There is an old saying that a happy renter is a good renter. A good tenancy, just like any relationship, works best when both parties feel the arrangement is fair and everyone is genuinely doing their best to honour it.
For the renter, it's an affordable and well-positioned property that is maintained in good running order.
For the landlord, it's a renter who pays rent on time and doesn't damage the property or generate complaints from neighbours.
As a landlord, you can increase that happiness and achieve a higher rent by offering a property that is purpose-built for renting. Renters appreciate sturdy and operational fittings and fixtures.
Happy renters are good renters.
At the start of the tenancy we set out the renter's responsibilities to the agreement. With that comes an expectation that the property will be well maintained. The signature on the tenancy agreement can be read as satisfaction with your rent, the property and lease terms.
During the tenancy, if things go wrong with fittings and appliances, happiness will reign only if they are fixed promptly. Simply care for your investment and your renters will too.
Too often, tenancies go sour because something that can be easily fixed is left unaddressed. How you respond is key to maintaining balance in the relationship.
If the renter chose your property because the complex has a gym or swimming pool, but the body corporate falls down on maintenance, there is often little you as landlord can do to rectify complaints about broken equipment, faulty lifts, visitors' cars blocking the driveway or other quality of life issues. Because of this, in order to maintain a good tenancy relationship, it is important to take an interest in the body corporate’s affairs.