Rick Flay Director At Belvoir Sheffield Investigates
Damage to the fixtures and fittings, non paying tenants and the prospect of a huge cleaning bill are enough to send any landlord a definite shade of green, but according to industry critics this week, the landlord in many cases could be the one to blame.
I have been thinking about this throughout the week and it brought to my attention something that has been completely missed by these recent reports- The importance of using a reputable lettings agent in Sheffield.
Landlords who seek professional advice very rarely encounter nightmare tenants as any disputes or issues are diffused at the onset, often by a lettings agent acting as a mediator. When you let your property out through a reputable agent, time and care is used to ensure that communication and respect remain intact throughout the tenancy agreement.
Being a good landlord isn’t always about making those necessary repairs and collecting the rent. What many DIY landlords fail to realise is that they are susceptible to nightmare tenants. However, using a lettings agent should reduce your risk, as the lettings agent should be making an effort from move in day onwards, to ensure that things off to a great start. Leaving a welcome pack or small gift can be a nice start to a tenancy agreement and it is these small touches that many landlords often overlook.
Here at Belvoir Lettings Agency in Sheffield we offer all of our new tenants with a branded Belvoir box of samples, which often includes tea bags, washing up liquid and other essentials to ensure that move in day goes as smooth as possible.
As a landlord, it is important to understand that tenants no longer need to tolerate bad landlords or agents. It is therefore very important that you employ an agent who will make an impression on move in day and set the tone for things to come.
On move in day the agent should lay out the ground rules to tenants, along with what is expected of them as this will ensure that any questions can be answered as they arise on day one and not be forgotten about or ignored.
Providing tenants with a guide to the utilities found inside the property, in addition to local information, including a list of local schools, doctors and restaurants can also make your agreement with your tenants a pleasant one and it is much cheaper and easier to provide these finishing touches than to end up in a costly dispute later down the line.
Here at Belvoir Sheffield, we give tenants an office number, a dedicated repair email address for quick turnaround on repairs and a 24-hour emergency line, in case they have any problems during the course of their stay. We specialise in fast response to tenant requests and maintenance issues, to keep tenants happy for the duration, which means fewer disputes and happier tenants.
Belvoir Lettings Sheffield is the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs and Investment Property Insurances
