my guarantor. I got a lovely home and all the staff were very helpful including Paris, Zainab and Tim. Thank you all very much! Would recommend them to anyone

Misti Chakraborty

On behalf of myself, Noa & Niamh, we would like to start off by saying a massive thank you for the amazing service Home Search Ltd provided us with, especially highlighting the work of Clorissa. Within a week we were able to sign, seal and move into the property that we looked at, all down to Clorissa's prompt and effective work ethic, which allowed us a smooth transition from one property to another, without her, this move would not of been possible to have happened within the time stamp that it did. We are very grateful for the work that was done by Home Search Ltd, highly recommend.

Lewis Francis
How Much is Your Property Worth?

Expert Valuation

We always come armed with evidence and statistics of why we are pricing your property a certain way. We know the importance of getting the initial price of your property right, first time. With our extensive experience we will also explain current market conditions as we want to get our sellers the best price.

What's more, get a free gift with your free expert valuation with one of our experienced Valuer's.

Book a Valuation