When looking for a new home, you are first and foremost looking for a property that will suit your needs perfectly. However, that doesn’t always necessarily mean that the landlord is the perfect one for you.
Here at Belvoir Birmingham, we only work with landlords who have proved themselves to be good at what they do; but how can we tell who is a good landlord from those who may not be suitable to rent from?
Here are just some of the indicators you should look out for when meeting with your potential landlord to determine whether they are a good landlord, or one you possibly should avoid.
They Should Ask You Questions
All too often, people believe that viewings should be one sided; namely the potential tenant asking the landlord questions.
While it is important to ask those questions whose answers could potential make or break your decision to rent, it’s important that the landlord of the property is asking you some questions, too. After all, you will be renting their property, they should be wanting to know a little bit more about you too.
Some of the questions they should be asking you are:
- How many people will live in the property?
- Are you employed?
- Do you have pets?
- Do any of the prospective tenants smoke?
This is just to get a picture of what kind of tenant you will be, and will help both you and the landlord be on the same page when it comes to what is expected of you both once the contract is signed.
They Will Have a Good Knowledge of the Property
Just because they don’t necessarily live in the property themselves, a good landlord will know the place inside out.
They should be able to tell you everything you need to know about the property; from the utility companies who are currently supplying the property with gas, electricity and water, to the tax band the property will be in and how much the monthly rate of council tax will be on top of the rent cost.
They should also have a good idea of the properties history and ensure that the property is in full working order. This can be done through them drawing up an inventory to give each new tenant to fill in on moving day and fixing any issues which may be highlighted, ideally while the tenant is living in the property.
Showing that they are willing to tackle any issue which arises shows you that they are dedicated to keeping you comfortable and happy within their property as opposed to leaving you with no working hot water for weeks on end.
Don’t be rushed into choosing a property based on how it looks alone; make sure you’re checking out your potential landlord, too! Here at Belvoir Birmingham, we can help you find both the perfect landlord and the most ideal property for your needs.
As property management and lettings specialists, here at Belvoir Birmingham Central we always ensure that our landlords have up to date information on important legislations and statutory obligations. If you want to know more about how we can help you, you can contact us on 0121 212 0122 and our team will happily help you with any query you might have. You can also follow us on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
