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17/06/22
Renting

How to be a Model Tenant

Being a model tenant can lead to a healthy relationship with your landlord and a hassle-free stay at your rental property.

The landlord and tenant relationship can sometimes be complex and your role as a tenant is key.

‘’Open communication is key to being a model tenant and will help your tenancy run smoother, advises Rob Smith, Managing Director of CJ Hole.

“You need to completely understand your tenancy agreement and be prepared to follow it.

“You are probably not the only tenant your landlord has and not every issue is worth a complaint. Many problems can be resolved internally like replacing bulbs or keeping the property clean.

“If you respect your landlord’s contract and communicate problems quickly, it will help you at the end of the tenancy when you want your deposit back.”

How does a landlord choose a tenant?

Landlords will take several key things into consideration, often alongside their letting agent, when choosing tenants, including:

  • Getting references from previous landlords, banks, and employers
  • Checking their ‘right to rent’ and immigration status
  • Performing a credit check
  • Undertaking affordability checks based on income vs rent ratios
  • Meeting them to ask questions and answer questions they may have

What makes you a good tenant?

Being a good tenant doesn’t just start on the day you move into your rental property – it begins from the moment you show an interest in that property.

To be a good tenant, you should:

1. Be honest in your application

Always be honest about your circumstances when applying to rent a property.

In busy rental markets with lots of competition, it can be tempting to tell a white lie here and there – perhaps about your income or your credit history.

But letting agent referencing and financial checks are thorough – and if you’re dishonest in your application, it’s highly likely you’ll be found out.

Honesty is always the best policy, so be up front about your financial situation, renting history and employment as soon as you find a property you like.

2. Pay your rent in full and on time – every time

Paying your rent in full and on time is the foundation of being a good tenant.

It’s also the fastest way to ruin your relationship with your landlord if you fall into arrears and don’t communicate the issue either directly to your landlord or to their letting agent.

If you think you might be a few days late with your rent payment, tell your landlord or their agent and explain why this is the case.

Your landlord is far more likely to give you some time to pay if you let them know, rather than staying silent and simply not paying.

3. Look after the property

It goes without saying that the best tenants are those who take good care of their rental property and treat it like their own.

If your landlord uses a letting agent to manage the property, they’ll inspect it periodically to ensure everything is as it should be and assess any maintenance needs.

If the agent discovers an unkempt, unclean, or damaged property, this will be reported back to your landlord and could mean you’re in breach of your tenancy agreement.

By keeping the property clean and taking steps to avoid damage, you’ll ensure a healthy relationship with your landlord.

4. Report issues or damage quickly

Always report any damage or maintenance issues quickly, either to your landlord or to their letting agent.

Minor issues, such as a small leak from a shower tray or damaged bath seal, can become major problems if left unreported.

Even if the problem has been caused by you or someone visiting your rental property, be up front about it with your landlord or agent so they can take steps to fix it as soon as possible.

5. Stick to your tenancy agreement terms

One of the most important things you can do before your tenancy begins is read your tenancy agreement.

Your agreement outlines all your responsibilities while you’re renting the property, so read it all and ask your landlord or letting agent if there’s anything you don’t understand.

If you fully grasp what you can and can’t do while you’re living at the property and stick to the terms of your agreement from day one, your relationship with your landlord will be better for it.

6. Communicate well and ask questions

Good communication is key between a tenant and their landlord

Either a lack of dialogue, or rude or blunt communication between landlords and tenants, can have a huge impact on the relationship.

You should always tell your landlord if:

  • You’re struggling to pay your rent
  • You’ve damaged the property
  • There’s a maintenance issue that needs to be fixed
  • You’re going away and the property will be empty for some time

And if you don’t have your landlord’s permission, you should never:

  • Decorate your rental property
  • Smoke in the property
  • Keep a pet
  • Move someone else into the property who isn’t named on the tenancy agreement

By keeping the lines of communication healthy with your landlord or their agent, you’ll quickly see the benefits.

7. Be flexible and accommodating

One of your main rights as a tenant is to ‘quiet enjoyment’ of your rental property.

That means if your landlord or their letting agent wishes to visit the property, they must give you at least 24 hours’ notice and only visit at a reasonable time of day.

However, if your landlord has booked a tradesperson to visit the property to fix a problem, try to be flexible and accommodate them.

Make sure your landlord or their agent knows the best way to reach you, whether that’s by email, phone call or text message, and always respond as promptly as you can.

8. Respect neighbouring properties

As well as respecting your rental property, you should also ensure you’re respectful to neighbours and their properties.

Another sure-fire way to negatively affect your relationship with your landlord is if your neighbours contact them to complain about you.

Loud music late at night, leaving rubbish lying around, or inconsiderate car parking are all things that could cause friction with your neighbours and lead to them contacting your landlord or letting agent.

Treating your neighbours the way you would like to be treated is always the best approach.

9. Use your common sense

Often, the best steps towards being a model tenant are common sense.

Paying your rent on time and looking after your rental property could certainly be classed as common sense and will go a huge way towards a positive relationship with your landlord.

But you should also use common sense when it comes to:

  • Minor repairs you could do yourself, such as changing light bulbs or filling a small nail hole in a wall
  • Keeping the property clean and tidy
  • Asking permission if you want to do something like decorate or move someone else into the property

What is the model tenancy agreement?

The model tenancy agreement is a template agreement provided by the UK government, which landlords can use if they wish.

Landlords aren’t obligated to use this agreement and if a letting agent is managing their rental property, it’s likely they will provide a bespoke tenancy agreement for the landlord and tenant to read and sign.

Further reading…

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