As a landlord, it’s essential that you maintain your property in an excellent condition for a number of reasons – it means you can offer tenants a safe, appropriate living environment (which they’re permitted to by law), decrease the number of pricey repairs you’ll need to carry out over time and help your property to keep its value.
Since the Fitness for Human Habitation Act went into effect in 2019, keeping a property in excellent shape has become even more important for landlords. The Act guarantees that all rented housing is suitable for human habitation and strengthens tenants’ rights to legal action against the small number of landlords who disobey their duty to maintain their properties in a safe condition.
Well-kept properties are much more likely to attract renters. If a property is in good shape, you will also find it simpler to entice decent tenants and charge market rent. Remember that a well-kept property increases in worth more quickly and is simpler to sell when the time comes.
Here are some essential tips for landlords to follow to maintain their rental properties:
8 ways to maintain a rental property
Consider using a block management company
Block property management companies look after a number of the assets in an apartment building. Depending on the service agreement, cost, and sort of managed building or rental property, a property manager’s exact duties can vary. Maintenance and repairs, insurance and site visits are frequently included in property management duties which can be ideal for a landlord who may not have the time to source contractors for multiple properties themselves.
Regular inspections
Conducting routine rental property inspections is one of the keys to maintaining the condition of the property. Landlords can perform three different kinds of inspections to help make sure their properties remain in top form.
- Move-in inspection: It is customary to conduct this walk-through examination alongside the tenant. This gives the tenant a chance to voice any issues and the landlord a chance to record the state of the property when it was handed over.
- Routine inspections: With the tenant, landlords should arrange routine property inspections, preferably once every three months. Before entering the property, a landlord should give notice; frequently, the conditions of the lease or local law will outline the specifics of these visits. The landlord has the chance to discuss any maintenance issues at this time, and the renter has the chance to talk about any issues like leaks or boiler problems.
- Move out inspection: This inspection takes place when the tenant vacates, as the term suggests. In addition to identifying any damage that a tenant might have done, the landlord should take note of any maintenance issues or standard wear-and-tear repairs that may need to be made before the apartment can be rented out once more.
Outline responsibilities in the lease
There will be a great deal less tension when everyone is aware of their responsibilities. Indicate the tenant’s maintenance obligations in the contract. In most cases, the tenant is in charge of performing minor upkeep (such as cleaning up litter and changing burned-out bulbs). Major ones (such as electrical, heating, or plumbing work) may be your responsibility (as long as the tenant wasn’t negligent and caused the damage or problem).
Ventilation
Mould and mildew upkeep problems can be minimised with an effective ventilation system. Look for an efficient extraction system that turns on and off automatically when the bathroom is being used. For the benefit of both you and your renters, this will lower the humidity levels throughout the entire residence.
Remember that you could face legal action and a fine under The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act if you permit mould and mildew to become an issue in a rental property.
Invest in Quality Bathroom Fixtures and Fittings
Spending money on cheaper showers, faucets, and other fixtures is a waste. It is a false economy to purchase the cheapest components because they will inevitably fail quickly. It is much preferable to spend money on high-quality bathroom hardware from a reputable provider. They will not only last much longer, but they will also guarantee a much superior result.
Look for showers, taps, and other fixtures that are durable, well-made, and, in the case of showers, have a warranty. If something breaks, it will be much simpler to find replacement components if you stick with well-known brands and suppliers.
Fire Safety
Landlords are required by law to install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in rental homes under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015. Every level must have smoke alarms, and rooms with solid-fuel appliances must have CO detectors. HMO landlords are subject to a number of fire safety licence requirements, including testing smoke detectors and keeping up with electrical installations.
Equipment checking is part of maintenance. Going to each of your properties to test the fire alarms may seem like a chore, but it is one of your landlord duties to keep your renters safe.
Set up a monitoring system
You can make reminders to notify you whenever something requires attention for routine repairs and maintenance (such as replacing the roof every 15 years, checking fire alarms frequently, etc.). By doing this, you’ll be able to anticipate maintenance problems and budget appropriately for them in advance.
Maintain a good relationship with tenants
Tenants are your first line of defence against maintenance problems because they are residing in the building. Relationships with your renters should be positive. Inquire from renters if there are any problems, such as a faucet that drips or overflowing bathroom cistern. The sooner issues are brought to your attention, the sooner you can address them.
Conclusion
Although maintaining a rental property requires a lot of work, the long-term rewards of doing so far outweigh the inconvenience.
Consider working with a property management firm to safeguard your investments if it still sounds like too much work. A competent property management company like Scanlans will keep track of both property maintenance and tenant requests. This not only saves you the hassle, but also ensures that your properties will receive expert, completely insured maintenance work.
