Why Witfield Landlords Should Never Choose a Tenant in a Hurry

Your Witfield property is vacant. The rent isn't coming in. The bond still has to be paid.

Then someone applies who looks perfect on paper and says they can move in immediately.

It can be very tempting to say yes.

But this is exactly when a landlord needs to slow down.

A vacant property costs money, but choosing the wrong tenant can potentially cost far more than a few weeks of vacancy.

VACANCY IS EXPENSIVE.

But a bad rental decision can become expensive for much longer.

The Pressure to Fill a Vacant Property

Most landlords don't enjoy seeing their property empty.

Every month that a property remains vacant can mean lost rental income while expenses such as rates, levies, insurance, maintenance and bond repayments continue.

That creates pressure.

And pressure can cause landlords to make decisions they wouldn't normally make.

The applicant who is willing to pay immediately can suddenly look more attractive than the applicant who requires a little more time to verify.

But the speed of the application isn't the same thing as the quality of the tenant.

A Deposit Does Not Tell You Everything

One of the most dangerous assumptions a landlord can make is:

"They have the deposit, so they must be fine."

The deposit is only one part of the picture.

A responsible tenant selection process should look at the applicant's overall circumstances and the information available to the landlord.

That can include affordability, employment information, credit information, rental history and appropriate verification of the information supplied.

A+ Properties provides a Tenant Screening & Risk Assessment service for landlords who want assistance assessing prospective tenants.

Be Careful When an Applicant Is Creating Urgency

Urgency isn't automatically a warning sign.

People genuinely need accommodation quickly for many legitimate reasons.

But a landlord should never allow someone else's urgency to become the reason they skip important checks.

Statements such as:

"I need to move in tomorrow."
"I'll pay everything today."
"Please don't do the checks because I'm in a hurry."
"Someone else is going to take the property if we don't do it now."

shouldn't pressure you into abandoning your normal process.

LANDLORD RULE:
A genuine applicant should understand that reasonable verification is part of renting a property.

Don't Let Your Emotions Choose Your Tenant

Landlords are human.

You might like an applicant because they are friendly. You might feel sorry for their circumstances. You might be impressed by their confidence.

None of those things necessarily tell you whether the tenancy will work.

Likewise, an applicant who is quiet or nervous isn't automatically a bad tenant.

The best approach is to make the decision using objective information rather than simply choosing the person you personally like the most.

You can read more about this in our article:

Why Keeping Emotion Out of Rental Decisions Is Healthier for Landlords

What Happens After the Tenant Moves In?

This is the part that is often forgotten when landlords are focused on filling a vacancy.

The tenant isn't the end of the process.

It's the beginning.

Once the tenant moves in, the landlord may need to deal with maintenance, rental payments, inspections, communication, lease compliance and potentially disputes.

That's why tenant placement should be viewed as the beginning of a properly managed rental relationship rather than simply a successful application.

Give Yourself a Process Instead of Making a Guess

A structured process helps take some of the emotion and pressure out of tenant selection.

Advertise

Present the property accurately and attract suitable applicants.

Screen

Assess the applicant using relevant information.

Verify

Check important information before making the decision.

Decide

Choose based on evidence rather than pressure.

What If You Already Have a Tenant?

Finding the tenant yourself doesn't mean you have to manage every part of the placement yourself.

A+ Properties can assist landlords who have already found a prospective tenant through our tenant placement service.

This can be particularly useful for private landlords who have found someone they believe is suitable but want a more structured process before occupation.

I'VE FOUND A TENANT

Thinking About Renting Out Your Witfield Property?

If your property is in Witfield and you're considering renting it out, the first decision shouldn't necessarily be "How quickly can I find someone?"

It should be:

"How do I establish a rental that works for both the property and me as the landlord?"

A+ Properties can help you consider the rental strategy, market the property, assess prospective tenants and establish the tenancy properly.

WANT TO RENT OR SELL YOUR WITFIELD PROPERTY?

Before making the decision, let us help you look at your options.

LET A+ PROPERTIES HELP YOU

More Resources for Witfield Property Owners

A+ Properties — BUY // SELL // RENT SMARTLY