Maintaining your Rental Property as a Landlord

Tips for managing your property as a landlord

How to be an effective and trusted landlord

Becoming a landlord can be exciting as well as daunting, and there is a lot to consider not only to ensure the safety of your property but the health and safety of your tenants too.

It is important to know your rights as a landlord, and what will make you a great landlord is by knowing and attending to the rights of your tenants, and providing quick solutions to their problems. 

Maintaining internal structures

If your tenants are without hot water or heating, then it is important to get a qualified plumbing engineer to call-out to the house as soon as convenient to provide plumbing and heating services. When a tenant calls complaining of a problem with an element of the property’s internal workings – electric, plumbing, water, or faulty appliances, it is important to act quickly.

While some issues are minor and not an immediate threat to the health and safety of your tenants, other issues like no running water, heating, or a faulty boiler or appliance should be sorted quickly.

Check for pests

Common domestic pests like rodents, ants, bed bugs, moths etc can do a lot of damage to your home. Not only can they destroy internal structures but fabrications, textiles and much much more. See what pests can do and how much they can cost you here.

We very rarely recommend particular companies – so you can trust that Pest Exterminators Kent is really worth using if you have a pest infestation that’s out of control. Visit their website here.

Fixing external issues quickly

If there is an external structural issue, then this can have an impact on the internal structure of the house if not sorted at once.

For quick and efficient roofing repair services, call a roofer to help you. A leak in the roof, for example, can cause leaks and damps in the house and walls, not only posing a threat to the health of your tenants but also affecting the overall value and quality of your property.

Boost your rental income

HMO finance is a great way of allowing you to expand your portfolio and subsequently increase your passive rental income. Read more about interest rates on residential and commercial property here.

The more properties you own and let out to tenants, the more lucrative your residential property business will be! More.

Keeping your costs low, and charging an affordable but profitable rent will allow you to be able to build upon your existing portfolio.

Like this article? Read more like this: 

Tips for landlords: spotting pests in your premises

infestation in your rental property

How to prevent infestations in your rental property

Landlords have an obligation to ensure the health and safety of their tenants. This includes preventing the possibility of rat or insect infestations.

Nobody wants to share their home with rats, mice, ants or bedbugs.

Not only does a landlord need to take preventative measures, but the tenants need to look after the property too to help avoid infestations.

In some cases, the landlord can blame the tenant for causing an infestation if they have not looked after the property.

Learn more about the obligations of landlords and tenants.

What are the warning signs of an infestation?

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, here are some infestation warning signs to look out for:

  • Droppings: Look out for small and dark pellets in cupboards, under the sink, or near bins.
  • Holes in walls, skirting boards or doors: Rats and mice might chew holes to get into your home.
  • Chewed food or boxes: Mice will gnaw through boxes to get at the food inside, or to make a nest.
  • Scratching noises: Are there any scuttering or scratching noises in walls, ceilings or underneath floorboards?
  • Foul smell: You may smell a musky odour is mice are living in your home, or a foul smell if they die underneath floorboards.
  • Electrical issues: Mice are not afraid to chew anything in their path. You may have unexplained wiring faults.

If you suspect a problem or infestation, it is important to take the following steps:

  1. Identify the pest that you think you have.
  2. Clean your home as much as possible.
  3. Seek professional help. Trained exterminators will use safe chemicals to solve your rodent infestation. Read more. 
  4. Perform preventative measures to help avoid a future infestation in your rental property.

How to prevent pest problems in your property:

Store food correctly:

  • Ensure that food is kept in airtight containers.
  • Clean away crumbs from food preparation.
  • Regularly sweep, hoover and clean your kitchen floors, cabinets and surfaces.

Mouse-proof your home:

  • Seal any cracks or crevices in doors, windows, ceilings, skirting boards and even rooves.
  • Seal up leaking pipes or drains.
  • Keep your home as clean as possible. Here are some tips.