Landlords: How should maintenance be managed?
Maintenance can have a big impact on a landlords profit margins, especially if it isn't managed properly. So what should you be doing and when?
Maintenance can have a big impact on a landlords profit margins. Letting property is a business and due care and attention is required during the initial set up to get the tenancy off to a good start. Landlords don't have to complete a full refurbishment before a tenancy begins however ensuring the property is at the highest standard is recommended. This not only will attract better tenants it also sets the bar in terms of a landlords expectations on how the property should be kept throughout a tenancy.
A high standard of property, and ensuring everything is in working order prior to a tenancy commencing, should mean that Landlords won’t be plagued by maintenance throughout the tenancy– resulting in happier tenants and less void periods. Each change of tenant will result in wear and tear on a property, void periods with no rent and an additional cost of finding another tenant. Prevention is always better than cure!
Its not only frustrating for you as a landlord to have to coordinate and pay for maintenance it is also frustrating and inconvenient for a tenant.
Read our top tips for managing maintenance.
Start as you mean to go on - Set up the tenancy well
- Provide manuals on how things work. Be clear on what is a tenant’s responsibility and what is yours as the Landlord
- Provide information about ventilation to prevent condensation and mould.
- Make sure you have an in-depth inventory prepared (with photographs)
- Ensure your property is at a high standard with all appliances working
- Be clear what is included in the tenancy and what you will repair and replace
Be contactable
- Ensure you are contactable and that you respond to your tenants reports in a timely manner. Even if it is only to confirm you are looking in to it.
- Ensure all correspondence is in writing
- Be clear and manage expectations in all of your communications
- Consider the fault and what a reasonable timeframe is that you can expect your tenant to wait.
- Keep you tenant updated so they know what is going on
Who to instruct … A professional!
You need a team of professionals around you.
As a Landlord you have legal responsibilities. You must ensure the contractor you instruct is qualified for the job you are instructing them for and that they have the correct insurance in place. Ask to see their public liability insurance.
Any contractor dealing with gas or electricity, check the national registers and ask for ID to make sure they are who they say they are. You have a duty to ensure your tenants safety and that the tenant will not suffer any harassment or problems - it is also essential they follow GDPR regulation's.
You need your contractors to provide a good service in a timely manner. Ideally you want a recommended contractor and one who charges appropriately. Try new contractors on small jobs first then slowly increase the size of the jobs. Inspect their work afterwards to make sure you and the tenant are happy. Ask your tenant for feedback too - this not only confirms to them that you value their opinion but also makes sure the work is acceptable
If you have an agent managing your property the above points should be taken care of in the background with you simply being updated on outcomes and costs. If you have any queries in relation to the coordination of maintenance, what you are responsible for, or any other tenancy related queries please do not hesitate to contact the office. We are here and ready to help.
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