What’s the best tenant? The one who pays their rent on time every month, doesn’t damage the property, and keeps it clean? That sounds pretty good! While that might be a good start, there’s more to being an ideal tenant than just paying your rent and keeping the place tidy. To be the perfect renter, there are three things you need to do when renting out your property. Keep it clean, keep it safe, and keep it yours. Let’s look at how to do all three of these things.

Pay your rent on time

One of the most important things to do as an ideal tenant is to pay your rent on time. Your landlord may charge a late fee or even evict you if you are late. Additionally, not paying your rent on time can affect your credit score. Which can make it harder for you to buy a house or get a car loan in the future.
Try not to be late on your rent. Give yourself enough time so that you can pay it even if something unexpected comes up.
If you’re late with your rent, call your landlord as soon as possible and let him or her know that you are having a hard time paying it. Explain why you were late and what you’re going to do about it.

Stay away from smoking and pets

It’s not just about paying rent on time, it’s about being a good neighbor. The following tips can help you become an ideal tenant and avoid getting in trouble with your landlord.

• Don’t smoke inside or around the property.
• Don’t have pets without permission from the landlord.
• Have someone else pick up your mail for you if you’re going to be out of town for an extended period.
• Pay your rent on time and in full.
• Repair anything that needs repairing.
• Don’t cut down trees or otherwise make structural changes without permission.
• Be a good neighbor and communicate well with your landlord, whether it’s your landlord directly or through another party (such as a property management company).
• Make sure that any lease has been properly signed and agreed upon by both parties before you move in.
• Let your landlord or property management know immediately if you are having any problems.
• Follow up with your landlord about repairs or maintenance promptly.

Keep the apartment in good condition

To prevent pest infestations in your rental property. You should treat it with the same respect you would your own home. Normal wear and tear are expected, but be sure to keep your rental property clean and well-maintained.
Rental leases sometimes ask that tenants keep up on certain household tasks if the landlord is unavailable to do so, like lawn care or changing the smoke detector batteries. The tenant with an impeccable lease would oblige to these terms and stay on top of their responsibilities.
Similarly, it’s a tenant’s job to report any maintenance issues they come across while living in a rental property. If something goes awry with appliances or fixtures, let your landlord know right away.

Take care of repairs on your own

You should try to resolve minor issues yourself (if they are within lease terms) before calling your landlord. In addition to great communication, you should be proactive about small fixes. Like putting the closet door back on its tracks or tightening the doorknob. A landlord can thus avoid a large number of service calls and maintenance costs, and the problem can then be resolved at your convenience.
If you have small problems that you can’t solve on your own, bundle them together and ask if they can be resolved all at once instead of making individual calls. You must inform your landlord if you notice any leak or crack that looks concerning so that they can arrange to have these more problematic issues fixed before they worsen.
The best thing you can do as an ideal tenant is to take care of repairs yourself. A landlord can thus many of service calls and maintenance costs, and more importantly. Keep his properties in great shape for other potential renters. The better you take care of your apartment, the better your chances are at renewal time, even if it comes up sooner than you anticipated. You also have the incentive to maintain it well so that you’re not giving back a messy house or paying for costly repairs after moving out.

Be Honest

Starting from the very beginning, you will want to fill out a rental application with complete accuracy, not inflating your income or lying about any credit problems you might have: during the application check, any inconsistencies will be flagged.
During your tenancy, if you experience a problem that impacts your ability to pay rent, you should be honest with your landlord. If you suddenly stop making payments, your landlord may be forced to evict you. an alternative agreement may be possible, however, if you have been forthcoming about your financial situation.

Renew your lease

Also last but not least, if you are fortunate to enjoy a harmonious, successful relationship with your landlord, the best way to be an exemplary tenant is to renew when your lease period expires. This prevents unnecessary time and expense in selecting a new tenant and helps retain a quality resident in the landlord’s community.
Visit our listings page or call Best Value on 0296699481 to speak to one of our friendly property managers about renting your next property. Our rental Properties list is here.