What do tenants want?
A contented tenant is likely to pay their rent on time, take good care of their property and co-operate with their landlord when needed.
The first survey conducted by the Tenants’ Services Authority indicated that 40pc of tenants most want their landlord to get repairs on their homes right.
There is nothing more inconvenient than an ongoing plumbing problem or a faulty appliance when it seems as though it will never be fixed. And it’s pretty irritating when landlords organise cheap and cheerful repairs that don’t last and outwardly appear like a botched job.
Tenants also want to feel that their health and safety is not in jeopardy, that everything has been done to protect neighbourhood security, and that they are kept informed about issues that might affect them, such as when a rented property is advertised for sale.
Family members of a deceased tenant may well want to retain a tenancy after the death. Lawyers have noticed an increase in court cases involving relatives of dead tenants fighting to stay in the home after the tenant’s death.
It is recognised that some families tend to delay telling a landlord about the death of a tenant or even lie in the hope of keeping the tenancy. In the case of a dispute, the landlord may find that rent will not be paid until the matter is resolved, and this can be a long and drawn out process.
On the other hand, what tenants do not want is for identity fraudsters to target them. Five thousand victims of this type of crime were recently surveyed, and this revealed that the people most likely to be targeted live in rented properties in city areas. People who rent shared homes or flats with shared hallways and communal areas were at risk as their mail could be intercepted.
Landlords can help tackle identity fraud by ensuring that post for previous tenants does not build up in communal areas and that secure lockers to store mail for individuals are provided when possible. Ensuring that shared areas are well lit and that external doors cannot be infiltrated by non-residents will also help.
A satisfied tenant is likely to make longer term rental commitments and go the extra mile with issues like decorating and garden maintenance. They’re also more likely to accept a reasonable rent increase when the time comes. A happy tenant makes for a happy landlord.