How To Spot A Good Landlord

Written by The Landlord on 01 Oct 2008

A lot of my friends rent. In fact, the majority of them rent, so I’m always getting the inside scoop on how other Landlords operate. It’s always a fascinating topic for me; I never get tired of hearing about the dodgy dealings of an overweight pimple-faced greasy Landlord that cuts corners to save a few bucks.

It’s always in the best interest of a tenant to get a good landlord. Why? Well, for plenty of reasons, but mainly so tenants aren’t left with cold water for months on end, rotting windows and peeling paint. A good landlord is essential for a comfortable living experience- which tenant doesn’t want that?

Here are my top tips on how to spot a good landlord:

1. A good landlord will ask the right questions

Before a Landlord will even consider anyone as a prospective tenant, he/she should ask a few vital questions:

• Are you employed?
• Do you have a good credit rating?
• Do you have a history with previous landlords (for the sake of obtaining references)?
• How many people will live in the property?

If a landlord doesn’t do any investigating by asking these questions, then the landlord has very little concerns- that’s not a good thing.

2. Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement

The landlord will require Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement to be put in place. I’ve heard of a lot of landlords that don’t use contracts- that is insanity in its purist form.

Bad landlords use contracts, terrible landlords don’t.

3. Gas Safety Certificate

All good landlords will have a valid Gas Safety Certificate. This may not seem vital to a tenant, but it’s extremely important for the landlord. Having this certificate is a legal requirement, and it’s a good indication that the landlord follows procedures.

If your landlord doesn’t have this in place, I would run. RUN FAST!

4. Tenancy deposit scheme

Again, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme is a legal requirement.

In the past there have been a lot of disputes between landlord and tenants over deposits. A lot of deposits were unfairly held back by landlords, so the government introduced moderators. Good landlords will secure a tenant’s deposit into a tenancy deposit scheme.

5. Well presented landlord

You can tell a lot about people by how they present themselves, right?

If your landlord smelt of beer and had a curry stained vest on the first time you were introduced, would you feel assured that he would care of you as a tenant, even though he can’t take care of himself properly?

Of course, some times, financial incentives make people act out of character and the scruffy looking ferret may actually be a very well disciplined landlord, but the odds aren’t in his favour.

6. The Landlord will ensure a smooth transition

A lot of landlords are only concerned about rental payment, consequently they don’t pay much attention to the “service” they’re obligated to provide to their tenants. Part of the service is to make sure that everything is as it should be.

The landlord should ensure that the tenants have a smooth transition while moving in, which means he/she should ensure that everything is set into place.

While tenants, especially virgin tenants, may not be aware of all the technicalities regarding renting/owning a property, a landlord definitely should. The landlord should ensure:

• the new tenants are registered at the local council tax office as the new residents
• make sure all utility bills (water, gas and electricity) are transferred over to the new tenants if they’re liable to pay them

7. The property is in working order and good condition

Before any tenant moves into rental accommodation they should make sure that everything is in good condition and in working order. If the landlord has allowed tenants to move into a property with morbid smells and a dysfunctional plumbing system, then the landlord probably won’t be in any immediate rush to address those issues.

If the property has a few problems prior to moving in, make sure the landlord is in the process of getting them fixed immediately.

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