Living in rental accommodation has been on the rise in the UK in recent years and so there is a growing need for good quality properties to let across all budget levels. And since taxation has changed for landlords, becoming profitable in some areas might be challenging, but areas of Scotland still offer some of the best yields available and make a very good investment even in the current legislative environment.
Ideally, a property will stay unoccupied for as little as possible in order to produce the optimal amount of income. Here are a few things landlords should be aware of when letting a property to ensure tenant interest and minimal void days. So what exactly gets tenants really riled up when they’re renting a property- and what can landlords do to solve this problem?
Here are our top three tenants turn-offs.
General cleanliness
The general state of maintenance for the property makes a vital first impression. Both landlords and tenants have a duty to keep the property clean. After all, both sides have an interest in this: tenants want to keep the place they call home comfortable and landlords want to make sure that their property is being looked after well.
We recommend a deep, professional property clean before a new tenant moves in.
Repairs and maintenance
Making sure the property is well maintained and in good working order will ensure less hassle and expense for landlords further down the line. For instance, periodical boiler maintenance or roof inspections will prevent an expensive boiler replacement in the middle of winter or humidity damage to the home due to a leaky roof.
Both tenants and landlords have rights and responsibilities when it comes to keeping a home in a good state of repair. It goes without saying that landlords should make sure that their property is well-maintained and that appliances and heating systems are kept working well.
For tenants, alerting landlords to any maintenance issues quickly is very important, as is treating the property with care, and always getting the landlord’s permission before carrying out any maintenance or work on the property itself.
Damp and mould
Damp is a rather big problem in UK’s humid climate – and one that can potentially turn your tenants away – so it merits giving it a section of its own.
A recent survey of British tenants and homeowners completed by Ipsos Mori for the Energy Saving Trust found that 38% of people had experienced problems with damp and mould growth in a property they had lived in. As well as making a property look bad, damp and mould can have an impact on health over time and can cause a number of conditions.
The presence of damp or mould could suggest that there’s an underlying issue in the property that needs solving, like water ingress or severe condensation. Landlords should contact professionals and their home insurance provider to get this issue sorted.
Clyde Property is a leading independent, multiple award-winning estate and letting agent with 30 years’ experience in selling and letting property in Scotland. Just call your local Clyde Property branch today, for friendly, impartial advice on letting and renting property.
