Keeping your Essex tenants happy – the top tips

Essex is a popular location for renters – particularly those who commute into London on a daily basis for work.

So, while landlords shouldn’t have to fight too hard to occupy their rental properties in this county, it’s a whole different ball game when it comes to keeping tenants happy and in place for the long-term.

Long-term, reliable tenants are what the majority of landlords are after as they bring a regular stream of income and mean that void periods are kept to a minimum.

The landlord-tenant relationship is absolutely crucial to this. But it can, at times, be taken for granted. There are, however, things landlords can do to keep tenants on side.

Below, we outline what some of these are…

Get it right from the start

Communication is all-important when it comes to the tenant-landlord relationship. Establishing a friendly, cordial relationship from the off will help to minimise the chances of disputes or confusion down the line.

This is where a clear and concise rental agreement comes into play, explicitly laying out for tenants what their rent will be, how you expect them to behave and the rules and regulations they will need to abide by – for example, are they allowed to smoke or keep pets in the property and are they allowed to redecorate?

Making things clear-cut from the very beginning will help to stop issues from arising at a later date.

Understand the importance of maintenance

Tenants are much more likely to stay for the long-term if they are house proud and if they live in a property that is well-maintained and pleasing on the eye.

Things like mould, damp, clogged gutters and broken handles on doors don’t give off that impression – they smack of a home that isn’t really cared for.

As much as possible, you should deal with repairs in a quick and efficient manner, carry out preventative maintenance to stop things like damp becoming a really expensive problem, and make sure all those little DIY jobs are completed in a timely and non-disruptive fashion.

React quickly to major issues

You shouldn’t be expected to drop everything for more minor issues like a broken lightbulb or a malfunctioning toaster, but things like a faulty boiler or a broken down fridge will require immediate attention.

Tenants really will appreciate being made to feel like first priority and besides, the longer you leave a complaint, the more frustrated your tenants will become and the more it’s likely to leave you out of pocket over time.

Recognise their privacy

They might only be renting, but most tenants will still want their property to feel like home. And, as a landlord, you want that too. If a house feels like a home, it stands to reason that people stay put for longer.

However, a big part of this is trust and privacy. If you turn up unannounced every so often, this may not go down very well with your tenants. There is a difference between popping by for a specific matter and just dropping by without an invite.

Of course, emergency issues change things somewhat, but in the majority of situations you should let your tenants know in advance that you will be visiting the property.

For more info on how best to manage your property and keep your tenants happy, please get in touch with us at one of Balgores Property Group’s many branches.

If you would like more of an idea about how much rent you could be charging right now, check out our free and instant online valuation tool.

New Balgores team aiming high

Balgores Chelmsford has expanded its Sales and Lettings Teams, with three new appointments.

Brian Clover has renewed his association with Group MD, Martin Gibbon and joins Balgores as Director.  With 27 years’ experience in the estate agency business, Brian has extensive knowledge of the Chelmsford property market and a reputation for achieving outstanding results.

Balgores is pleased to introduce James Pudney, as Executive Branch Manager, with 19 years’ experience in the industry. James is looking forward to the challenge of working in the City branch of the Group and to continuing his long standing business relationship with Brian.

Balgores would also like to welcome Max Fordham, who has been promoted after a very successful period at the Upminster Branch where he has won the prestigious ‘Lettings Office of the Year’ award for two consecutive years. 

Martin Gibbon FNAEA, Group Director, comments: “I am delighted to welcome three key new members of staff to our Chelmsford City Branch.  These new appointments will bring invaluable skills, experience and knowledge to our Sales and Lettings Team and enable us to achieve an all-time high level of service to our customers.”

Should you be interested in selling or letting your property, please do not hesitate to call Balgores on 01245 492 424.  For further information, please visit www.balgoresproperty.co.uk.

http://www.balgoresproperty.co.uk/News/12054/New-Balgores-team-aiming-high.aspx

Why landlords should invest in rental property in Essex

Investing in property is no easy task, with locations and figures being thrown around almost every day. But, the latest Rental Trends Tracker from Rightmove contained some interesting information for those considering investing in property.

For prospective property investors things seem to be shifting, and it appears there’s a new housing hotspot in town. It has been revealed that the east of England is taking the crown from the capital, generating one of the highest returns on investment across the UK for landlords.

Among the investment locations that everyone is talking about right now are Brentwood, Purfleet and Grays; all Essex towns which estate and letting agent Balgores Property Group operate in.

For some, these may seem unlikely or unexpected investor hotspots, but here at Balgores Property Group we have seen these locations rise in popularity over the past couple of years. Landlords are missing a trick if they don’t choose to invest in the East, as the annual rental growth in these areas averages at 6.4%, the highest growth in any single UK region. London pales into significance in comparison, with growth of only 0.2%.

The key things that landlords should look for when making an investment is the specific location’s annual rental growth, which as we’ve explained is consistently increasing in the East. It’s also vital that tenant demand is strong.

Void periods are a landlord’s worst nightmare, so it’s vital you choose to invest in an area popular with renters. Essex is the perfect region for investment right now, as its towns have recently witnessed an influx of new residents looking to rent in the area.

Essex towns such as Brentwood have been named as investor hotspots, as they provide an attractive place to rent. Brentwood in particular is a pretty solid location to invest in, due to its close proximity to the capital. Commuters are able to travel into Central London from here in just over 20 minutes.

This intimate connection to the capital is enticing many young professionals and commuters to the area -  who are likely to have been priced out of the Central London rental spots.

Not only are the areas more affordable for tenants, but because property can still be purchased here fairly reasonably, it means that landlords won’t have to fork out for an expensive property when initially investing.

Here at Balgores Property Group, we believe it’s our job to ensure landlord’s are aware of the best places to invest, and our team have years of experience in ensuring our landlord clients' investments are a success through our excellent property management service.

We know how to ensure landlords get great returns; our previous blog demonstrates that we know how to ensure your investment is a success.

If you would like further information about investing and letting property in and around Essex, or anything else property related, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of property experts today.

Alternatively, if you’d like to find out how much rent you could generate from your property, why not try our free, instant rental valuation tool

http://www.balgoresproperty.co.uk/News/12001/Essex-named-top-rental-investment-location.aspx