Thursday 15 December 2016

Ask Andy – ‘’I have had a run of bad tenants – How do I find the right tenant for my property?’’

Landlord’s Question:

''Dear Andy,

Over the last two years I have had three different tenants in my rental property in Warrington.  At first each of them came across like ideal tenants. However, not long into each of their tenancies, problems started to arise.  To cut a long story short, between the three tenancies there have been months of non-payment, plenty of damage to the property and harassment (in the sense that I was called over  40 times in the space of 4 weeks  with requests to change light bulbs, locking themselves out of the property etc).

Why am I attracting these tenants? Is this a common thing with being a landlord?’’

Andy’s Answer

Well, it looks like you have had your fair share of bad luck with tenants. You are not alone – we have all been there, so don’t let this put you off. I’m going to share some steps to take to help you when looking for the right tenant for you and for your property.

In Warrington, we have huge demand for rental property – and unfortunately the supply isn’t as strong as we would like. So looking at that alone, you can afford to be fussy with the type of tenant you would like in your property.

Step One: Viewings

The first thing I would do is arrange a viewing. DO NOT let the property to anyone without them physically seeing it and meeting you at the property. (That doesn’t mean that the potential tenant sends someone to view on their behalf, whoever is going to be signing the tenancy documents needs to see the property.)

Viewings are key for me. I have over 10 years experience in meeting new tenants, so this is my chance to get a gut feeling about the tenant. I can ask them a series of questions that sounds like normal chit chat, however the answer I hear will determine whether this is the right tenant for this property

Step Two: References

I usually make them aware at the viewing that I will need to conduct a credit check, income and previous landlord references. These are necessary to paint an even clearer picture about the kind of tenant who may be moving into your property.

The reason why I tell them this at the point of viewing is to see how they react. If they say they have no CCJs and their credit is fine and they do not pass, then I would not go ahead with that tenancy.  If they tell you that they don’t think their credit is good and they have set up steps to make it better, and then they fail, then it’s down to your gut. If they are being honest about knowing they have poor credit, then they have no intention to deceive.

Step Three: Some Creative Detective Work

You might also want to visit them at the property they are currently renting to see how well they look after it.

You could also type their email address or mobile number into the search bar in Facebook as it may pull up their profile. You can then browse their profiles to build a better idea of the type of tenant you might be moving in to your property.

Step Four: Maintaining your Tenant Landlord Relationship

Once you have the right tenant for your property and they move in, schedule an inspection for 3-4 months into the tenancy and then at least annually thereafter.  If any issues arise during the inspection, you can address them there and then.

As for the needy tenant who wants their light bulbs changing etc: I am presuming at first you felt obliged to help, as this is very common from a lot of private landlords I speak to. One landlord I spoke to was receiving texts late at night and when he wouldn’t reply the tenant threatened to go to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

The first thing to do is review your tenancy agreement and make a list of the type of work you are responsible for and the type of work the tenant is responsible for. Put a letter together with this information and state a reasonable time frame to respond to maintenance issues – and make sure you mention that if you are called to minor jobs that they are responsible for, your call out rate is £45 – including locking themselves out.

Send this letter via recorded delivery, or for peace of mind post it through the door and have a neighbour or friend come with you to take a picture. 

Don’t get me wrong, we don’t want tenants to NOT report issues with the property but, at the end of the day, you are running a business. Keeping on top of repairs as and when they are reported is better for you as you can keep the property up to date, rather than having a massive payout after a long let. I do always urge tenants to report any maintenance issues directly to us as soon as they arise.

I hope this helps you in choosing your next tenants and your luck takes a turn for the better.

If you are looking for an agent with experience that can help you find the right tenant for your property, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of your investment property.
Email me on andy@hamletwarrington.co.uk or give me a call on 01925 235 338. Pop in for a chat – we are based on 6 Bankside, Crosfield St, WA1 1UP. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.


-Andy

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.

Wednesday 7 December 2016

“Already Tenanted” 3 Bed House, Lostock Avenue, Warrington, With Yields Of 7%+.


Good Afternoon readers. Just like most of you, I can not believe how quick this year has gone. I think I am almost prepared for Christmas (Amazon Prime is a saviour). Now it just time to do that dreaded wrapping.

Anyway the reason why I am writing is to share this absolutely superb investment deal in Warrington. This 3 bedroom property is up for £69,000 which is a steal and makes me think that their is a lot of work that may need doing to it. However from the advert we can only see an external shot. On the up side this property if already tenanted and then current tenant is paying £425 PCM. Now for a 3 bedroom in that area rents are usually 495 PCM so i think its safe to say the current tenant may be paying a lesser rent to cope with works that might need to be done to the property.

Current Yield - 7.3%

The best thing to do is give Fast Move Properties a call and arrange a viewing. 


The house is located off a very popular rental street (Longshaw St), Lostock Avenue is no different. The majority of properties on this road are rented. With 42 rented from the Council, 21 via other social associations and 24 from Private Landlords its safe to say its a popular rental area. It's close to schools and only a 15 minute walk to the town centre. 

Employment History on the street:





















So looking at the above chart the majority of the residents living on the street are either in Full Time or Part Time work. This is the kind of tenant you can expect to let the property out to. 



If you view the property and notice works needs to be done and the current tenant will not agree with a possible rent increase. Then do not worry about putting a new tenant in. Its about supply and demand and boy is there a huge demand for 3 bedroom houses to let in Warrington unfortunately the supply just isn't there. Usually when a 3 bedroom property in Warrington comes onto the rental market, its snapped up in a hand full of days usually by a family and they tend to be in their for life. So void periods are very low.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of your investment property.

Email me on manoj@hamletwarrington.co.uk or call on 01925 235338. If you are in the area, feel free to pop into the office – we are based on 
6 Bankside, Crosfield St, WA1 1UP. There is plenty of free parking and the kettle is always on.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Warrington Property News.