Keeping your tenants content during the rental process is good for your conscience and for business. Happy tenants are more likely to stay for longer, pay their rent on time and keep your property in good condition.
Here at Bunk, we want the rental experience to be as hassle-free as possible, for you and your tenants, so we’ve come up with some top tips to help boost tenant satisfaction.
Welcome your tenants
Building a positive relationship early on with your tenants can help make interactions easier throughout the tenancy. Moving in is hard work, and a bottle of wine or small gift will put a smile on your tenants’ face and instantly give them a lasting impression. Small gestures can make a big difference.
Clarify the rules during the rental process
Contracts and tenancy agreements can be confusing leaving many tenants unsure of what is and is not their responsibility. We always recommend clarifying the key tenant responsibilities with the tenant at check-in and then reiterating this in a follow-up email after check-in. This way the tenants are fully aware of their responsibilities and you both have a digital record of these agreed responsibilities.
Provide property information
Moving into a new property and getting to grips with all the appliances can often be a bit challenging for tenants. You can support your tenants in this adjustment period by creating a simple handbook with all the information regarding each appliance. This not only helps the tenants but also helps minimise call outs and email enquiries.
It takes money to make money
Heard the saying buy cheap buy twice? It can be tempting to save money when buying appliances and furniture, but more expensive and higher quality furnishings may actually save you money in the long run. A homely environment means your tenant will want to stay for longer, and high-quality appliances will keep working year after year, meaning lower maintenance costs for you.
Try to resolve issues quickly
Issues are unavoidable, things break and go wrong no matter how prepared you are. It’s important to ensure that these issues are resolved as quickly as possible, not only does this satisfy your tenant but it also means your property stays well maintained. The Bunk tenant app allows your tenants to easily report a maintenance issue. This allows you to be instantly notified, enabling you to act efficiently.
Respect your tenant’s space
It can be tempting to keep a close eye on your tenants. You want to make sure that everything is going well and that they’re taking good care of your property. But for tenants, this can seem a little nosy. If you have any concerns you should give your tenants a courtesy call, perhaps a month into their tenancy to see how they’re settling in. This will give them an opportunity to ask any questions they might have and equally you can raise any concerns. However, if you want to carry out a property inspection during the tenancy you must ensure you give your tenants 24 hours written notice.
Help your tenants credit history
Credit scores are becoming increasingly important, and having a good credit history gives people many advantages. For many renters, especially students, it can be hard to build up a credit score. By letting your property through Bunk, you can provide your tenants with the opportunity to increase their credit history. When your tenants pay their rent on time, through our unique partnership with Experian it contributes to their credit score. This is a great incentive for you and the tenants – It means you get your rent paid on time each month and they boost their credit history! A win-win situation, right?
Renting deposit free
When moving into a new property, nearly half of tenants rely on credit or borrow money to pay for deposits. However, there is another way. At Bunk, we offer a deposit replacement guarantee which provides 6 weeks worth of deposit cover to the landlord; but for the tenant, it means they can move in without the hassle of paying an expensive security deposit up-front. Not only will this make your tenants happier, but it means that they will be able to pay their rent easier with less financial restrictions – making the rental process that little bit easier!
