A Look at Ways Landlords Can Make Life Easier For Tenants in the Cost of Living Crisis. Whilst everyone is affected by the rising cost of living, for tenants, this can be a little harder to manage – so here are ways landlords can make life easier for tenants in the cost of living crisis and beyond. Everyone knows that having a nice home is important, but it isn’t just about a home that is well decorated and looks nice, instead, it is about a home that is warm, not overcrowded and not affected by things like damp.
Living conditions like this pose a serious risk to people’s health and definitely something that should be avoided. So, how can landlords help?
Open Communication – One of the Best Ways Landlords Can Make Life Easier For Tenants
One thing that is essential when it comes to landlord and tenant relationships is communication. Keep in touch with your tenants and discuss any possible issues with them in an open way. The last thing you want is for your tenant to be too afraid to approach you to discuss issues or problems. Instead, keep things professional but friendly and ensure that they feel you are approachable should they need to speak to you.
Offer Good Quality Accommodation
As a landlord, there are certain rules and regulations you must follow – for example, regular safety checks and things like a decent EPC level. However, if you want to be a decent landlord and help your tenants then providing high-quality accommodation is a must. Going above and beyond to make sure that you are providing a happy and safe place to live really does make a difference to the quality of life your tenant has.
If your tenant approaches you with an issue with the property or lets you know that something is broken then offering a quick repair can also make all the difference to how your tenants feel about things. It is worth investing in something like CIA landlord insurance so that as a landlord you have some protection against this too, which helps you as well as being one of the ways landlords can make life easier for tenants.
Approach Things with Sensitivity
One of the ways landlords can make life easier for tenants is to be sensitive when talking about money. Money is never an easy topic to talk about, so if it is clear that your tenant is having trouble then be sensitive in the way that you approach them. No one wants to be in a position where they are struggling with finances so being sensitive about this really is important. If you are in a position to then helping them look up what they are entitled to and where they can get support can help them to get back on track.
It is easy to get dragged down by how you are feeling and as though there is no way out. A friendly face and a helping hand to guide them through a difficult time and helping them to access any help and support that is available to them means that they feel happier -and they are much more likely to be able to stay on as your tenant, with the right support.
Be Flexible
Flexibility as a landlord is a must if you are looking at ways landlords can make life easier for tenants. It is essential that you accept that sometimes things will go wrong and this could affect how your tenant pays you or when they are able to. It is often not worth falling out with your tenant over a late payment or two. Instead, make sure that you have encouraged open communication so that if they are going to be late, they can let you know and you can prepare accordingly. Of course, if it becomes more of a long-term issue then this is a conversation that you should have with them, but otherwise, some flexibility really can help.
These are just some of the ways landlords can make life easier for tenants – if you have your own ideas we’d love to hear them
*Collaborative post
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs. Specialising in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and parenting, Debz brings a wealth of hands-on experience to every guide. Her mission at Stereotude is to simplify the modern world for her readers through expert curation and fiercely honest advice.