Are You A Desirable Tenant?
A desirable tenant is someone who has a proven record that they are financially responsible and can follow the rules of the lease agreement. This simply means that the tenant consistently pays their rent on time and does not cause any damage to the rental property. Even though most people won’t be thinking about whether they are a desirable renter, it is still something to think about since most landlords will be going through their own checklist to make sure they pick the best tenant to rent their property.
Remember, if you ever come across a rental property and it piques your interest, then it’s quite likely that other people will feel the same about it. Make yourself stand out from the competition by going through this checklist below:
1. Paying your rent
A tenant-landlord relationship may include many things, but to its core, you are paying to live in their property and they are offering you their property to live in for money. Simply, your relationship with your landlord revolves around your rental payment. This means that consistently paying your rent on time is crucial.
Chances are, your landlord depends on your rent payment to pay for their own necessities, and more importantly, to make the mortgage payment on the rental property. Even if you’re just a few days late with your rent, it’s a hassle for your landlord to go through.
A message to take home from this is to pay your rent on time every time. If you are having trouble keeping up to date with your payments, contact your property manager to organise a payment plan.
2. Following the lease agreement
There are industry standards that all landlords must abide by, equally important are the obligations that you as a tenant must comply with. Every rental property is different, which means that the rules may be different as well. It’s important to go through the leasing agreement and understand what the conditions are before you decide to rent a property.
Every landlord has their own rules that they would like to have in their rental property, so it’s best to respect that and follow their conditions if you intend to live in their property.
3. Treat it like your own
Be proud that you have ownership of the rental property. Take care of the property like it’s your own while you live there. You can be sure that you’ll be getting back your bond and a generous recommendation from your property managers if you ever decide to move in the future.
Normal wear and tear is bound to happen with any property, just be sure to prevent any damages that can be avoided.
4. Maintaining the property
Keeping your property clean doesn’t just mean wiping down tabletops and vacuuming the floors. An ideal tenant will go the extra mile to manage the home including the exterior (things like the garden, driveway, garage) as well as preventing pest infestations and mould.
5. Reporting issues
Small problems can turn into a big and expensive problem if it isn’t dealt with as soon as possible. A desirable tenant will report these problems to the property manager so it can be repaired earlier on before it becomes a bigger problem.
A desirable tenant, however, does not constantly report petty problems to the landlord. If a problem can be resolved on your own without breaching any lease agreements or rules that the landlord has previously stated, then it would be best for you to try that first before reporting them to your landlord.
A tenant that hassles a landlord over every little problem that can be fixed themselves is a nuisance to them, so try to troubleshoot it yourself first before calling up your property manager.
6. Planning on sharing your rental
If you intend to have long-term guests, then it’s best to notify your landlord early on. Signing the lease agreement means that the contract is between the tenants and the landlord, that means anyone that decides to share your rental with you will have to go through the same process you went through to officially become a tenant.
