How to be a dream tenant

At the same time as you are looking for a dream home to rent, your future landlord is on the hunt for a dream tenant. A dream tenant is one who pays their rent timeously every month and looks after the property as if it were their own. Good tenants will be respectful of their landlord, their rental agent and their neighbours. There are many incentives for being a great tenant. A good landlord-tenant relationship can save you money in the long run and ensures that you will get a good reference when it's time to look for your next rental property.

Being a good tenant starts before you sign the lease

The road to being a good tenant starts when you ask a rental agent to find you the right property. You can make their job easier by having a clear idea of what area you want to live in and what is on your list of requirements. For example, if you are able to tell the rental agent that you need a three-bedroom unit with a garden in a complex in Fourways, this gives him or her a clear set of parameters in which to work. No questions are stupid questions and it's important to make sure that you understand all the ins and outs of the property, as well as every clause in the lease that you are about to sign. You will need to provide the letting agent with some documentation, such as pay slips, bank statements and your ID before the lease can be signed. Ask your rental agent for a list of exactly what is required so that you can have everything ready.

Pay your rent - on time every time

This is the golden rule of being a good tenant. If your rental agent and landlord come to know you as a tenant who pays on time every time, then they are going to want to keep you as a client and tenant respectively. This means that when it's time to renew your lease, there is a good chance that they will incentivise you to stay on.

If your circumstances change, or you suddenly find yourself unable to pay the next month's rent, it is important to understand that this will have a knock-on effect on your landlord. Chances are that he or she relies on your rent to pay the bond on the property. The key here is to keep the channels of communication open, and to let your rental agent know as soon as you realise that paying your rent is going to be a problem. 

Ask permission before you make any changes

As a tenant, there will be certain things that you can't do, and the best thing to do if you're not sure about something is to ask. While putting some pot plants outside will not be an issue, repainting a room in the colour of your choice without getting the landlord's permission is likely to be a problem. Once again, communication is key, and if you're not sure about whether you're allowed to make a particular change, a quick call to your rental agent can quickly solve the problem.

Be reasonable

Being a great tenant also involves communicating promptly when any issues arise, and allowing a reasonable amount of time for these issues to be sorted out. On the one hand, a burst geyser is an emergency that a rental agent would need to attend to right away. On the other hand, a dripping tap should still be reported, but is something that a tenant could tolerate for a short time until it was convenient to have the repair done.

Obey the rules and be a good neighbour

The final point to mention about being a good tenant is to obey the rules, especially if the home you are renting is part of a sectional title scheme or homeowners' association. Make sure you know what the rules about noise, refuse disposal and the use of common areas are.

Being a renter rather than a homeowner has never been so popular. By ensuring that you are a pleasure for your landlord and rental agent to work with, you can save money and enjoy a harmonious way of life. For more information, or to find the perfect rental, contact the CSi Property Group today.