If you are in the rental business, you will be required to deal with various problems regarding tenants and you need to know how to manage maintenance issues as a landlord. There are different aspects of the rental business and one of them is the maintenance. As a landlord, you need to look into the day-to-day maintenance issues that might arise and find ways to prevent it from getting out of hand.
First of all, you have to understand how to handle the tenant when there are maintenance issues. A good tenant always plays their responsibility to ensure the proper maintenance of the property. In order to ensure this responsibility, you must find ways to communicate effectively with your tenant and explain the necessary things that should be done and strictly followed. Letting the tenant know that you will have to fix the problem will make him more responsible and he would actually want to maintain the property properly. And if you don’t fix the problem, the possibility of having your tenant moving out in the near future is very high. For help with Property Maintenance Gloucester, visit Redbridge and Sons
Another way of managing maintenance issues as a landlord is to be organized. You need to create a file for all the maintenance issues that might arise in the near future and place it in the easiest to access place such as your own office. It is also a good idea to create a separate file for the tenant that is used to keep the personal information of the tenant. This information will be very useful during the necessary discussions with the tenant and you can have a clear understanding of the necessary actions that should be taken.
Presenting a property tenants want to rent
Good maintenance also helps when a property is between tenants, because every day it stands empty is revenue lost for good. Tenants often make up their minds before they step inside, so make the outside as inviting as possible. Pull up weeds, clear away rubbish, cut the grass and perhaps add a potted plant by the front door. These cost very little but can make all the difference.
Inside, tenants want a clean home. A tin of paint is cheap, and a quick makeover makes rooms feel cleaner and fresher, brightens dark areas and shows off any unique architectural features.
Bathrooms are often a deal breaker. You do not need a complete refit, but a thorough clean goes a long way. Mop, polish and wipe everything, make mirrors shine, clean or replace tired grouting and remove cobwebs from light fittings. Any further improvements are up to you, but a deep clean should be the minimum.
Who is responsible for the TV aerial
TV aerials are a common grey area between landlord and tenant. More people now watch television online rather than through an aerial, dish or cable, so tenants sometimes move into a property where the aerial is missing or disconnected.
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act, landlords must keep the supply of gas, electricity, water and sanitation in repair and working order. That duty does not extend to the appliances, fixtures and fittings that use those supplies, apart from sinks, baths, basins and toilets. In general, then, a landlord is not legally obliged to repair or install a TV aerial.
The letting agreement can change this. If an aerial was in place when the tenant moved in and has since broken, the landlord may be responsible for fixing it. Even where there is no obligation, many landlords choose to repair an aerial, pay for a new one or share the cost as a gesture of goodwill. Being clear about it from the start avoids disputes later.