Securing the best tenants for your Durham rental property is arguably the most crucial part of being a landlord.
Reliable tenants consistently pay their rent punctually. They treat the property with care and ensures it’s in good condition upon their departure. This results in significantly fewer issues for you to address.
But how can you ensure you attract the best tenants for your rental property in Durham?
1. Define Your Best Tenants Target
Are you happy to rent your Durham property to students or professionals? Maybe you would prefer to rent it to a family?
Defining your target tenants will play a key part in how you market the property. Your property management company or letting agent can then tailor the marketing towards your target audience.
2. Market Your Property Well
Making your rental property in Durham stand out is essential, particularly if you’re advertising it on a national website where thousands of potential renters are looking.
Ensure that your letting agent or property management company in Durham take photos which highlight your property’s assets, and ensure they’re taken in a good light too! When it comes to descriptions, these will need to be clear, concise, and aimed at your target tenants.
For example, if you’re looking to attract young professionals, you’ll want to highlight local transport links, whereas if you’re targeting families, you’re more likely to highlight the proximity of the local schools.
It is always worth hiring a letting agent to market your rental property, as they’ll have the experience and expertise to ensure that your property stands out from the crowd and is showcased in its best light. PIIM Property are experts in property management and residential lettings in Durham. We will be delighted to chat with you so that you can benefit from our expertise.
3. Don’t Restrict Yourself
To give yourself the best chance of finding good tenants, you’ll need to cast the net wide to find them.
It’s a good idea to ensure your rental property in Durham is marketed to nationwide audiences, so you can get the word out to as many people as possible. And there’s no harm in being creative.
Advertise on social media or marketplace websites to find people who are looking for places to rent in Durham. Consider everything, as you may be surprised where you might find your next tenant! We are proactive on social media and ensure every property we market has maximum visibility.
4. Entrust Viewings to Your Letting Agent
The best way to find out about your potential tenants is to meet them in person. That way, you can build up a good picture of them and decide if they’re the best tenants for your property.
This will be possible if you are dealing with viewings yourself, or alternatively, if you are employing the services of a letting agent like PIIM Property, you can entrust your agent to find suitable tenants and then meet the potential tenant for a final say. It’s also worth clarifying with your agent whether they’ll conduct individual viewings, group ones or an open house session. Individual viewings help get a feel for the client and can be fed back to you.
5. Carry Out Checks On Your Best Tenants
It’s vital that you perform checks on prospective tenants so you can protect yourself from potential long-term issues with problem renters. There are numerous checks you should carry out, but one very essential part of the renting process is the ‘right to rent’ check.
This will tell you if your tenant can legally rent your property. If you fail to carry this out, you could land yourself with a substantial fine, so it’s crucial that you take the advice of an experienced letting agent.
6. Present the Rental Property Properly
It’s very important to present your rental property in Durham in its best light. This means ensuring that all minor repairs have been carried out before viewings take place, a fresh lick of paint, and, of course, the place needs to be clean.
If you have missing light bulbs and scuffed walls it not only gives a bad impression of you as a landlord, but it also suggests to prospective tenants that they don’t need to look after the property either.
After all, if you want them to leave the place as they found it, then it’s important that their first impression is a good one.
7. Improve Your Property’s Kerb Appeal
Presentation applies to the outside as well as the interior. Whether it’s just weeding the front garden or adding a couple of hanging baskets, it’s wise to make the rental property look as appealing as possible at first glance.
Again, this comes down to making a good first impression and appealing to tenants who will want to maintain the property to its current standards.
8. Showcase a Blank Canvas
Finally, before you even think about taking photos or starting viewings, make sure that you’ve emptied the property of any unnecessary clutter. This will help emphasise the space that’s on offer and give potential tenants the chance to visualise themselves living there.
PIIM Property are your local lettings experts for the Durham area. Call us on 01207 772033 or email info@piim.co.uk to chat with a member of our friendly and experienced team.
