Charter for Good Landlords

by Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

13:21 PM, 30th October 2012, About 12 years ago 1

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Having spent a lot of time lounging around the swimming pool and on the beach over the last few weeks (wedding and honeymoon in Florida) I couldn’t help thinking about creating a “Charter for Good Landlords”. Perhaps that’s a bit sad but hey, it’s the way my mind works and I can assure you it wasn’t the number one thing on my mind if you get my drift (wink wink).

Anyhow, there are lots of rules and regulations which good landlords take for granted and just comply with. I think it would be a good idea to document those which are most important to tenants in he proposed Charter for Good Landlords. Just because we comply as good landlords does not mean that all landlords comply. Therefore, in my opinion, presenting new tenants with a document of what we provide as good landlords could well prove very useful. What do you think?

It doesn’t just need to include our statutory obligations such as instructing a GasSafe contractor to perform an annual gas safety check and issuing a Landlords Gas Safety Certificate though. The good landlords charter could also include things which we are not required to provide by law and list them as features and benefits. I’ve listed a few examples of what some landlords might wish to include in their charter below:-

I believe in maintaining my properties so that they are safe and secure and with this in mind I always make arrangements for emergency contact and for any maintenance issues to be addressed as quickly as possible. In the event of an emergency such as a heating failure or a burst pipe you have my permission to call out an emergency contractor if for any reason I am unavailable.
As a responsible landlord I seek to ensure that all of my tenants are able and willing to pay their rent on time. The benefit of this to my tenants is that I am far less likely to be forced into a position whereby I need to serve notice on my tenants in order to sell my properties.
I am open minded to accepting tenants in receipt of benefits subject to a Rent Guarantee Insurance Company or guarantees from a home owner.
I am open minded to accepting tenants with pets subject to a guarantee from a home owner.

Obviously every landlord will have a different charter but my vision is to create a template document which landlords can simply amend by deleting anything they don’t like and which they can also add to. Such a document would have no legal status but it will provide additional comfort.

Where I need your help is suggestions for what ought to be included, both in terms of statutory obligations and other features and benefits. I’d be really grateful if you would leave your suggestions in the comments section below. By all means write an entire charter if you wish or if you prefer just add a single line.

I’d like to use this thread as a working document for any landlords to use My ultimate vision is to create a template charter for good landlords and make this available for use to all members of The GOOD Landlords Campaign.

Thanks in advance for your help.

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Tags: gas safety, Gas Safety Certificate, Good Landlords, Landlord Regulation, Landlords Gas Safety Certificate, Rent Guarantee Insurance, RGI

Comments

7:18 AM, 31st October 2012, About 12 years ago

Let them ruddy decorate, I know that’s hard for a lot of Landlords when
they do their houses up, I’m quite fortunate, I don’t have to decorate. But if
they just want to paint the walls their colours, LET ‘EM.

I get that many tenants come to me & stay with me ‘cause I let ‘em do
what they want. Ok, don’t go as far as me, but if you have deal with them, that
they don’t turn the walls back to Magnolia, you will deduct money from
them.

If it’s only paint, it’s not mega money & could save u tons of money in
long run ‘cause they're happy that they can do their own stuff.

How many of u have had phone calls off tenants saying he won’t let me decorate
& it’s one reason too many why they go. If they stay, u may never have to
decorate for the next 20 years.

And yes Mark, quick repairs are probably the biggest thing why tenants stay
& go. I’ve had loads of tenants LEAVE the Council (which I do advise
against), to come to me because I have a good name of getting the repairs done
quick. And same as u advised, if they can’t get hold of me, get someone else in
to do it at sensible prices. But I let my tenants ring or text my plumber
direct, saves me time, & of course I’m still in the loop in normal working
hours to check tenant isn’t taking the mick, nor the builder.

And the above methods work for me, I have a waiting list of about 200 people for my houses & tenants been with me 15 years, 14 years, 12 years etc. People get desperate to get in one of my houses & stay there.

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