Landlord Resources

Attracting the right tenant

A tenant can make or break a landlord’s experience of owning a rental property, according to leading landlord insurance specialist, Terri Scheer.

Terri Scheer Executive Manager Carolyn Parrella said attracting good tenants and keeping them happy is one of the best investments a landlord can make.

“If tenants are happy they may be more likely to pay their rent on time, stay in your property longer and look after it as if it were their own,” she said.

“Attracting a suitable tenant from the outset may help you retain them in the long-term.”

Ms Parrella offers the following tips which may help you attract a good tenant for your rental property.

Think about the type of tenant you want to attract

“The process of attracting a good tenant begins before you’ve even purchased your rental property,” Ms Parrella said.

“When choosing an investment property, think about the tenant demographic you want to attract, for example a family, sole tenant or couple, and choose a property that is likely to appeal to them.

“Properties that are close to good schools, shops and public transport are likely to be well sought after and may give you a larger pool of prospective tenants from which to choose.”

Presenting your property

“For landlords, presenting a well-managed rental property may help you broaden your pool of prospective tenants, reduce time and money spent on advertising and decrease the number of days your property remains unoccupied between tenancies,” Ms Parrella said.

“A property that is poorly presented by the landlord may be poorly cared for by the tenant. No one wants to live in a property that has stained carpets and marked walls.

“Presenting a clean, tidy and well cared property will encourage tenants to keep to this standard.”

Screening tenants

Ms Parrella said it is important to thoroughly check potential tenants’ references during the screening process.

“Speak with previous landlords or property managers and ask specifically whether they had any issues with the tenant in the past,” she said.

Appoint a property manager

“A property manager can help you secure good tenants from the outset,” Ms Parrella said.

“They have experience in screening prospective tenants and have access to databases that list tenants with a history of defaulting on rental payments, damaging property and eviction.

“Your property manager can form a professional relationship with your tenant that will span the life of the lease. The time and effort they can save you may be well worth the money you pay for their services.

“A property manager can also take responsibility for conducting regular inspections, alert you to maintenance requests, address potential liabilities and help ensure your property is well cared for.”

Attend to maintenance issues promptly

“As a tenant, it can be frustrating if requests for repairs go unanswered,” said Ms Parrella.

“A tenant who isn’t getting the attention they deserve might begin to question their commitment to your property and become more careless with it.

“Injury or loss resulting from a safety hazard that has not been attended to might also give rise to a costly legal liability claim.

“Responding to maintenance issues in a timely manner signals to your tenant that you value their concern for its condition and care about the property.”

Landlord insurance

“Even the best tenant can accidentally damage a property or lose their job and be unable to pay rent,” Ms Parrella said.

“Every landlord should have a tailored landlord insurance policy that covers them for tenant damage, their legal liability and the loss of rental income.

“A standard building and contents insurance policy generally won’t cover landlords for many of these risks.”

Disclaimer:

Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230859 trading as Terri Scheer. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance and consider whether it is right for you. Contact Terri Scheer on 1800 804 016 or visit our website at www.terrischeer.com.au for a copy. The Target Market Determination is also available.

The information is intended to be of a general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon it – please make your own enquiries. This article has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.