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What not to do in-between tenancies

What not to do in-between tenancies

Untenanted properties can be frustrating for landlords. Not only do they create a sense of unease about future income but they also tend to feel like a lost opportunity to generate a return on investment. As a result, it's often tempting to focus on other things in-between tenancies and avoid thinking about it. However, the reality is that this is a time of opportunity that smart landlords don't waste.

Landlords: avoid this one thing in-between tenancies

It's not rocket science but the one thing not to do in between tenancies is: nothing. If your previous tenants have just moved out then this is a great time to reacquaint yourself with the property and see if there are changes that could be made to help you secure new tenants quickly. So, as soon as the check out inventory has been carried out for the last tenants ‐ and the deposit amount agreed and returned ‐, there are a number of positive steps that landlords can take before the next tenancy agreement is signed.

  • Carry out maintenance. Basic property maintenance at regular intervals will prevent serious repairs being required further down the line. Savvy tenants today will make judgments about a landlord based on how well a property has been maintained and many are simply not willing to rent where there is evidence of neglect. When the property is empty it's easy to either go in and carry out maintenance yourself or to pay someone to go in and do it for you.
  • Deal with any outstanding repairs. Perhaps you didn't get around to fixing the broken guttering or wobbly door handles. Or maybe the last tenant ruined the carpet and the cost of replacing this has come out of their security deposit but you haven't fitted it yet. It's much simpler to carry out repairs when the property is empty because you don't have to give notice or work around tenants' lives. Leaving repairs outstanding could be costing you new tenants and may also affect the amount of rent you can charge.
  • Upgrade the property. Few landlords have a lot of extra cash for upgrades but some smart spending could bring to an end a period of the property standing empty. It may also enable you to put the rent up. Replacing carpets, repainting walls and digging the garden are all simple upgrades that can have an impressive impact for potential new tenants.
  • Think about preparing the property for viewings. If your property is not generating much interest from viewings, you can turn this around by dressing it for success. These are just some of the details that tenants have told us matter when it comes to property viewings:
  • Cleanliness and space ‐ is the property recently cleaned and clutter free?
  • Bathroom and kitchen ‐ these are the key rooms for tenants. Little touches that can make a big difference include new blinds, removing mould or mildew, new mats and shower curtains and well tended plants. These don't have to be bought ‐ borrowed work just as well.
  • Furniture ‐ even if you're renting the property out unfurnished it may be useful to hire coordinated pieces for viewings to give the property more appeal and inspire tenants to want to live there.
  • Little details ‐ if you're planning multiple viewings in a short period of time, fresh flowers, a welcome mat, even the smell of coffee can all work wonders on tenants looking for a home.

Rather than waiting until you secure a new tenant, we always recommend using the down time in between tenancies constructively. If you'd like advice on maintenance or repairs ‐ or to use our interiors upgrade service ‐ get in touch.

04 April 2019Written by Andrew Blythe

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