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How to Help Your Students Be Good Tenants

It’s late November and that means it’s coming up to the end of term for your student tenants. If you’re planning an inspection during the break, there is no need to fill your heart with dread. If you’ve communicated your needs and expectations clearly in a contract, you shouldn’t have too many problems. There may always be things that niggle you, but with a little effort on your part, you can help your student tenants become better tenants for your and their convenience.

 

Allow Them to Select a Lead Tenant

One term in, it’s not too late to have a preferred lead tenant to deal with issues – either at their or your end. A lead tenant is the person to whom you would go, or through which all issues would be channelled to you. This avoids cross-communication and students airing their internal squabbles before you when they are not something you should be concerned about. If you allow them to choose the most responsible person, they will feel responsible for their actions and empowered, leaving you to get on with running your business.

 

Encourage Honesty

“Honestly is the best policy” – that should be the mantra between tenant and landlord regardless of the length of stay. Communication can only be properly facilitated with honesty; a tenancy will only go smoothly will full disclosure. Let them know that they can be honest with you about problems with money or damage or a problem tenant. If they find you unapproachable, that could lead to no end of problems during the year and when they move out. They are adults and should act like it and certainly deserve to be treated as such.

 

Setting Out Your Requirements

Such things as keeping doors and windows closed and locked for safety while the property is empty may go in the contract, but contents insurance is not a legal requirement from your perspective. In the stress and haste of moving in, they may have forgot unwritten rules of renting a property – the need to keep it clean, basic security measures, and of course insurance and the TV license. This can be a separate document, perhaps drawn up as a quick list.

 

Special Instructions Should Be Clear

Many properties come with special instructions. For example, in areas of high humidity and where buildings are prone to damp, a dehumidifier should be left on 24/7. Similarly, if you have night storage heaters installed, they may not be used to them and could end up running an expensive bill. Provide simple instructions on operation and what to do to keep the property running smoothly. Even simple stuff such as using a fan when cooking in the kitchen that has no window would help prevent damp. Encouraging good tenancy practices is about helping them to help you.