What would your ideal landlord be like?

[BayLeaves]

We are moving abroad and renting out our house here in the UK, long term/permanently. We're not investors, just homeowners, and never been landlords before now.

We have just found tenants - a really nice family. Just wondered what can we do to be 'good' landlords? What would your ideal landlord be like?! Obviously making sure the house is in good nick, nothing broken etc.

Do you think a bottle of Prosecco left in the house to celebrate moving in would be appreciated? Just want to get the landlord-tenant relationship off to a happy start really.

I’m still not convinced that an agency is
superior to a good, responsive landlord

They’re not.

Well they are useful if you don’t live near the property so can’t maintain it yourself. And as a LL I use them to find me a tenant and complete the checks / paperwork, but after that I manage my property myself.

What’s the point in paying them 10-12% of the monthly rent to simply act as a middleman for the rent payment? And charge you an absolute fortune for their tradesmen to fix any problems that might occur?

Some people think they offer LLs extra legal protection in terms of getting rent and getting troublesome tenants out. They don’t.

Specialsubject point taken. Except if the boiler goes in weather like this and I can't get a plumber out straight away, or parts are needed, I will lend tenants a heater. Especially if it is a family. And remove it as soon as the crisis is over.

But that's because I am nearby. And want to minimise inconvenience. I also pay silly rates for really expensive, but responsive, central London plumbers. This letting business is getting tougher. If tenants felt I was not being sufficiently responsive I would not put it past them to check into a hotel at my expense.

Managing property is real work. If you dont want to do it, or are not around to do it, pay an agent.

BTW my rental has two independent permanent heat sources, and two of hot water (boiler and electric shower). So if one fails, while I will still do my best to get it fixed quickly, the tenant is not left high and dry, or even cold and unwashed.

same setup as I have in my own home.

I was in the same position as you. We left the tenants a bottle of fizz for when they moved in, had the house cleaned etc. We paid a lettings agency to manage repairs etc.

Sadly the tenants weren’t great - left the house absolutely filthy and made changes to the wiring without asking permission!

@Cavender The OP asked what my ideal landlord would be like. My ideal landlord would allow pets, or at least turn a blind eye. Of course there's no obligation to, but that would be my ideal.

I'm a good tenant, my pets haven't caused any damage (even the flatmate's dog hasn't caused any at all) and the current LL is turning a blind eye. I'm more likely to stay in my current property because of it, which saves the LL a lot of hassle / reletting costs.

Special, I am impressed. And hopefully a warning to OP about how things happen you least want them to. On holiday with poor hotel WiFi and no signal. And you do have to drop everything. Fine if you have responsive workmen with keys. Otherwise use an agent.

I manage some property for my elderly mother 150 miles away. Partly because they had not been maintained so I am slowly updating, but also as a motivation to visit her. (That sounds bad, but she has no memory and so organising a gas cert adds purpose to a trip.)

I charge her a standard management fee as compensation for my time. Though her properties are quite upmarket, it does not work out to much and is absolutely not worth the stress and the 24/7 on call.If I did not have other motivation, the income pays for her care, I would definitely delegate the management. Or indeed sell.