Are you a landlord looking for tenants to rent your house or flat in Sunderland?
Competition among landlords for good, reliable tenants in Sunderland is intense. So, how can you ensure that:
Your property is rented out to trustworthy tenants on a constant basis?
The rent paid on time each month?
Read on to find out.
An Empty Rental Property Equals Money Down The Drain
Sunderland landlords dream of a hassle-free situation in which their property is constantly rented out to good tenants that pay their rent on time and take good care of the property.
But how realistic is that?
If you don’t uplift and maintain your property to a good standard, then the answer is that your hopes are not very realistic.
If a flat or house in Sunderland (or anywhere else, for that matter) offers the impression that the landlord doesn’t really care about it, the likelihood is that the people that rent it won’t either.
Landlords that fail to bring their properties up to a good standard will struggle to attract the right kind of tenants – namely, those people that will keep the place tidy, be respectful to neighbours and pay their rent in a timely manner every month.
There are some situations when it’s almost better to have an empty property rather than rent it out to unreliable or even destructive tenants. But we all know that, for landlords, an empty property is the equivalent of pouring money away.
Uplift Your Rental Property
OK, so when you first set out on your way into the world, you possibly had little choice about which flat or house to rent. It was the way things were back then – you did the best with what you had and looked after it accordingly.
But attitudes are very different now.
People - and especially younger people setting out on their journeys into adult life and all the responsibilities that come with it - expect a better quality of property.
Young aspirational renters are under significant pressure in terms of the general cost of living and the expectations being placed upon them in their jobs and careers. So, the last thing they want or need is to have to rent a dismal and poorly maintained property. Put yourself in their shoes: is that something that you’d want to return home to?
Or would you rather live in a rental house or flat that you’d be proud to call your home? And that you’d put extra effort into keeping in mint condition?
The point here is that, if you uplift your rental property and maintain it to a high standard, you will greatly improve your chances of attracting fantastic long-term tenants that will keep it ship shape, pay the rent on time and not cause you any stress.
An investment well worth making, don’t you think?
Furnish Your Rental Property To A High Standard
Not everyone is in a position to be able to afford attractive, good quality furniture, appliances or soft furnishings.
But there are plenty of good people out there that would take very good care of such nice things if they were given the opportunity to do so.
That’s why we’d always recommend investing in a high standard of furniture and other furnishings that will attract and retain the kind of tenants you are looking for. The higher the value they place on such trappings, the more likely ideal renters will be to look after after them – and your property in general.
On the flip side, if you fill your furnished rental property with tatty or damaged furniture - like uncomfortable sofas or beds that are difficult to sleep on - then you increase the chances of tenants resenting your house or flat and letting it go to rack and ruin.
So, which scenario would you prefer to be in? One in which you have happy long-term tenants that take good care of the home you’ve rented to them? Or unhappy ones that will leave as soon as the lease is up and potentially damage your house or flat in the meantime?
We know which we’d rather!
First Impressions Count
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression” is a quote often (perhaps erroneously) attributed to the inimitable Oscar Wilde.
Regardless of who said it, it’s true, both in terms of meeting somebody or seeing something for the first time.
How often do you see people on property programmes like Life In The Sun or Location, Location, Location get put off a house or flat because they don’t like how it looks from the outside?
Now, we know that there’s not always a great deal that you can do to improve the exterior of your building – especially if it’s part of a block of flats.
But what you can do is try to make sure that outside areas are as tidy and welcoming as possible for when the potential tenant comes to view the property for the first (or even second) time.
And as for when they get inside to take a look at your flat or house, for heaven’s sake, please make sure that you’ve cleaned and polished the kitchen and bathroom, and made all the other rooms look nice.
A great first impression could make all the difference between you securing or losing a great long-term tenant for your rental property.
Put Yourself In Their Shoes
You’ve worked hard to get where you are today. It’s been tough. And there have been some important lessons. Like many landlords, you have what you have today because of all the hard graft you’ve put in.
We’re not saying that younger people - your potential tenants - should have everything handed to them on a plate. Not at all.
But what we would urge is for you to remember what it was like when you were first starting out. Wouldn’t you have appreciated a comfortable place to return to after a hard day’s or week’s work?
We honestly think it's a case of getting back what you put in. If you put time and effort into turning your rental property into a nice environment to live in, then you will attract and retain the good, long-term tenants that every landlord in Sunderland is looking for.
The Ideal Partner For Sunderland Landlords
Or are you a landlord in the Sunderland area that’s looking for a partner that can take the hassle out of renting out your property?
An expert partner that will free up your time with a personal, hands-on touch that will uplift and maintain your property to a high standard, and guarantee that your tenants enjoy a great rental experience?
If so, please give us a call on 0191 5460 071 or email kate@maidenscottproperties.co.uk, and we’ll get you up-and-running with fantastic long-term tenants in no time!