How to have a great tenant experience under new reforms

It's no secret there is a lot of changes on the horizon for the way you let properties as a landlord. It's important you're in the know about these changes because you don't want to be in breach of the law! Not only that, but tenants are more likely to renew their stay in a property where they are happy with the service they receive.

We're rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by both landlords looking to let their property, and the tenants they let them to, so in this article we're going to go over the upcoming changes, but also how you can ensure your tenants have a great experience!

New legislation & how to deal with it

As part of the Renter's Reform Bill that we anticipate will come into force at some point next year, there are some changes to the way you'll be able to rent your property, starting with periodic tenancies.

A periodic tenancy is one where there is a rolling tenancy with no fixed end date. Tenants will, however, need to give 2 months’ notice when ending their tenancy so the landlord has can recoup the costs of finding a new tenant and “avoid lengthy void periods”.

Who you can let your property to will also change, and you will no longer be able to refuse pets in your properties without a valid reason, nor will you be able to refuse to let your property to families with children, who are also in receipt of benefits so that renting is accessible to everyone.

If you're worried or curious about the upcoming legislation changes, speak to our team - we'll leave a booking link at the bottom of this page.

Working with your tenants

When managing a property, aside from the overall maintenance of it, you should aim to give your tenants a good level of service. For example, ensuring you are responsive and don't leave queries or problems the tenant may have with the property for more than 24 hours without getting back to them. You don't have to wait by the phone in case they have a problem, but making an effort to let them know you're there and take any issues they have seriously will go a long way to making them feel secure and content long-term. As we know, it's easier to keep a good tenant than it is to find another one, which also helps reduce void periods.

When it comes to reporting maintenance issues, let the tenant know how to contact you, or the person who is responsible for maintaining the property and any procedures you may have set up for dealing with these requests so everybody knows how the issue can be solved, and get it solved quickly.

It's also worth noting that making tenants aware of their responsibilities such as taking out the bins and the days for each bin, and also not putting harmful chemicals or fluids down the sink looking out for condensation during the winter months & how to avoid it, among other things, will help you both to be on the same page, help with the upkeep of your property, and help to avoid disputes when your tenant moves out.

Sometimes, you may need to contact your tenant or attend the property. Let them know the reasons why this would be the case, and how frequently you need to do inspections, and get an up-to-date phone number & email address from them upon move-in so you are both on the same page.

At the end of the day, your tenants are your customers so treating them fairly will make them feel at home & more likely to stay, especially in a competitive market like that of today.

Good tenants that stay long-term are any landlord's dream.

If your property is coming up for re-let in 2023, book your FREE valuation with your local letting agent and find out how much your property could rent for in the current market, and how Accommodation.co.uk will help you find the best tenant.