It’s the time of year when Christmas trees are being squashed through front doors and the festive spirit is in full swing! This time of year can also be a key one for landlords, and here are our top tips for a very merry Christmas.
A Christmas Gift
Having a good relationship with your tenants is key to a long-term agreement and makes them more likely! If you have a good landlord-tenant relationship, giving your tenants a small gift this Christmas is a great way to spread festive cheer! If you’re not that close, even dropping them a Christmas card could just be the icing on the cake.
Are They Going Away?
Ask your tenants what their plans are over the Christmas period. If they are planning to stay away for a longer period of time, you could ask them to set the heating to come on at least once a day to keep the house warm and prevent any frozen pipes. Alternatively, you could ask to visit the property a few times while they are away, to check up on it and address any repairs that are outstanding.
Let Them Decorate
You may find a clause in your agreement that states how much decorating your tenants can do. While you don't want them painting the home, hanging a few decorations is likely to cause very little damage to your property and will make it feel more like a home. It may be a nice gesture to pop them a festive email, letting them know that you are happy for decorations to be hung but reminding them not to cause too much damage. This is also a nice way to wish them a Merry Christmas.
Plan of Action
The last thing you want over the festive period is a call saying the boiler has broken or there is a leak in the property. Prevention is always better than a cure, so it may be a good idea to check the property out before the festivities begin. You can check for tell-tale signs for things like cracked pipes, mould and damp.
During the check, it would be a good idea to make sure that the boilers are in good order too. It would also be a good idea to let your tenants know who to call an emergency. That way, you both have peace of mind over the festive period.
Security
Homes are particularly vulnerable at this time of year for burglaries and break-ins, especially if they are left empty. There are a number of ways to keep the property safe, even while the tenants are away. Install automatic, time-set bulbs in the property so it looks like the home is occupied. You could ask the neighbours to keep a watch for any suspicious activity, ensure all doors and windows are securely locked and install burglar alarms.
We wish all of our tenants and landlords a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!