PlanetRent LANDLORDS: An app with audit trail to defeat most compensation claims
Mary-Anne Bowring 29/11/2019
2342
Understanding Tenant Expectations
Research by PlanetRent reveals that one of the biggest frustrations for landlords is dealing with tenant complaints, particularly regarding repairs. Many tenants have unrealistic expectations about how quickly issues should be resolved, leading to unnecessary conflicts.
The Importance of Addressing Repairs Promptly
Ignoring repairs can escalate costs, making it crucial for landlords to act quickly. However, the real challenge often lies in coordinating maintenance and managing tenant expectations rather than avoiding the repairs themselves.
Setting Clear Boundaries and Responsibilities
A successful rental relationship depends on mutual responsibility. Tenants should protect the landlord’s property, while landlords must ensure it remains in good working order. However, wear and tear are inevitable, and both parties need to be realistic about necessary fixes.
The Role of a Service Level Agreement
A well-drafted service level agreement (SLA) helps landlords set clear expectations with tenants before they move in. Unlike a hotel, rental properties do not offer 24/7 maintenance, and tenants should understand that repairs typically happen during normal business hours.
Managing Tenant Expectations Through Transparency
In today’s litigious society, tenants often demand compensation for minor inconveniences. A landlord’s SLA functions similarly to policies used by rail companies—ensuring reasonable service times without guaranteeing immediate responses.
How PlanetRent Simplifies Property Management
PlanetRent provides landlords with a structured approach to repairs by setting target response times for 45 common rental issues. This information is shared with tenants via email, their portal, and when they log a repair, promoting transparency and reducing misunderstandings.
Planetrent Properties
info@planetrent.co.uk
0208 0599 550 (for sales)
Under Offer: This term applies to a property where the landlord is considering an offer but remains on the market. It implies that further offers may still be considered until the landlord formally accepts or declines the current offer.
Let Agreed: This term indicates that a landlord has provisionally agreed to enter into a rental agreement with a prospective tenant, pending additional checks and referencing. It doesn't require the prospective tenant to have paid a holding deposit.
Let: This term signifies an established binding rental agreement between the landlord and tenant.
For both lettings and sales, the guidance addresses additional terms:
New On The Market: This term is used for a property not advertised since its last sale or rental. It should only be used for a brief period.
New Instruction: It applies to a property assigned to an agent for marketing recently, even if it was previously listed with another agent without being sold or rented.
New and Exclusive: This term refers to a property that is either new on the market or a new instruction, exclusively available through a specific agent or portal.
New Method of Sale/Let: This term is used when a property is being marketed for sale or rent using an alternative approach to the original advertisement, such as transitioning to an auction or sealed bid.
Reduced: This term indicates that a property's price has recently been reduced. The reduction should be genuine and comply with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute's guidelines on pricing practices.