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5 Tips for Happy, Long-Term Tenants

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    Although you should always approach your rental property like a business, the key to retaining long-term tenants and maximising your income is to cultivate relationships based on trust.

    You have an investing strategy that you need to stick to, and one of your assets is property, which generates income for you. Having said that, it is imperative that you never lose sight of the reality that the renters who call your rental property their home are also an essential asset.

    Tenants who are happy in their living situation are more likely to stay for an extended period of time and to renew their lease. This is advantageous for you because you won't have to work as hard to fill your home with new renters, which results in a win-win situation for the two of you.

    Tenants who are satisfied translate to a consistent flow of rental money over a lengthy period of time and help to prevent vacancies. The question now is, how can you ensure that your tenants are happy?

    The following are the five most important areas you should concentrate on to ensure that your tenants are content and want to remain in the long run:

    1. Keep up with the necessary maintenance and always think ahead

    Nobody takes pleasure in coming home to a home that has a ceiling that is leaking or a sink faucet that is drooping. Tenants who pay their rent with the assumption that these items will be taken care of as quickly as possible have the lowest likelihood of being satisfied with their living situation. Maintaining a high degree of maintenance efficiency is, as a result, the unquestionable response to the question "How to keep tenants happy?"

    It is a certain approach that you can use to demonstrate to your tenants that you care, and it is actually something that may make or break a relationship between a landlord and a tenant. Problems that arise with the upkeep of tenants should be addressed as soon as feasible.

    However, paying prompt attention to people's demands for repair is just one aspect of the battle. It would be to your advantage to take the initiative in this situation. Because of this, it is necessary to conduct frequent inspections in order to ensure that everything is in flawless shape.

    The goal of preventative maintenance that takes a proactive approach is to spot possible issues before they develop into major challenges. As a direct result of this decision, when it comes time for you to return the rental property, you will have saved both time and money.

    You should make sure that your property management does routine inspections and that they offer advice on how you may prevent problems with maintenance by taking preventative measures.

    2. React promptly when your tenant contacts you

    It is crucial to maintaining a strong connection with tenants to show that you appreciate them and are open to the input that they provide.

    If your tenants ever have a question or concern, make sure they know how to get in touch with you or your property manager. And when they do send you a query or a request, make it your business to react in a timely and polite manner. This should be a priority for you.

    This does not suggest that you have to stop everything you are working on in order to get an electrician to fix a broken light; on the contrary, it only means that you should be more prepared for the interruption. In the event that it is not an urgent matter, a brief acknowledgement via email, text message, or phone call in which you state that you will start working on the situation should be adequate. They want to know that their opinions are being taken into consideration and that steps are being done to address the issues that they have raised.

    3. Provide the amenities that tenants demand in your rental home

    It is not sufficient to simply give up your home for rent and believe that individuals looking for rental space will swarm to it like bees to honey. You need to take further steps to ensure this happens.

    If you want to rent your house to excellent occupants and maintain those occupants for an extended period of time, you need to give it an inviting and comfortable atmosphere.

    According to the findings of the most recent body of research, prospective renters give preference to rental homes that include the following features:

    • Hardwood flooring
    • Centralised climate control
    • Appliances made of stainless steel
    • Bathroom upgrades
    • Kitchen backsplash
    • Contemporary cabinet hardware

    There is no denying that these enhancements will incur some costs upfront; nevertheless, they may be justified by an increase in rental yield. In addition, when you consider the amount of money that can be lost due to vacancies, you will see that they are a very beneficial investment.

    Believe us when we say that reducing the number of vacant rental units will make the changes and repairs to the rental property pay for itself. This is how you will attract renters more quickly and ensure that they remain in your property.

    4. When it comes to lease renewals, always be proactive

    The one who moves first gets the apartment! If you want to keep your renters for the long term, one of the most important steps is to stay ahead of the curve on lease renewals and to consider offering some sort of incentive.

    If you give your tenants plenty of time to consider whether or not they want to leave the rental, you will demonstrate to them that you are concerned about their well-being and, as a bonus, you will be able to determine whether or not you need to find a new tenant to fill the vacancy.

    The problem is that rent hikes are frequently associated with lease renewals. Something that, without fail, causes the hair on the back of a tenant's neck to stand up on end.

    Because of this, it is vital to collaborate with a seasoned real estate professional in order to determine the proper rent increase (if any).

    You may, alternatively, think about approaching the tenant with the proposition of signing a longer-term lease at a reduced fee.

    Increase the length of the lease to a year if they renew it every six months. If they do this every year, you should think about extending the lease for an additional year at a discounted rate.

    Increasing the rent may result in a loss of profit for you, but if the tenant has been trustworthy and has stayed for a long time, it may be worthwhile.

    In the event that the lease renewal does not go through, you will be aware that a vacancy will soon occur, and you will have the opportunity to find a new renter with adequate time to do so.

    5. Be mindful of their privacy

    Your tenant probably does not want to hear from you unless they have a problem that has to be resolved. In this case, though, they definitely do want to hear from you. As a result, it would be to everyone's advantage if you honoured that to the very best of your abilities.

    There is no way around the undeniable reality that there will be times in the future when you will, for one reason or another, require access to the property. You should be aware that there are restrictions that define how much notice you are needed to give and how frequently you are permitted to access the premises. These regulations can be found in the building's regulations.

    Maintaining positive relationships with your renters can have a long-term positive effect on the financial performance of both you and the investment property you manage. The difference between a short-term and a long-term lease could be determined by investments of a smaller scale, such as proactive maintenance and rental renovations.

    When assessing the potential consequences of having your home lie vacant for an undetermined amount of time, these are some of the most important factors to take into consideration.

    What to Do if You Think Your Tenant Is Engaging in Illegal Activity

    People who own investment properties and come to us with the suspicion that their units are being used for unlawful activities by tenants have typically made a few observations before contacting us with their concerns. Possibly a strange chemical odour or a sudden increase in the cost of the utility bills. They could even be wondering if the occupants of the property actually live there!

    In either scenario, you will find that you are in a challenging situation in which it will be challenging to determine whether or not there is criminal conduct in the new rental or whether or not you need to evict your tenant. It will also be challenging to determine whether or not you need to evict your tenant.

    Problems arise when tenants engage in behaviour that violates the law. On top of the hours of paperwork that are necessary, it generally costs landlords tens of thousands of dollars in damage repairs.

    You are in luck because there are defence methods that you can put into action in order to protect yourself from illegal tenant activity and the possible damage that it may cause.

    This article will walk you through the steps you can take to determine whether or not your tenants are making unauthorised use of your property, as well as what you should do if you discover that they are. The article will also walk you through the steps you should take if you discover that your tenants are making unauthorised use of your property. We have also included an outline of the most effective preventative actions that you may take before to renting out your home in order to avert criminal acts involving tenants. This can be found in the preceding section.

    There is a distinction between unlawful tenant behaviour and violation of the rental agreement

    Let's begin by going over basic terminology from a textbook. Because so many landlords have the two concepts confused, it is imperative that you are aware of the distinctions between unlawful tenant activities and violations of rental agreements.

    It is possible that this information will come as a surprise to you, but decreases in your annual income are not usually the result of unlawful behaviour on the part of tenants. The majority of insurance claims that landlords submit are really related to tenants who fail to pay their rent, which is not considered illegal behaviour on the part of tenants but rather a breach of the rental agreement.

    So, what exactly is the difference?

    What constitutes a violation of the lease?

    When a tenant violates the terms of the rental agreement, this indicates that the tenant has not adhered to the clauses that the landlord and tenant have mutually agreed to uphold as part of the lease contract. Examples of this can be found frequently in:

    • Rent arrears
    • Making alterations to the floor plan of the rental property, such as tearing down a wall to provide more space

    In the event that the tenant violates the terms of the lease, you, as the landlord, have the right to either provide the renter the opportunity to make amends for their actions or to evict them. The severity of the violation as well as the state in which you reside will determine whether or not you are required to serve an eviction notice.

    In the event that you and the renter cannot come to an agreement over the outcome, the dispute is normally brought to the Tribunal.

    What is unlawful tenant behaviour?

    On the other hand, any use of the property that is in violation of Australian law is considered to be illegal tenant behaviour. The following are unfortunate but typical cases of tenants engaging in illegal activity:

    • Making illegal drug sales or growing illegal substances on the rented property is a violation of the rental agreement.
    • Abuse, retaliation, or domestic abuse
    • Keeping stolen property on rented premises, which is a violation of the contract.

    A landlord is completely within their rights to evict a tenant for engaging in illegal behaviour, and in the majority of states, tenants can be evicted without prior notice in these kinds of situations.

    However, whenever there is criminal conduct taking place, the authorities need to be notified so that they can manage the situation.

    From the perspective of the landlord, the most significant distinction between a break in the rental agreement and unlawful behaviour is that after the illegal activity has been established, the police must be called and will typically manage the matter. This is the primary difference. On the other hand, if the tenant breaks the terms of the lease, the matter is between the two of you, and if it goes to court, it will be decided by the Tribunal.

    How to prove criminal activity

    You are unable to contact the authorities on the basis of a hunch alone since they will not take your call.

    Imagine that you have a sneaky suspicion that your renter is participating in some kind of criminal activity on your rental property, such as the production or sale of illegal substances. In this scenario, you would want to investigate the situation as soon as possible. If this is the case, you will need to do a few activities in order to validate your hunch, or you will need to continue seeking for proof until you have a significant amount of it.

    While you are going about your business, it is imperative that you conduct yourself in a manner that does not intrude upon the personal space of your tenant. Get started by reading through our breakdown of the rights and responsibilities of tenants in each state, and then go on to the next step.

    The easiest approach to stay on top of any dubious behaviour on the part of your tenants is to maintain a regular inspection schedule for your rental property and to inspect it on a consistent basis. In the vast majority of situations, this will be the simplest and most opportune opportunity for you to have a look at everything in the surrounding area.

    indications of illicit behaviour by tenants at a rental property

    During the next inspection that you conduct, here are a few signs that you should be on the lookout for to guarantee that illegal tenant activity is going place:

    1. Check to see that the individuals who are renting from you do, in fact, live in the property and that it is not being used as a storage facility or rented out to a third party.
    2. It is also feasible to make changes to the plumbing, electrical boards and wiring, locks, and other security-related features of the property, as well as to instal or modify more substantial fixtures there.
    3. Water damage affected carpets, wallboards, and floorboards.
    4. In contrast to domestic settings, science labs frequently use equipment such beakers, tubes, gas cylinders, lithium batteries, and chemical containers.
    5. A lot of different substances, like paint thinner and baking soda among others.
    6. Odours with an unusual chemical composition.
    7. There are signs that trash or vegetation are being burned on the property.
    8. Substantial increases in utility costs.
    9. The smoke connector will either be deleted or disconnected.

    If going through inspections makes you anxious, you might want to think about taking a friend or family member with you to the process. If the tenant has ever threatened you in the past, you should not enter the property, conduct any inspections, report the tenant to the police, and you should not conduct any inspections.

    In spite of this, the reality is that there are times when you simply cannot spare the time to wait around for the subsequent assessment.

    You could also enquire with the neighbours about whether or not they've noticed anything fishy going on in the neighbourhood. If you ask them how well they are getting along with the new renters, they will typically reveal anything that has come up with the new people living there if you question them about it.

    You have clear warning indicators that you need to take seriously if the person complains about the tenant's behaviour in any way, comments on visits occuring at unusual times, or mentions chemical odours.

    Bear in mind that you should make an effort to document your observations in the most comprehensive manner possible. Take detailed notes, and make it a point to hold on to all of your invoices and receipts for as long as possible. It is imperative that you meticulously record all of your findings.

    What should you do if your tenant is breaking the law on your property?

    It is time to move forwards with the eviction process if you have either established that your suspicions were correct or gathered sufficient information to have a reasonable basis for suspecting that unlawful activity is taking place on the rental property that you own.

    The following are the steps that need to be taken in order for you to remove the illegal tenant and bring your property back up to the necessary requirements for renting it out:

    1. Make a report to the police about the tenant. Again, you must have valid proof to support your suspicions in order for them to be considered valid. If you don't change your behaviour, you risk being punished. At this stage, you should refrain from contacting the tenant in any way. You are free to call the authorities in complete anonymity if you are concerned that this could put your safety at risk.
    2. Inform your insurance company. Informing them of the problem in advance will allow them to tell you how well you're covered and what steps are still in store for you in the procedure.
    3. You should hold off until the authorities have made contact with you and told you whether or not your concerns were correct. The process of eviction will be carried out by them. Check that you have a documented confirmation that the tenant was kicked out of the apartment.
    4. Make sure that your property is up to the appropriate standards for renting by using our checklist for new tenants. The majority of damages, as well as items like forensic cleaning, should be covered by the landlord insurance you have.

    If the renter has broken a single provision of the lease agreement, you have a good reason to ask them to leave your property. If you go to the article on our blog about evicting a tenant, you will get a detailed walkthrough of the procedure along with all of the relevant resources, such as the required notice periods and eviction paperwork, among other things.

    What if the rental agreement doesn't address the unlawful behaviour of the tenant?

    It should be quite easy to evict a tenant for engaging in illegal behaviour if the activity in question involves a criminal crime, even if it is not specifically addressed in the rental agreement. The authorities will evict the inhabitants from the property if you contact them again.

    Your options are very much limited if you didn't make it clear in the contract that this was not permitted if it isn't illegal, like the tenant subletting the house on Airbnb. You have the power to take action if it's an illegal behaviour.

    Due to this, it is crucial that you have a rental agreement that is formal and professional and that you follow the correct procedures to sign it.

    Another issue to consider is if tenant illegal behaviour is covered by your landlord insurance. In the case that it doesn't, you might have to pay a sizable amount of money out of pocket. Check to see if your insurance policy covers everything you require it to, and if not, look into alternative providers or more extensive coverage.

    Defending your home before renting it

    You always have the option to take preventative actions and safeguards to protect both yourself and the rental property you own in the event that illegal conduct occurs.

    Finding the ideal renter is the most important aspect of this process; hence, throughout the time that you are searching for a new tenant, you have numerous opportunity to forestall any undesirable behaviour on your rental property in the years to come.

    Make use of our guide on tenant selection to lessen the likelihood of having a tenant who causes problems and to stop undesirable behaviour.

    Although you should always approach your rental property like a business, the key to retaining long-term tenants and maximising your income is to cultivate relationships based on trust.

    You have an investing strategy that you need to stick to, and one of your assets is property, which generates income for you. Having said that, it is imperative that you never lose sight of the reality that the renters who call your rental property their home are also an essential asset.

    A satisfied tenant is a long-lasting tenant; one who is more likely to renew their lease. This is beneficial for you since you won't have to hustle to fill your property with new renters, which is a win for both of you.

    Tenants who are satisfied translate to a consistent flow of rental money over a lengthy period of time and help to prevent vacancies. The question now is, how can you ensure that your tenants are happy?

    The following are the five most important areas you should concentrate on to ensure that your tenants are content and want to remain in the long run:

    1. Stay on top of maintenance and be proactive

    Nobody enjoys having a dripping ceiling or a dangling sink faucet in their home. Tenants who are paying their rent with the expectation that these items will be taken care of as soon as possible are the least likely to be satisfied. Therefore, the answer to the question "How to keep tenants happy?" is unquestionably to maintain a high level of repair efficiency.

    It is a certain method to show your tenants that you care, and it can actually make or break a relationship between a tenant and a landlord. Tenant maintenance issues should be responded to as quickly as possible.

    However, giving fast attention to requests for maintenance is only one part of the struggle. Being proactive on your part would be beneficial. This necessitates carrying out routine inspections to guarantee that everything is in pristine condition.

    The purpose of proactive maintenance is to identify potential problems before they become serious difficulties. When the time comes for you to hand back the rental property, you will have saved both time and money as a result.

    You should make sure that your property management does routine inspections and that they offer advice on how you may prevent problems with maintenance by taking preventative measures.

    2. Be responsive when your tenant reaches out

    Being respectful towards renters and open to their feedback is essential to maintaining a positive relationship with them.

    If your tenants ever have a question or concern, make sure they know how to get in touch with you or your property manager. And when they do send you a query or a request, make it your business to react in a timely and polite manner. This should be a priority for you.

    This does not imply that you have to stop everything you are working on in order to get an electrician to fix a broken light. In the event that it is not an emergency, a quick acknowledgement via phone call, text message, or email stating that you will begin working on the problem should be sufficient. They desire confirmation that their voices are being heard and that action is being taken in response to their concerns.

    3. Equip your rental property with the features tenants want

    It is not sufficient to just offer up your property and presume that people looking for rental space will flock to it like bees to honey.

    You need to create a sense of warmth and cosiness in your rental property if you want to attract and keep quality tenants.

    According to the most recent body of research, tenants give preference to properties that have:

    • Hardwood flooring
    • Central air conditioning
    • Stainless steel appliances
    • Bathroom upgrades
    • Kitchen backsplash
    • Updated cabinet hardware

    There is no denying that these enhancements will incur some costs up front; nevertheless, they may be justified by an increase in rental yield. In addition, when you consider the amount of money that can be lost due to vacancies, you will see that they are a very beneficial investment.

    Believe us when we say that reducing the number of vacant rental units will make the changes and repairs to the rental property pay for itself. This is how you will attract renters more quickly and ensure that they remain in your property.

    4. Always be one step ahead with lease renewals

    The one who moves first gets the apartment! If you want to keep your renters for the long term, one of the most important steps is to stay ahead of the curve on lease renewals and to consider offering some sort of incentive.

    If you give your tenants plenty of time to consider whether or not they want to leave the rental, you will demonstrate to them that you are concerned about their well-being and, as a bonus, you will be able to determine whether or not you need to find a new tenant to fill the vacancy.

    The problem is that rent hikes are frequently associated with lease renewals. Something that, without fail, causes the hair on the back of a tenant's neck to stand up on end.

    Because of this, it is vital to collaborate with a seasoned real estate professional in order to determine the proper rent increase (if any).

    You may, alternatively, think about approaching the tenant with the proposition of signing a longer-term lease at a reduced fee.

    Increase the length of the lease to a year if they renew it every six months. If they do this every year, you should think about extending the lease for an additional year at a discounted rate.

    Increasing the rent may result in a loss of profit for you, but if the tenant has been trustworthy and has stayed for a long time, it may be worthwhile.

    In the event that the lease renewal does not go through, you will be aware that a vacancy will soon occur, and you will have the opportunity to find a new renter with adequate time to do so.

    5. Respect their privacy

    Your tenant probably does not want to hear from you unless they have a problem that needs to be addressed. Therefore, it would be beneficial if you respected that to the best of your ability.

    There is no denying the fact that there will be occasions in the future in which you will require access to the property for one reason or another. You should be aware that there are regulations in place that dictate how much notice you are required to give and how frequently you are permitted to enter the premises.

    Maintaining positive relationships with your renters can have a long-term positive effect on the financial performance of both you and the investment property you manage. The difference between a short-term and a long-term lease could be determined by investments of a smaller scale, such as proactive maintenance and rental renovations.

    When assessing the potential consequences of having your home lie vacant for an undetermined amount of time, these are some of the most important factors to take into consideration.

    What to Do if You Suspect Your Tenant is Doing Something Illegal

    house-protection-bank

    People who own investment properties and come to us with the suspicion that their units are being used for unlawful activities by tenants have typically made a few observations before contacting us with their concerns. Possibly a strange chemical odour or a sudden increase in the cost of the utility bills. They could even be wondering if the occupants of the property actually live there!

    In either case, you will find that you are in a difficult situation in which it will be difficult to determine whether or not there is criminal conduct in the new rental or whether or not you need to evict your tenant.

    Illegal action on the part of tenants is problematic. It typically costs landlords tens of thousands of dollars in damage repairs, on top of the hours of paperwork that are required.

    You are in luck because there are strategies you can implement to defend yourself against illegal tenant activity and the potential damage it may create.

    This article will walk you through the procedures you can take to determine whether or not your tenants are making unauthorised use of your property, as well as what you should do if you discover that they are. Before you rent out your house, we have also included an overview of the most effective preventative measures you may take to avert illegal activities involving tenants.

    Difference between illegal tenant activity and breach in the rental agreement

    Let's begin by going over basic terminology from a textbook. Because so many landlords have the two concepts confused, it is imperative that you are aware of the distinctions between unlawful tenant activities and violations of rental agreements.

    It is possible that this information will come as a surprise to you, but decreases in your annual income are not usually the result of unlawful behaviour on the part of tenants. The majority of insurance claims that landlords submit are really related to tenants who fail to pay their rent, which is not considered illegal behaviour on the part of tenants but rather a breach of the rental agreement.

    So, what exactly is the difference?

    What is a breach of the rental agreement?

    When a tenant violates the terms of the rental agreement, this indicates that the tenant has not adhered to the clauses that the landlord and tenant have mutually agreed to uphold as part of the lease contract. Examples of this can be found frequently in:

    • Rent arrears
    • Making alterations to the floor plan of the rental property, such as tearing down a wall to provide more space

    In the event that the tenant violates the terms of the lease, you, as the landlord, have the right to either provide the renter with the opportunity to make amends for their actions or to evict them. The severity of the violation as well as the state in which you reside will determine whether or not you are required to serve an eviction notice.

    In the event that you and the renter cannot come to an agreement over the outcome, the dispute is normally brought to the Tribunal.

    What is considered illegal tenant activity?

    On the other hand, any use of the property that is in violation of Australian law is considered to be illegal tenant behaviour. The following are unfortunate but typical cases of tenants engaging in illegal activity:

    • Dealing or growing illegal drugs on the rental property
    • Abuse, harassment or domestic violence
    • Storing stolen goods on the rental property

    A landlord is completely within their rights to evict a tenant for engaging in illegal behaviour, and in the majority of states, tenants can be evicted without prior notice in these kinds of situations.

    However, whenever there is criminal conduct taking place, the authorities need to be notified so that they can manage the situation.

    From the perspective of the landlord, the most significant distinction between a break in the rental agreement and unlawful behaviour is that after the illegal action has been established, the police must be called and will typically manage the matter. This is the primary difference. On the other hand, if the tenant breaks the terms of the lease, the matter is between the two of you, and if it goes to court, it will be decided by the Tribunal.

    How to confirm illegal activity

    You can't call the authorities based just on a hunch; they won't take your call.

    Imagine that you have a sneaking suspicion that your tenant is engaged in some sort of criminal activity on your rental property, such as the cultivation or sale of illegal substances. If this is the case, you will need to take a few actions to validate your suspicion or continue looking for evidence until you have a sufficient amount.

    Be sure to act in a way that does not invade the privacy of your tenant while you are going about your business. Begin by familiarizing yourself with our state-by-state rundown of the rights and obligations of tenants.

    Keeping up with regular inspections of your rental property is the best way to stay on top of any questionable behaviour on the part of your tenants. In most cases, this will be the easiest and most advantageous opportunity for you to take a thorough look around.

    Signs of illegal tenant activity in a rental property

    Here are a few things to keep an eye out for during your next inspection to ensure that illegal tenant activity is taking place:

    1. Ensure that your tenants actually live in the property and that it is not being rented out to another party or being utilised as a storage facility.
    2. Modifications or installations of more significant fixtures within the property, such as adjustments to the plumbing, electrical boards and wiring, locks, and other aspects of the property's security, are also possible.
    3. Walls, floorboards, and carpets all suffered damage as a result of water.
    4. Beakers, tubes, gas cylinders, lithium batteries, and chemical containers are examples of the kinds of things that are common in a science lab but not in a residential setting.
    5. Large quantities of various chemicals, including baking soda and paint thinner, among others.
    6. Odours of a strange chemical nature.
    7. On the premises, there are indications that garbage or vegetation is being burned.
    8. Major alterations to the cost of the utilities.
    9. It has been decided to either disconnect or delete the smoke connector.

    If going through inspections makes you nervous, you might want to think about considering bringing someone with you. Do not conduct any inspections, report the tenant to the authorities, and do not enter the property if the tenant has ever threatened you in the past.

    However, the fact of the matter is that you cannot always wait around for the subsequent examination.

    You can try asking the people who live nearby whether they've seen anything suspicious going on. If you ask them if they are getting along with the new renters, they will usually disclose anything that has come up with the new people living there.

    If they complain about the tenant's behaviour in any way, comment on visits occurring at odd times, or mention chemical odours, then you have clear warning signs that you should consider seriously.

    Keep in mind that you should record your observations as thoroughly as you possibly can. Take copious notes, and be sure to hang on to all of your receipts and bills. Make sure to keep track of all of your discoveries.

    Your tenant is conducting illegal activity on your property - what now?

    It is time to move forwards with the eviction process if you have either established that your suspicions were correct or gathered sufficient information to have a reasonable basis for suspecting that unlawful activity is taking place on the rental property that you own.

    The following are the steps that need to be taken in order for you to remove the illegal tenant and bring your property back up to the necessary requirements for renting it out:

    1. Make a report to the police about the tenant. Again, you must have valid proof to support your suspicions in order for them to be considered valid. If you don't change your behaviour, you risk being punished. At this stage, you should refrain from contacting the tenant in any way. You are free to call the authorities in complete anonymity if you are concerned that this could put your safety at risk.
    2. Inform your insurance company. Informing them of the problem in advance will allow them to tell you how well you're covered and what steps are still in store for you in the procedure.
    3. You should hold off until the authorities have made contact with you and told you whether or not your concerns were correct. The process of eviction will be carried out by them. Check that you have a documented confirmation that the tenant was kicked out of the apartment.
    4. Make sure that your property is up to the appropriate standards for renting by using our checklist for new tenants. The majority of damages, as well as items like forensic cleaning, should be covered by the landlord insurance you have.

    If the renter has broken a single provision of the lease agreement, you have a good reason to ask them to leave your property. If you go to the article on our blog about evicting a tenant, you will get a detailed walkthrough of the procedure along with all of the relevant resources, such as the required notice periods and eviction paperwork, among other things.

    What if the illegal tenant activity isn't covered in the rental agreement?

    Even if the illegal behaviour in question is not specifically addressed in the rental agreement, it should be relatively simple to evict a tenant for engaging in illegal activity if the activity in question constitutes a criminal offence. You can still get in touch with the authorities, and they will remove the occupants from the property.

    If it isn't an unlawful activity, like the tenant subletting the property on Airbnb, then your hands are basically tied if you didn't indicate that this was not allowed in the contract. If it is an illegal activity, then you have the ability to do something about it.

    Because of this, it is of the utmost importance to have a rental agreement that is both formal and professional, and that you go through the necessary steps to sign off on it.

    Another thing to keep in mind is whether or not your landlord insurance covers criminal action on the part of tenants. In the event that it does not, then you could be looking at some significant out-of-pocket costs. Verify that your insurance policy covers everything you need it to, and if it doesn't, look into other providers or more comprehensive coverage.

    Protecting your property before leasing it

    You always have the option to take preventative actions and safeguards to protect both yourself and the rental property you own in the event that illegal conduct occurs.

    Finding the ideal renter is the most important aspect of this process; hence, throughout the time that you are searching for a new tenant, you have numerous opportunities to forestall any undesirable behaviour on your rental property in the years to come.

    Make use of our guide on tenant selection to lessen the likelihood of having a tenant who causes problems and to stop undesirable behaviour.

    How to be a Good Tenant
    1. Read your Lease and ask Questions. ...
    2. Pay your Rent on Time. ...
    3. Do not break Lease Terms. ...
    4. Keep your Place Clean. ...
    5. Be Prompt when Reporting Repairs and Maintenance. ...
    6. Respect Noise Requirements. ...
    7. Get Renters Insurance.
    8 Things That Make a Good Tenant
    1. Good Credit. First and foremost, you want to choose a tenant with good credit. ...
    2. Income. In order to pay rent on time, a good tenant must have a steady income. ...
    3. Criminal Background . . . the lack of . . . ...
    4. Stability. ...
    5. Good Rental History. ...
    6. Respect. ...
    7. Honesty. ...
    8. Cleanliness.
    Nine Qualities that Make a Good and Dependable Tenant
    • Provides a Good Detailed Application. ...
    • Has a Good Record. ...
    • Easy to Communicate with and are Respectful. ...
    • Pay Rent Timely. ...
    • Accommodating. ...
    • Cares for the Property. ...
    • Maintenance Issues are Communicated. ...
    • Adheres to legislation and terms of the Tenancy Agreement.
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