Author: Shirley Grove

So, you think you’ve mastered the art of letting properties?

With every tenant you place and every lease you renew, you grow more confident in your prowess as a confident, caring and capable landlord.

But are you one of the best landlords in Teignbridge?

We’ve put together a quick quiz to help you find out.

Let’s get started.

 

Do you regularly update your properties?

1. Of course! I make sure everything’s in top shape.
2. When I remember.
3. Not unless something breaks.
4. I leave that to my letting agent.

How would you handle a late rent payment?

1. Discuss a repayment plan.
2. Issue a late fee.
3. Eviction notice right away.
4. Consult my letting agent for the best course of action.

What’s your go-to marketing strategy?

1. Social media & online platforms
2. Traditional newspapers
3. A sign in the window
4. I let my experienced letting agent handle it.

How quick are you to respond to repair requests?

1. Within 24 hours.
2. Within a week.
3. Whenever I can.
4. My letting agent responds promptly for me.

What do you value most in a tenant?

1. Reliability and communication.
2. Ability to pay the highest rent.
3. Lack of complaints.
4. Whatever qualities my letting agent recommends based on their experience and knowledge.

 

Scores on the doors:

Tally your answers and find out if you are among the best landlords in Teignbridge.

Mostly 1’s: Congratulations, you’re a model landlord. You’ve got the perfect mix of attentiveness, professionalism and knowledge.

Mostly 2’s: You’re doing well but there’s room for improvement. Consider brushing up on best practices.

Mostly 3’s: You may want to revisit your approach to being a landlord. Your tenants and your bottom line will thank you for it.

Mostly 4’s: Smart move! You understand the value of a trusted, ethical letting agent in managing properties successfully.

 

Whether you’re an old hand at this or relatively new to being a landlord, there’s always something fresh to learn.

And remember, being a great landlord isn’t just about you—it’s about providing an excellent experience for your tenants, too.

 

If you’re a ‘Mostly 4’s’ kind of landlord, it seems you’ve already got that in the bag.

If you’re looking for any lettings advice, contact us today.

It’s every landlord’s worst nightmare: you discover the people you thought were trusted tenants are actually crooks using your property for illegal activity.

As a result, you face hefty repair bills, loss of income and a battle with your insurer. You may also find yourself at the centre of a police investigation.

Now, this is a worst-case scenario; most tenants are law-abiding, so there’s no need to panic.

But it’s still worth being on your guard for the signs that something isn’t quite right at your rental.

If you juggle managing a tenancy with a busy schedule, it’s easy to miss things or think that because you haven’t heard from your tenant, everything is running smoothly.

And if your property is in a quiet area where crime isn’t a significant problem, you might assume it’s not at risk.

But never say never, as a respectable frontage in a leafy street may provide the perfect cover for illegal activity, such as drug cultivation, production or dealing, people trafficking, gambling or subletting.

If you notice any of the signs below, don’t ignore them. Dig a little deeper to ensure everything that is going on at your rental is above board.

 

• Your tenant always has an excuse as to why you can’t access the property.
• A tenant has installed their own security system or CCTV.
• Neighbours complain about people coming and going at all hours and disruptive behaviour.
• An unusual odour such as a fruity, pungent smell (could indicate cannabis) or something akin to cat wee or rotten eggs (could indicate a meth lab).
• The electrical wiring has been tampered with. (To cultivate large quantities of cannabis indoors, criminals re-route the wiring to bypass the electricity meter.)
• Large patches of dead grass or stained/soiled concrete outside where chemicals have been dumped.
• The property is so sparsely furnished it’s hard to believe someone lives there. If this is the case, it could be an HQ for illicit activities.
• Blacked-out windows – what’s going on that they don’t want you to see?
• An excessive amount of rubbish or overflowing bins – a possible sign of overcrowding due to subletting.

 

How to protect your investment

 

• Never cut corners on tenant referencing or agree to a ‘cash in hand’ arrangement where you forgo a contract and accept a significant payment upfront to cover the rent.
• Introduce yourself to the neighbours and explain how they can get in touch if they have concerns.
• Have a comprehensive landlord insurance policy.
• Build a strong rapport with your tenants. Let them know that you’re proactive and do things by the book.
• Carry out regular property inspections.
• Use an experienced letting agent to manage the property for you.

 

Contact us here at Chamberlains today to learn more about our property management services.