22nd November 2021
What Has The Pandemic Taught Us and How Has The Market Changed?
Unless you’ve owned a rental property it’s hard to explain to anyone what an absolute nightmare it can be to manage a property. Letting agencies can be complex and infuriating to work with. In essence the traditional agency model is fundamentally flawed. Let’s take a look at why? Letting a Property the Traditional Way You employ what you believe to be the best local agent to let the property for you. The front-end letting team controls the marketing and completion of the rental. There are normally two fundamental flaws in this system. 1. The lettings negotiators are normally on personal commission and are therefore battling colleagues to get the deal done first. Quality of tenant is often overlooked in this quest to earn this commission and what is best for the Landlord sacrificed in order to do the deal. 2. There is also a disconnect between this team and the property managers who will be looking after your property on a daily basis. ‘Do I really care if these tenants do not behave themselves as the property management team will have to clear up any mess?’. ‘I have been paid so all good.’ When the property is rented, it’s handed over to a Property Manager. In general, most property managers know how to instruct a contractor, but this is all they know! They usually share a fundamental belief that the tenant is the enemy and should be dealt with accordingly. “The Landlord is my client, you don’t count!” Sadly, “The Landlord is my client” goes right out the window, when it comes time to handling repairs or inspections. The property manager will look for the path of least resistance – you pay...
It’s a worrying time for all of us, but what happens if your tenants stop paying rent? What can you do and what should you do? The big question is whether they’re really struggling because of social distancing, or are they just jumping on the bandwagon and looking for a break? Communication is crucial right now. If you’re letting agency can’t help you reach out to tenants, it’s worth doing it yourself. Start a dialogue with them so you understand exactly what is happening for them and work with them to find a solution. Your tenant is likely to be extremely anxious about keeping a roof over their head, so they will welcome the chance to figure something out and take the pressure off. Obviously, you have to keep the rent flowing, but everyone needs to be compassionate at the moment. If your letting agency can handle the calls for you, be sure they approach the conversation sensitively, so the tenant doesn’t feel threatened. Not every letting agent treats tenants with respect. It’s a common problem that a lot of letting agencies treat the tenants as ‘the enemy.’ That is the last thing you need right now. It’s important that they can prove what their current situation is. Laid off or furloughed? Either way they should have the ability to prove their current circumstances. Perhaps your tenant has been furloughed? If so, he may have a short term cash flow issue, but he will soon receive 80% of his salary. Perhaps you could work out a short term reduction in rent to help them and then figure out a mutually agreeable repayment plan? If they have been laid off, find out what ...
Coronavirus has put us all under tremendous pressure financially, but for many landlords that pressure is amplified with the worry of how to manage if tenants stop paying rent. The new COVID-19 regulations are anything but easy to navigate. Are you eligible for a payment holiday? What happens if a bad tenant decides to take advantage of the situation? What if your letting agent isn’t help you work with your tenants? It’s a mess out there right now, but there is a way through it all. Whether, or not, you’re one of our customers, we’ll help you find a way through this situation. It doesn’t matter if you are contracted in with a letting agent, or managing your own properties, just give us a call, we can help you find a way. We’ve got the low-down on the COVID-19 financial regulations, we’re here to help. No chargeIt’s important that they can prove what their current situation is. Laid off or furloughed? Either way they should have the ability to prove their current circumstances. Perhaps your tenant has been furloughed? If so, he may have a short term cash flow issue, but he will soon receive 80% of his salary. Perhaps you could work out a short term reduction in rent to help them and then figure out a mutually agreeable repayment plan? If they have been laid off, find out what support they are applying for and when it will become available. I recently put together a Frequently Asked Questions section on my site that deals with the most pressing questions surrounding the Coronavirus and how it affects landlords. It covers: As a Landlord do...
What Has The Pandemic Taught Us and How Has The Market Changed?
PPM is the first company to offer Landlords a one-stop-shop for every aspect of property management.
A single, highly experienced, point of contact means you will never have to waste time, or worry, about your property.
From tenancy agreements, to mowing the lawn and everything between, we’ve got you covered
