Published: 15/09/2021
A good landlord will go to great lengths to find a qualified tenant for their property. Qualified tenants are those that have a proven track record of financial responsibility and rule-abiding behaviour, indicating their ability to pay rent and not damage the property. A great landlord will hope for more than just a good credit score and clean criminal background in their tenants. Although difficult to screen for, there are certain qualities that can make a renter stand out as the perfect tenant in their landlord’s eyes.Pay rent on time
The landlord-tenant relationship revolves around regular rent payments in exchange for a place to live, and making on-time rent payments is one of the most important jobs for which a tenant is responsible. Most likely, a landlord depends on the rent to make the mortgage payment on the rental property so paying rent late can be a financial burden for the landlord. A landlord’s property management software should let you schedule regular rent payments online directly from your checking account or with a credit card so your rent is always paid on time.
Treat the property well
Taking pride in ownership of a rental property by taking care of it will not only ensure the renter returns their security deposit, but also means they will receive a great tenant reference should they decide to move in the future. Normal wear and tear is expected, but preventing tenant-caused property damage is ideal.
Communicate maintenance issues
Even a small leak can turn into a big expensive problem for a landlord. A dream tenant will notify their landlord when they notice any maintenance issue that requires attention. Landlords can provide easy options for tenants to submit maintenance requests online, which can easily be tracked and monitored until the issue is resolved.
Low maintenance
While a landlord values great communication from their tenant, a renter who constantly complains or requires special attention will quickly become annoying. In most cases, a landlord will have multiple tenants and the wills and wants of an individual will not be their only priority. A good tenant will try to resolve small problems on their own, as long as they follow lease terms, before bothering their landlord.
Keep it clean
A dream tenant will keep the property clean to avoid any damage or infestation of unwanted creatures. If the tenant does not keep a clean home, the landlord may deduct the amount paid for extermination or repairs from the tenant’s security deposit per the lease terms.
Want to renew the contract
Managing tenant turnover is expensive and time consuming for a landlord. A dream tenant will want to renew their contract and lease and hopefully live at the same rental property for a long time. In a perfect world they would meet every quality of a perfect tenant making the long term tenancy even more ideal.
Keep up with some maintenance
While the majority of maintenance responsibilities fall on the landlord, tenants may be required to maintain some appliances, manage lawn care, change air filters or replace smoke detector batteries. A great tenant will not only understand and agree to these terms but will actually do it! A tenant’s maintenance responsibilities should be outlined in the rental agreement so they understand their contractual obligation in regards to maintaining the property properly.
Follow contract terms
A standard contract will prohibit any illegal activity on the property or any behaviour that threatens the safety of the community. A good tenant will uphold these rules as well as other lease terms. Other contract terms that a bad tenant might break typically involve pets or obnoxious parties that disturb other renter’s right to quiet enjoyment. Beyond failure to pay rent, contract violations like these constitute legitimate grounds for eviction, which is expensive and stressful for all landlords.
Have renters insurance
Not only will renters insurance help cover the cost of replacing a tenant’s stolen or damaged personal possessions, it can also cover the cost of damage caused to the property by negligence. A great tenant will have renters insurance so the homeowner isn’t left with a bill due a tenant being unable to cover the cost of damage to the property or court fees. The good news is, renters insurance is extremely affordable and costs less than a few cups of coffee a month.
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