Make sure you're aware of what is going on behind the walls of your rental property with the useful advice from the experts at Belvoir Harlow!
Sub-letting, damage to the property, benefit fraud, using the property for illegal purposes have all been hidden by the disguise of a 'good' tenant.
So, would you like to know the signs if your tenant is trying to hide something?
Sub-letting, damage to the property, benefit fraud, using the property for illegal purposes have all been hidden by the disguise of a 'good' tenant.
So, would you like to know the signs if your tenant is trying to hide something?
Potential Offenders
Try and spot a potential offender before they even step through the door. When they register their interest for a property try and be thorough in your background checks. This will be easier for you to turn them away now rather than starting the eviction process later!
Try and spot a potential offender before they even step through the door. When they register their interest for a property try and be thorough in your background checks. This will be easier for you to turn them away now rather than starting the eviction process later!
"Before any tenant moves into a property with us they will be fully referenced by Ref4Rents. This will include previous Landlord references, credit checks and employer references. We also check identity and obtain proof of current address which MUST be dated within the last three months. We DO NOT accept mobile phone bills as evidence, instead we prefer to use utility bills, insurance documentation or bank statements." says manager of Belvoir Harlow, Tracy Allen.
When applicants are registering for a property we ask lots of conversational questions about them and reasons they are moving. We meet them at viewings and spend time with them during the application process so they are able to ask any further questions. Having a good relationship with new tenants from the beginning of the tenancy allows us to build a better picture of the type of people/person we are dealing with.
These types of tenants know to target private landlords as they know they are less likely to carry out background checks on them and they don't carry out regular inspections whereas Belvoir Harlow visit managed properties every three months. Private landlords, we recommend that you get a reference from a previous landlord or visit their current property.
Property visits
Once the tenant has moved into the property it is vital that you carry out inspections. If you have a managed property with Belvoir Harlow we will visit your property every three months and produce a report so that our landlords are kept up-to-date and that the tenancy is running smoothly.
"Inspections throughout the tenancy are essential! If something is going on inside the property that is breeching the terms of the tenancy agreement, it is during the inspections that this will be noticed." says Paul Harten, Director at Belvoir Harlow.
Some tenants don't report maintenance issues or that there is damage to the property they just 'get on with it' - with inspections this allows us to notify the landlord that some areas in the property need attending to. Smoking can also be an issue, if a tenant has been smoking inside the property it is usually very obvious to spot.
When applicants are registering for a property we ask lots of conversational questions about them and reasons they are moving. We meet them at viewings and spend time with them during the application process so they are able to ask any further questions. Having a good relationship with new tenants from the beginning of the tenancy allows us to build a better picture of the type of people/person we are dealing with.
These types of tenants know to target private landlords as they know they are less likely to carry out background checks on them and they don't carry out regular inspections whereas Belvoir Harlow visit managed properties every three months. Private landlords, we recommend that you get a reference from a previous landlord or visit their current property.
Once the tenant has moved into the property it is vital that you carry out inspections. If you have a managed property with Belvoir Harlow we will visit your property every three months and produce a report so that our landlords are kept up-to-date and that the tenancy is running smoothly.
"Inspections throughout the tenancy are essential! If something is going on inside the property that is breeching the terms of the tenancy agreement, it is during the inspections that this will be noticed." says Paul Harten, Director at Belvoir Harlow.
Some tenants don't report maintenance issues or that there is damage to the property they just 'get on with it' - with inspections this allows us to notify the landlord that some areas in the property need attending to. Smoking can also be an issue, if a tenant has been smoking inside the property it is usually very obvious to spot.
Tracy Allen who carries out Belvoir Harlow's inspections explains further...
"At Belvoir Harlow we visit the property six weeks after the tenancy has started. The first inspection is to check the tenant has settled in OK and that there are no immediate problems. We do walk round the whole property to make sure that it is all in order.
After the initial inspection we carry out three-monthly inspections, booked at a date and time to suit the tenants (if they cannot attend we always ask permission before using our management set of keys). Carrying out inspections also helps to build relationships with tenants. I like to see the personal touches that the tenants put in their homes."
"At Belvoir Harlow we visit the property six weeks after the tenancy has started. The first inspection is to check the tenant has settled in OK and that there are no immediate problems. We do walk round the whole property to make sure that it is all in order.
After the initial inspection we carry out three-monthly inspections, booked at a date and time to suit the tenants (if they cannot attend we always ask permission before using our management set of keys). Carrying out inspections also helps to build relationships with tenants. I like to see the personal touches that the tenants put in their homes."
Is your tenant making excuse after excuse as to why they can't commit to an inspection? There may be a reason why!
After several attempts trying to book in a property visit with the tenant and them refusing we will politely suggest entering with our management set of keys. If they refuse our suspicions would be raised and we would externally visit the property by simply doing a walk by to see if the garden was being maintained or to see if the property looked occupied.
We also have reliable trustworthy contractors who would alert us to any 'odd' activity when they carry out the gas / electrical inspections. These appointment are a valid reason for us to insist on gaining access.
Be aware and alert
Regular communication allows you to deal with problems as they arise and will always bring to light any changes or concerns with a tenancy.
Don't be naive, keep yourself informed of any new tricks and trends such as benefit fraud or sub letting.
"We are fortunate at Belvoir Harlow as we have only had very few troublesome tenants. However, we have good relationships with our tenants so we would know if something serious or illegal was going on in a property that we manage" says Paul Harten (Director) at Belvoir Harlow.
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