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Problems in the home are a nuisance. Like when you’ve got a leaky tap and the drip drip drip drives you to distraction, or when your fridge packs up and food goes to waste. When things go wrong, it’s understandable you want them fixed ASAP. But what if you’re a tenant? What’s the best way to get an issue resolved?
Repairs and maintenance in a rental property are usually a landlord’s responsibility. As a tenant, you’ve got to wait until they sort it out, so what’s the best way to communicate with your landlord? How can you get them to fix things in a timely manner?
Who manages the property?
It may seem like an obvious question, but many tenants don’t know who to contact when things break down or need repairing. When you first move in, it’s good to get these details and keep them in a safe place.
If an agent is managing a property, contact them to report any issues, and if the landlord manages the property, speak to them directly.
Assess the level of urgency
There’s a difference between a loss of water pressure in the shower and a broken-down boiler. The latter will affect heating and hot water so should be classed as urgent. Contact your landlord as soon as you’re aware of the problem so they can start the repair process.
For less urgent matters, such as a loose curtain pole or noisy dishwasher, you could report it at your next inspection.
Provide full information
Even if you’ve got the best landlord in the world, they may not know the make and model of all the appliances within your property. So, whether you’re sending an email or typing out a text message, give them the full information. Include the make and model number of the appliance (so they can order parts or let their maintenance person know), the problem that’s occurred, and how and when it happened. The same applies to non-appliance-related issues. The more information you provide, the quicker an issue can be dealt with.
Call or email?
If the issue doesn’t require urgent attention, it’s best to email/text your landlord in the first instance. If you don’t hear back within a couple of days, follow up your message with a call.
In some cases, you might be happy to deal with a problem that arises yourself. However, it’s best to check your tenancy agreement to see if you should do this.
If you’re looking to rent a property or you’re a landlord with a vacant residence, give our team at Gibbins Richards Lettings and Management Ltd a call.
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As a landlord, it’s important to build a good relationship with tenants. You want them to feel comfortable in their new home and to care for it, pay rent on time and generally have a successful tenancy period. But what makes a good relationship?
Unless you’re renting a property out to friends or family, it’s likely you won’t have met your tenants before. So, while it’s important to introduce yourself and maintain a good line of communication, there is a danger of becoming too friendly with them.
And once you’ve crossed that boundary, it could cause a lot of problems (and awkwardness).
In this quick read, we look at the do’s and don’ts of maintaining a professional relationship with tenants.
Introduce yourself
If you used an agent to find the tenants but intend to self-manage when the tenancy starts, it’s always a good idea to contact the tenants and let them know that you’re their landlord. Whether you want to do this face to face or via a call, it’s important they know how to get in touch with you.
This is also a good time to let them know your working hours and how to contact you in the event of an emergency.
Messages/emails
If you have more than one tenant living in a property, it may be useful to set up a group for messages or emails. A WhatsApp group is a good way of communicating; however, it may also leave you open to receiving non-urgent messages over the weekend or late at night.
Make it clear when you will be available to respond to queries. Also, make sure you respect their timings. If you have a non-urgent request, contact them during working hours instead of evenings or weekends.
Social media
Should you befriend your tenants on social media? While there are no rules against it, it may seem intrusive if you were to add them onto your social accounts, as if you’re trying to keep an eye on them. Similarly, if a tenant adds you, you might want to think twice before you accept their request. You’re not friends, you’re in a business relationship.
When entering a contract with a tenant, you’re in a legally binding agreement. There could be future disputes between you and them regarding issues with the property or rent payments. By adding them on social media, you’re crossing a line between personal and professional, so it’s important to stay mindful of this.
Use your agent
Letting agents are trained and experienced in dealing with tenants, issues that arise with payments, deposits and disputes. They can help maintain a professional distance from your tenant, so it’s a good idea to work with them. Speak to your agent about what they can and can’t help with. They’re also a great source of knowledge if you need assistance with a tenant.
Looking to rent out a property? Contact our team at Gibbins Richards Lettings and Management Ltd today.
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If you’re a landlord about to settle a new tenant into a property, there’s one phrase that should be your guiding mantra: “Start as you mean to go on”.
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The pitfalls of renting are always shouted about: too expensive, dodgy landlords, broken appliances and so on and so on. But what about the positives?
With rental reforms on the horizon and changes to eviction rules in full swing, let’s explore why being a tenant is the best choice for some people.
According to research by the HomeOwners Alliance, 86% of people want to own their own home. But sometimes, the dream of buying just doesn’t make sense. High interest rates, a lack of savings and additional costs can put that first step on the property ladder out of reach for many.
Home without commitment
A mortgage comes with lots of strings attached. You’re committed for several years, you’re bound by terms and conditions, and if you miss a payment, it’s going to have repercussions. If you prefer a carefree lifestyle, renting is the way forward. You’re only committed for the short term, you can bow out after a short period, and you won’t have a large debt hanging around your neck.
Flexibility
Renting gives you freedom of choice. You can move from one area to another, you can try out different property types (according to your budget), you can even try living with other people. Unlike when you buy a property and you’re tied in for the long haul, renting contracts are shorter and more flexible.
No repairs or maintenance
When you own a property, there’s always something to do. Repairs, improvements, changes… your free time is never really free. In a rental property, repairs and maintenance aren’t your responsibility. If something goes wrong or needs to be fixed, you might have to spend some time on the phone organising its repair, but otherwise, you don’t have to sort it out yourself.
(NOTE: If you’re responsible for any damage, then it may incur a cost or result in a reduction of your deposit.)
No legal fees or obligations
When you buy a property, as well as the cost of the house/flat, you’ll need to pay for things like surveys, stamp duty, conveyancing costs and agent fees. When you rent a property, you’ll have to pay for the deposit upfront, but other than that, you’ll just need your monthly payments (rent, bills and so on).
Are you looking for a property to rent? Contact our team at Gibbins Richards Lettings and Management Ltd today – we’re ready to help.
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With summer officially starting in a few weeks, most people will have banished all thoughts of winter and the dark, damp days that go with it. But there’s a good reason why landlords should look beyond the sunny skies of the here and now to the colder months.
And here’s why. Summer is a good time to get your property ready for winter by making changes that will improve its energy efficiency and reduce heating costs. Here are three reasons why retrofitting in summer makes good sense.
Good weather
It makes life easier for builders and tradespeople when they don’t have to contend with heavy downpours or snow, and there’s no risk of traipsing mud inside. Jobs like installing solar panels and heat pumps and replacing windows are best carried out in the warmer months.
Longer days
In the summer, there are more daylight hours, meaning tradespeople can work for extended periods, should they wish. This means jobs can be finished more quickly, minimising disruption to your tenants.
Availability of skilled tradespeople
Plumbers and boiler specialists usually work their socks off in autumn and winter – when people use their boilers more frequently, and breakdowns are common. So if you want to replace an ageing boiler with a more environmentally friendly model, do it in summer.
So where should landlords start?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to improving a home’s energy efficiency – it all depends on the age and current condition of the property. You may have clear ideas about the work you’d like to do to your rental property, but if you’re unsure or would like a second opinion, speak to your letting agent. They’ll be able to make useful suggestions about what’s best for your property and advise on the works that will add the most value should you wish to sell later. And your letting agent should be able to recommend reliable tradespeople.
Contact us at Gibbins Richards Lettings and Management Ltd today for more information about making your rental property more energy efficient.
