Why Building A Good Relationship With Your Tenants Can Pay Dividends

If you’re an Edinburgh landlord, managing your own tenants can feel like a constant headache. But building a good relationship with them can make the process a whole lot easier…

Making the effort to show an interest in your tenants will demonstrate that you are concerned for their wellbeing and happiness. Simple gestures such as sending a card or flowers when they move in and calling regularly to check if they have any issues will help create a smooth landlord/tenant relationship.

At Clan Gordon, we know happy tenants make the best tenants so we’ve come up with the following tips to help landlords get it right:

Offer A Helping Hand On Moving Day

When tenants first move in, everything is new. Make sure you’re there to show them how to work the heating and advise them about local amenities. It’s always useful to pull together information such as doctors’ surgeries, best takeaways and local shops, especially if they’ve moved from another part of the country. Let them know if the property has any special quirks, such as the oven having a hard-to-find isolator switch – it’ll avoid questions later on.

Keep Talking

Good communication is the key to a positive relationship. Make sure they know how to get in touch if they have any problems and don’t avoid their calls and emails, even if they’re more demanding than you expected.

Your tenants are paying for a service and deserve a prompt response when they contact you. Even if you can’t solve a problem straight away, responding quickly to let them know an ETA will always make the situation better.

Fix It Quick

If there’s a maintenance issue make sure you get it organised as soon as possible and keep your tenants informed. A dripping tap or a broken oven are frustrating if you’re relying on someone else to get it fixed so don’t leave them waiting.

Be Approachable

If you’re friendly and approachable, your tenants won’t hesitate to get in touch if there’s a problem. A dripping tap probably just needs a new washer or cartridge, but if it’s left to drip it can cause more damage. Encourage them to report any maintenance issues as soon as possible and make sure you have reputable tradespeople lined up if any work is needed.

Get The Basics Right

Make sure your tenancy agreement is based on the Scottish Government’s model and carry out all the necessary safety checks, issuing the required certificates. Tenants must by law be advised in which scheme you have lodged their deposit.

At Clan Gordon, we offer a hassle-free complete management service so landlords can relax in the knowledge their tenants are being looked after and their property is well maintained. Schedule a call with one of our expert property management advisors to find out more.