Preferred tenants

Road_Hog

ragecake wrote: »

Makes me sad that people with pets and on benefits are still really discriminated against.

I never do, I just make sure that the lettings agent gets a decent deposit and does an attitude test on them. But then I never have had a day's void in nearly 14 years of being a landlord.

ragecake

gazter wrote: »

This isnt the case, its about risk and reward. Pets smell, some pets smell a lot, some a little. With someone on benefits, if you ever have to sue to get rent back you are unlikely to come away with anything.
It's a business decision.

I dont know about you, but even if im renting somewhere, I don't want my house smelling any more than a landlord would.

As for benefits, again, not everyone like that is on benefits, though really, you can't prove they will or won't.

@Road_hog You're not renting in Stafford are you?

gazter

ragecake wrote: »

I dont know about you, but even if im renting somewhere, I don't want my house smelling any more than a landlord would.

As for benefits, again, not everyone like that is on benefits, though really, you can't prove they will or won't.

@Road_hog You're not renting in Stafford are you?

Im sorry, but animals smell. You are used to it, it doesnt mean other people are.

Some people are really good at keeping on top of it, many arent. The dander from pets can hang around a house for a while, especially a furnished one. It's like smoking. It can take some effort to get rid of the smell.

I wouldnt buy a car from someone who smoked or had the dog frequently in it.

ruggedtoast

I hate the smell of dogs.

Dog owners are totally oblivious to how much their houses whiff as well.

G_M

I viewed a house for sale the other day. Dogs!

It was a lovely house, ideal location, decent price... but smelled of dogs.

My rational self knows I can change the carpets/curtains, give it a good clean and make a home.

But I won't be going back for a 2nd viewing.....

Trazy

I am on disability benefits and have been renting privately for almost 10 years, in this time I have never been a day late with my rent.

I do not smoke or have animals and always leave property in a clean condition,

Road_Hog

ragecake wrote: »

@Road_hog You're not renting in Stafford are you?

Sorry, I'm London and soon to be Coventry.

I really don't know what the concern is from other posters or people renting out properties, that say no smokers and no pets. People will probably just lie and say they don't smoke, and probably just smoke outside. about 50% of the nation have pets, why on earth would you want to turn away half your potential customers?

Why do landlords view the rental property as their home and apply the same standards? It is a business, not the place you are going to live in. You factor in the costs, which are more than outweighed by not having any void periods. I'm going to buy a couple of two bedroom houses/flats in Cov later this year and I'm going to target pet owners and I bet I'll get tenants pretty quickly.

I'll also be okay with them smoking or on benefits, I'll just make it clear to the lettings agent that it's his job to ensure that the rent is in on time. As long as I'm being paid the full rent on time, I quite frankly don't care, it's their home whilst they're paying the rent, the deposit is there to sort any mess that they don't take care of when they leave.

BTW, I've been on the other side of the coin, I've had to rent (through my company, relocation twice) and I have/had pets, it's a complete nightmare, especially as I had three cats and two dogs. As an aside, dogs shouldn't smell doggy, the reason that they smell doggy, doggy breath and greasy coat, is because they're being fed on well known brands of tinned food sold in supermarkets. This is completely the wrong food for them and contains virtually no meat. If you feed your dog decent food, it won't smell, no doggy breath and the coat should leave no grease on your hand when you pet it.

Jamesdaniel

Daxx wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering if any landlords out there could advise as to what kind of people you would prefer as tenants.

We are viewing a property to rent on Saturday and are the first of 6 viewings that day. From the details the house looks perfect and so unless there is something drastically wrong I can imagine we would want to apply. The thing is that because it is a lovely house and has so many viewings I can guess that we wont be the only one's applying and in this instance we have been advised that the landlord would then pick depending on credit checks and circumstances.

Just wondering what circumstances most landlords would prefer.

Might this advice work.

Long term would be the better one.
I would not rent out to anyone for less than a year, whatever the situation would be.
Most for the landlords not let to tenants on benefits, such as Insurance traps, Payments in arrears, Buy-to-let mortgages.

jamie11

Jamesdaniel wrote: »

Might this advice work.

Long term would be the better one.
I would not rent out to anyone for less than a year, whatever the situation would be.
Most for the landlords not let to tenants on benefits, such as Insurance traps, Payments in arrears, Buy-to-let mortgages.

Long term? Practically every applicant for a tenancy that I meet tells me they are going to be long term, I still give them the basic 6 month agreement. That can run as a periodic tenancy for as long as they like, as long as the rent is paid I am unlikely to want them to leave.

After the 6 month fixed period they are free to give me notice, I am free to give them notice. They may want to move areas for a new job or need a bigger place for a new child. Why should they be tied to a long contract. A good tenant merely needs to keep up to date with the rent, a good landlord will cherish them.

caringa

Road_Hog wrote: »

Sorry, I'm London and soon to be Coventry.

I really don't know what the concern is from other posters or people renting out properties, that say no smokers and no pets. People will probably just lie and say they don't smoke, and probably just smoke outside. about 50% of the nation have pets, why on earth would you want to turn away half your potential customers?

Why do landlords view the rental property as their home and apply the same standards? It is a business, not the place you are going to live in. You factor in the costs, which are more than outweighed by not having any void periods. I'm going to buy a couple of two bedroom houses/flats in Cov later this year and I'm going to target pet owners and I bet I'll get tenants pretty quickly.

I'll also be okay with them smoking or on benefits, I'll just make it clear to the lettings agent that it's his job to ensure that the rent is in on time. As long as I'm being paid the full rent on time, I quite frankly don't care, it's their home whilst they're paying the rent, the deposit is there to sort any mess that they don't take care of when they leave.

BTW, I've been on the other side of the coin, I've had to rent (through my company, relocation twice) and I have/had pets, it's a complete nightmare, especially as I had three cats and two dogs. As an aside, dogs shouldn't smell doggy, the reason that they smell doggy, doggy breath and greasy coat, is because they're being fed on well known brands of tinned food sold in supermarkets. This is completely the wrong food for them and contains virtually no meat. If you feed your dog decent food, it won't smell, no doggy breath and the coat should leave no grease on your hand when you pet it.

As landlords ourselves, we have always been open to accepting people on benefits but I am afraid to say that our last two experiences have put us off for life. The first one kept two huge dogs against the terms of the agreement and did a runner whilst we were trying to get her out. She had been sleeping on the floor in the lounge and letting the dogs use the bedroom as their own private toilet - piles of s..t (some mouldy) everywhere!! We had to gut the property and start again. Now, two years on, we have had another tenant from hell who turned out to be a alcoholic and who has fallen asleep whilst smoking in bed (another prohibited term of the agreement). The result was that the flat was totally destroyed by fire/smoke damage and once again we have had to pick up the pieces.

He, in contrast, just contacted the council and was rehomed. OK our insurance has covered most of the damage but it is still a great inconvenience and also makes you doubt everyone that might come to view in the future. All we want is someone to treat our flat with respect and live in it as their home. BTW, the deposit doesnt always cover any damage - such as replacing the whole kitchen.