While you are saving up to buy your first place, you’ll probably have to rent an apartment or home. And that means that you’ll have to deal with a landlord. I’m sure that you will have heard lots of nightmare stories about landlords from hell, but you will be happy to hear that these are very rare occurrences. In actual fact, most landlords are very pleasant and easy to get along with. That is, as long as you ensure that you look after their property and follow all of the points in the tenant contract.
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It’s a good idea to consider the relationship between you and your landlord as a professional one. That way, neither of you will ever be tempted to overstep any boundaries. Not only that, though, but you will find that treating their property with respect and communicating with your landlord in a professional manner will make it a lot more likely for you to get your deposit back at the end of your tenancy.
Read on for some more ideas of how you can keep your landlord happy.
Pay Your Rent On Time
This point is pretty obvious, but it still bears repeating. You need to always try and pay your rent on time. If you regularly pay it late, you can be sure that the relationship between you and your landlord will quickly sour. After all, your landlord might need that money to pay their own bills and live their own life. Any late payments could cause some financial problems for them. Plus, when you signed the contract, you were also agreeing to pay the rent on time. Not doing so will be an infringement of your tenancy and could see you being served an eviction notice. If you do think that you are going to have to wait a week or two to pay one instalment of rent, you should let your landlord know. They might be happy to allow you to pay late as long as it is a one-off.
Keep Things Clean
Another fairly obvious point but it also needs repeating. You must keep the property as clean as possible at all times. Even though your landlord won’t live in the property, they will still want it to be kept clean. That’s because any long-term dirt and grime could potentially be difficult to remove and could cause staining to the property. As well as that, the dirt could attract pests and vermin which could be difficult to deal with. Be sure to give the apartment a good clean before you move out and before your landlord inspects it. If you leave it dirty, there is a good chance you will lose some of your deposit.
Don’t Mark The Walls
Your landlord might not want you to stick any posters or prints onto the walls of the property. They also might not be happy with you adding any nails or screws into the walls to hang things up with as well. This is because certain adhesives, such as bluetack and glue, will leave marks on the walls and they might even pull away some of the paint and plaster when you try to remove them. Nails and screws will leave holes in the walls that will be difficult to fill at a later date. If you do want to add anything to the walls, you should as your landlord if there are any glue dots and dispensers that they approve of. You can now buy some that won’t mark the wall and are easy to remove, but it is still important to double check with your landlord that he or she is happy about you using them in the first place.
Notify Your Landlord About Breakages And Damage
Accidents happen, and every landlord knows that there is a good chance that some things will be broken or damaged during your time in the apartment. So, you shouldn’t worry too much if something does happen to the property or an item of furniture or an appliance in the apartment. Just be sure to tell your landlord as soon as possible. That way, they can come into the apartment and see to any fixes and maintenance that need carrying out. Whatever you do, do not wait too long or just neglect to inform the landlord. If the landlord finds these breakages or damage in the apartment after you have moved out, they might take something off your deposit when returning it to you.
Stick To The Contract
There will be certain points and clauses in the contract for a reason, so it is really critical that you stick to exactly what the contract says. So, for example, don’t smoke inside if it specifically states in the contract that the property is no smoking. Another such clause that you will need to follow is if no pets are allowed. Don’t think that you can sneak in a small pet such as a guinea pig or a goldfish. Your landlord will find out and there could be some serious repercussions.
Be Friendly With The Neighbours
It’s also a good idea to try and stay on good terms with your neighbours. Not only will this make your life a lot easier and pleasant, but it also minimizes the chances of getting into disputes with them. Your landlord won’t be too pleased if you start arguments with the neighbours as they might need to be involved to resolve the situation. If you need your landlord to give you a reference for your next flat, they will be within their rights to mention any such disputes, and that won’t reflect well on you at all.
Pay All Bills Before Moving Out
Before you move out, you should also make sure that you pay all of your utility bills. Be sure to close your accounts as well. That way, your landlord won’t be left with any bills for electricity or internet that he didn’t use. If this happens, he might deduct the amount from your returned deposit.
Keep your landlord as happy as possible!