Good tenants are often hard to find - so if you’ve got them, you’ll want to do your best to keep them! With that in mind here are a few handy hints on how to keep good tenants happy over the Christmas and summer holidays.
1. Let them know if you’re going on holiday
This is just a general courtesy - and one you can benefit from as well! If they know you won’t be around, they can hold off getting in touch (unless it’s an emergency) but you are also giving them the opportunity to make any last minute requests before you head away. If you’re going to drop by, you could also deliver a box of chocolates along with a card to thank them for being good tenants - a little gratitude often goes a long way.
Remember; landlord who are going to be overseas for more than 21 consecutive days, are legally required to appoint someone ('an agent') to look after the property over that period. This needs to be arranged by the landlord before going overseas and the tenants must be provided with the agent's contact details. It is also worth noting that 'agent' chosen by the landlord to represent their interest while they are overseas can be a friend or family member - in other words it does not need to be professional property manager,.
2. Fix anything in time for their festivities
Yes it is a busy time of the year for everyone, but if repairs need to be taken care of at your rental property - make sure they are done before the festivities begin. It is not fair to expect your tenants to have to wait until after the holidays, particularly if they are hosting family and friends for Christmas.
Read more: Landlord vs tenant responsibilities
3. Take the time to help clean up
If you have some spare time over the holidays, you may like to take the opportunity to help with a clean up at your property - meaning you and your tenant can start the year afresh with a well maintained home.
If your tenants are going away, it might also be an opportune time to give the property a new coat of paint or carry out any other repairs. But make sure you make the necessary arrangements with them first.
4. Offer them incentive to stick around
The start of a new year is a common time for people to reevaluate their careers, personal goals and, yes, even where they live. Finding truly good tenants is every landlord's dream, so you may choose to agree a new lease period, without an increase as an incentive for them to stay on. This is sure to put them at ease with the prospect of staying put, and means you don’t have a post-holiday headache come February.
5. Shout them a week free
This tip is probably only relevant to landlords who have good longterm tenants. The holiday’s are an expensive time for everyone - so you can imagine a tenant’s surprise by having one week off from paying rent. This gesture of goodwill is guaranteed to bring a smile to their dial, and ensure they continue to stick around.
Yes, of course it is expected that anyone living in someone else’s home should take care of it as if it were their own - but we all know what a little bit of kindness can do.
Consider the value you are getting in return - particularly if you have tenants who take care of easy repairs, put a lot of effort into maintaining the property, and always pay their rent on time.
The New Year is often the time people decide to make the move to a new rental, so if you’ve got dream tenants living in your property, and dread the thought of finding new ones (the cost of vacancy and advertising, as well as time spent screening and reference checking), think about reaching out these holidays. ‘Tis the season after all.
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