As a landlord, it can seem like a never ending list of things to do…
Find good properties to invest in.
Then find good tenants to live in them.
And then maintain the property, keep compliant, and keep your tenant happy.
Plus hundreds of other things that go into the life of a landlord – It isn’t as easy as the media and politicians make out!
Thankfully, this blog sets out a really simple 4 step process on how you can handle maintenance requests from tenants.
Step 1 – Getting The Right Information In Your Maintenance Request
Firstly, as a landlord, you need to get enough information to determine whether this is a valid request.
This can be a difficult and time consuming first step – especially if you live far away from the rental property.
It may be that the tenant is providing vague information and it’s difficult to determine how serious the issue is. You are also relying on the tenants information, and it may actually be something more serious and urgent than they realise.
That’s why visiting the property can be helpful, so you can make a better decision on what action needs to be taken.
Step 2 – Decide Whether It’s A Valid Maintenance Request
If you feel like it’s a valid request, then head straight to step 3.
If you don’t feel like it’s a valid maintenance request, then you can say no.
However, if you want to have a strong relationship with your tenant, make sure to explain the reason why and look for compromises that you are willing to do.
Ultimately, to maximise your rental income, keeping your tenant happy is a very important factor.
Handling their maintenance requests well can really help you stand out from their previous landlords, show them that you care and makes it more likely they’ll stay long term.
IMPORTANT – You must remember that keeping the property and tenants safe is your responsibility as the landlord.
Therefore, dealing with maintenance requests quickly and fairly can protect you from potential legal action if something serious happens.
For example, if a tenant reports that the front door is not locking, it’s your duty as a landlord to get this fixed as you must provide a securable property.
Step 3 – Find Reliable Tradesmen
This can be a very stressful activity for a landlord. Especially if you don’t have any previous connections.
It can be hard to arrange maintenance work due to tradesmen availability (good tradesmen are often booked up well in advance). This means you are looking online and stuck on the phone ringing tradesmen to arrange quotes.
Once you’ve finally found tradesmen, you need to get quotes and find who will provide the best value for money. Hiring the first tradesmen you find or choosing people purely on price can be a costly mistake.
To find out more about good tradesmen, read our blog: Finding Reliable Tradesmen
4 – Record Work Completed After Maintenance Request Completed
Once the work has been completed, we would recommend to take photos and videos, and keep a clear record of what work was completed.
This can be important if a similar request comes through in future and may highlight that the tenant is causing problems to repeat themselves.
It can also be useful if you choose to sell the property at a later date.
If you are struggling with handling maintenance requests from your tenants, We Love Renters can help you.
Our property management service provides an all inclusive package where we take care of your tenants, arrange reliable tradesmen, handle all the paperwork and everything else relating to your rental property.
Realise that managing your property is taking up all your free time, and is your number one source of stress?
Download our landlord information pack and find out how We Love Renters can help you by visiting our Property Management Hartlepool page or call our team on 01429 36 36 36.
P.S. – Sarah, a Hartlepool landlord, came to We Love Renters and left us this 5-star Google review…
“Having someone to manage the property is such a relief. No worries about paperwork, checking tenants, chasing rents and arranging tradesmen. They took care of everything and found tenant straight away. I would highly recommend as was so convenient and great efficient service.”
How much easier would your life be if you didn’t have to “worry about paperwork, checking tenants, chasing rent and arranging tradesmen”?
We can do this for you – Download your landlord information pack to find out more.
What We Can Offer Landlords And Property Investors With Houses To Rent In Hartlepool:
- Over 1,000 fantastic tenants on our waiting list (so we can let your properties FAST!)
- Local knowledge and expertise as we are based in Hartlepool
- Unbeatable service for both you, and your tenants
- State of the art accounting so you are paid quickly and correctly every week
- Comprehensive referencing of tenants so we match you with the best people for your property
- Support and project management of renovations projects
- Access to our reliable tradesmen in Hartlepool to complete any of your maintenance or repair work
Other Resources for Landlords and Property Investors
Read Our Blog – What To Do If Your Tenant Doesn’t Pay Rent
Read Our Blog – Get Started With Property Investing In Hartlepool
Read Our Blog – Pet Friendly Rental Properties – Recent Law Change Impacting Landlords
Check Out Our Press Release In The Northern Echo – Businessman Transformation Of Lowthian Road In Hartlepool
For landlords and investors with properties in Hartlepool, We Love Renters helps generate the maximum income from their rental properties by matching them with the best tenants and saving them all the usual hassles of being a landlord.
For renters looking for houses to rent in Hartlepool We Love Renters offers a range of affordable houses, apartments and shared accommodation to suit their budgets and needs. We Love Renters offer a simple tenant application process, and deliver outstanding service to all our tenants.
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