Rental properties are in high demand and short supply in many of our most liveable cities and suburbs. Therefore, it’s crucial to have fantastic references in order to stand out from the crowd. The best way to get them is to look after your rental home as you’d imagine the owner would. Here’s how.
Putting extra effort into maintenance reflects in your references.
Tenant obligations
Firstly, let’s take a look at the legal obligations tenants need to adhere to with regard to maintaining a property. They’re common sense really, and include not intentionally damaging the premises, not being a nuisance to the neighbours with excessive noise or rubbish and not doing anything illegal.
You are required to keep the rental property clean and advise the owner or property manager of any issues as soon as possible. Fulfilling your legal obligations makes you a decent tenant, but maintaining a property as you’d imagine the owner would, puts you in the ‘much sought after’ tenant category.
Maintaining your rental home
Landlords want tenants who’ll leave their property exactly as they found it, so it’s not just about superficial cleaning either.
Along with keeping a rental home neat and tidy, you might be responsible for maintaining the garden, pool or common areas. For landlords, tenants with proven records of doing so shoot straight to the top of the list, as well as retain leases for long periods of time. Landlords want tenants who’ll leave their property exactly as they found it, so it’s not just about superficial cleaning either.
Though it might be tempting to put off mowing the grass, cleaning the windows or hosing the stains off the driveway, it’s these details landlords look at when it comes to inspections. For the duration of the lease, it’s your home and it’s expected to look ‘lived in’, so you don’t need to turn into a clean freak. However, when you make the extra effort, your future references will reflect it.
Communicate openly and effectively
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Open and direct communication is the best approach when it comes to looking after your rental home. Obviously, you need to advise your landlord when something crucial plays up, like the plumbing, and they’re obliged to fix it as soon as possible. However, it’s just as important to report all the little details, before they get worse.
The longer problems occur, the more expensive they tend to become, so landlords are generally open and appreciative of being notified early. In doing this, you’ll foster trust as your landlord will know you’re keeping a good eye on their investment.
When you’re a tenant, going the extra mile in maintaining your rental home really does make all the difference towards gaining excellent references and, therefore, having your choice of the best properties.