Here’s why you should NEVER ignore your tenants…
This week I’d like to bring a very important point to the forefront. This week’s blog forms part of a bigger discussion that was posed on our Property Investment Mastery Facebook Group.
So, what’s it all about?
It’s about the relationship between Landlords, Tenants and Property Managers. This relationship should be one of mutual trust, open communication and efficiency. We look here at the negative repercussions of tenants who are not being cared for as well as a recent example where a tenant has had to take alternative steps (potentially law-related) to solve an otherwise VERY simple issue.
Tenants are paying your rent and providing you with an income on your properties. What’s the exchange? Giving them the correct TLC. Without the correct TLC tenants will stop paying rent, potentially report you to environmental health as well as to your managing agent to the property ombudsman. They might demand to move out early, never rent from you again (and black mark you and your managing agent by letting everyone they know what a poor service they received) and go to citizens advice and act on whatever information they are given there.
Not looking after your tenants will have some very serious repercussions
It gets worse…
The result for you is THOUSANDS of pounds loss of rent and compensation for whatever the tenants have lost (usually to try and get them to stay in the property)…
… If they have gone so far as to report you to environmental health, you will lose your right to serve a section 21 notice and be closely watched until you rectify satisfactorily the reported problem (not to mention that this could come with hefty fines and even a jail sentence).
It’s not pretty if you don’t look after your tenants.
Your tenants can potentially cost you thousands of £’s if they are not treated well- a position no landlord wants to be in
Here is a real time example of the mis-care of a good tenant:
A friend has been trying to get in contact with her property manager for the past week.
The tenants problem:
*The washing machine does not wash her clothes
*The floor in the kitchen is ‘crumbling’
She has texted and called and emailed. All she wants to know is that someone will come out and look at the problem.
It’s damned annoying for me because it lets the side down for all us AWESOME property peeps……and then the unthinkable happened, she called using a different number and the property manager picked up!!… yet still no service…SO even worse than not getting round to it, they CHOOSE not to answer… coincidence… probably not!!
My friends next step is to do one (or more) of the following:
*Email the property manager and give them 7 days to resolve any issues, if this doesn’t happen then explain that she’ll do the work herself and deduct the amount from the rent
*Report the property manager to the property ombudsman and apply for compensation
*Report the LANDLORD and the PROPERTY MANAGER to environmental health and allow local Government to play their deck
Don’t end up like this worried landlord. KNOW what’s happening with your tenants, a simple call to your Property Manager/Tenants to check how things are going will save you in the long run
Here’s the more ludicrous thing, the whole solving the issue is a 5-minute job:
1. Note down the issues and inform the Landlord…
2. Contact a handyman to come and inspect…
3. Arrange the appointment with the tenant…
4. Review the inspection report…
5. Arrange for any necessary works, or inform the tenant of any responsibility they have to do works…
It’s absolutely simple and this Property Manager is letting the side down and potentially costing their client thousands of pounds…Would you be embarrassed if this was your Property Manager?
DON’T LET THIS GO ON IN YOUR PORTFOLIO, LOOK AFTER YOUR TENANTS LIKE CLIENTS.
If you have been put in a similar position, then GET IN TOUCH with me via commenting below or via email [email protected].
I don’t want to keep hearing of this awful behaviour. It’s really something that shouldn’t be happening. I’m able to help you to get out of a sticky situation and provide you with some action steps- I know how frustrating this process can be!
NC
