How to Keep your Landlord Happy and Why it Matters

How to keep your landlord happy and why it matters

This blog is about what good tenants do. (Silly tenants don’t).

This matters because if you are a tenant and keep your landlord happy, he/she will almost certainly keep any rent increases low (and probably below the rate of inflation) and keep your rent below local market rents.

He/she will also attend to any reasonable needs you have promptly too.

He/she will likely only come to inspect the property once a year, if that. He/she trusts you, so he/she does not need to come often.

If you don’t do these things, (the things that the good tenants do), none of these things will come your way. You will get the opposite treatment. And you may even be given notice to leave, don’t worry the landlord will find a way to do this legally, whether Section 21 is in place or not.

So here is what a good tenant should do:

Lots of little things that happen in a property are not really the responsibility of a landlord, though many do them anyway. Things like fixing a sticky front door or drawer are two simple examples. If you do these little items yourself, your landlord will like it.

If you properly heat the property and ventilate it, you will eliminate the risk of condensation and mould. There is much else you can do to reduce condensation and mould. So, you do it, it is not rocket science.

If you see something does not look right in the property or around the property and it is something that you cannot reasonably fix yourself, you should pass it to the landlord and pass it on promptly too. A good landlord will act fast and your prompt action in passing on the info will often save the landlord money in the long run. Act before the problem gets worse.

You don’t leave rubbish and bulky items outside the property.

You don’t leave food around in the house, you keep the house reasonably clean, you don’t have lots of clutter. This will keep mice and rats out.

You always keep the part of the house facing the street clean and tidy with trees and bushes cut back and windows clean.

You do not annoy neighbours with loud parties. If you are going to have a party and if it is going to be loud, you give neighbours lots of notice so they can be away when you do it.

You try to get on with neighbours.

You don’t sneak a dog or a cat in, when the tenancy said no cats and no dogs. You ask the landlord, if it is OK. Many will say yes, if the animal is clean and importantly, for dogs, not left on its own to bark and annoy neighbours when you go out. And don’t sneak another person in to live in the property. Again, ask your landlord first. Many will be helpful.

You tell a landlord promptly if you receive any communication which is for them that may come to your home.

You try to be reasonably available for when a landlord or his agent or his builder come to the property for any reason. And when they come, it would not hurt to offer them a cup of tea or coffee, if you are in.

When a landlord goes out of his way to fix something that is broken and especially when he does it quickly, you write an email and say “thanks”. Yes, it is his job, but a little thanks does not hurt.

And if there is problem that needs fixing, don’t go around expecting it will be fixed today (depending on what it is, of course). You are not in a hotel room or holiday accommodation where you might reasonably expect a fast fix or, failing that, alternative accommodation to be provided or a full refund.

So, for example, if your boiler goes on the blink your landlord should normally get someone out to it in 48 hours. If his fitter finds the boiler needs to be replaced, a replacement boiler could take a week to arrange and fit, (longer at Christmas and in August). Your landlord simply cannot magic up instant solutions for you. If you expect that he can, may I suggest you go and live in a posh hotel and pay their rates. In the meantime, if it is cold, a decent landlord would arrange for you to have standalone electric heaters put in so you don’t freeze – that would be a reasonable thing to do. But he cannot magic up a fix of your boiler the next day. Get real!

So, you should pay your rent promptly and on time every month – and you respond super-fast if there has been any problem with your payment going through.

This is what good tenants do.

Any decent landlord with half a brain likes these things and will appreciate them – and should treat you well in return, often with lesser rents than you might pay elsewhere. Yes, I know, some landlords are idiots and despite you doing a lot of good things, they will not reward you, but karma will get them in the end. Plus, you will eventually get a good landlord, as that’s what you deserve.

My book, “Tenants Guide to Successful Renting” is available here. It is a guide to how to find a great property to rent. Link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tenants-Guide-Successful-Renting-Lawrenson/dp/1523606916/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

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