Premium tips for Landlords and Property managers who want maximum occupancy for their to let houses.
Residential Property in Nairobi, Kenya.
After attracting a commercial or residential tenant to your property, you may be wondering on how to keep them long term. Retaining tenants in the long-term will enable a steady flow of income for you as a landlord. It brings more benefits than just reliable rent payments.
Here is how a landlord or property agent can enhance long-term relationships with tenants and increase their occupancy rates;
1.Offer new tenants a warm welcome
This might not be considered as important but it is. Landlords or property agents should welcome their new tenants.
You can do so by;
- Offering them welcome gifts
- Recommending some good local places (shops and hotels) if they are new to the area
- Introducing them to their neighbours.
This can be a solid way of starting a good landlord-tenant relationship.
2. Responsiveness to tenants
Tenants should have the landlord’s or agent’s contact information. This makes it easier to reach out to them in case of any requests or issues.
Responding to tenants’ requests in a respectful, timely manner will strengthen the landlord-tenant relationship. This facilitates keeping the tenant in the long term.
3. Property maintenance
Regular inspections will help keep any issues from becoming larger problems. Investing time and money in maintenance brings rewards.
Landlords must be active in preventing problems before they even happen. This saves them money and they also gain respect from their tenants.
4. Respect Tenants Privacy
Landlords should be familiar with tenants rights (check laws that relate to tenants). Although it’s your property, you ought to respect the tenant’s privacy. Landlords should not go to their tenants' rentals unannounced asd this can make a tenant uncomfortable and affect the landlord- tenant relationship.
If a tenant isn't comfortable in their own space, this can make them not renew the lease.
5. Ongoing Property Improvements
Improvements are not the same as maintenance. With time, comes new innovations. Property improvements from time to time is the smartest thing to do and it will return value to you as a landlord. Don't be afraid to exceed your tenants’ expectations. Go ahead-they will love you for it and probably stick around longer.
6. Improve safety of the tenant
Every tenant wants to live in a safe space. Among other important factors, tenants pay landlords for their premises to feel safe. To boost both the security of the tenant and the property, you can;
- Keep your entrances clear
- Install security cameras
- Install both window and door locks
- Hire a property manager.
7. Offer Incentives
This can be a great way of retaining tenants in the long term. For example, offering one month free of rent yearly, can convince the tenant to stay longer as everyone loves a discount. This might seem like a loss to you, but keeping a tenant in the long term is actually more beneficial as it helps avoid vacancy rates.
If free rent isn't the ideal decision for you, you can consider hiring a professional cleaning service company to clean the tenant premises at no cost. After all, who doesn't love a clean space or home?
Summary
Evidently, attracting a tenant is a process. However, it is well worth the time and effort when you find a tenant that wants to live in your property for the long term.
Are you a landlord or property agent seeking to rent out your property to longterm tenants? We are here to help. At Hao Finder, we aim to make tenancies as stress-free as possible for both landlords and agents. For more information about the services we offer, please get in contact with us at www.haofinder.com