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By The Editors - The Rental Housing Journal May 27, 2020
The unexpected costs landlords have when tenants move out can often be far more than the security deposit so this week’s maintenance tip from Keepe looks at potential costs landlords face.
It is common knowledge that tenants cannot live in a single rental property all their lives. They may move out because they got a new job or bought their own home, or they may have been evicted due to one issue or the other. The big question is, what are the hidden costs you may face as a landlord or property manager when your tenants move out?
Some landlords have false hope that the rental deposit will be enough to cover upgrade costs and cleaning needs. But rarely do tenant deposits provide enough money to pay for everything needed to get a property ready for a new tenant. Below is a list of unexpected costs landlords have or may face when your tenants move out.
No. 1 – Vacancy Loss Vacancy loss is the amount of rental income or cash flow that a property is losing as a unit sits unoccupied. Without money coming in, but with money going out to upgrade and repair the property, it won’t be long before landlords are struggling to make their own mortgage payments. Working with a property management company is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of tenant turnover and to help find new tenants on time.
When your tenants show signs that they are going to leave and not renew their lease, you could respond by offering free utilities for two months, reducing rent slightly, or freezing it at current rental rates. You might also offer to enhance some aspect of the apartment/condo to increase their comfort. People don’t like to leave their comfort zone.
No. 2 – Property Damage One of the biggest worries you might have as a landlord is that tenants may do significant damage to your rental property before they move out.
When a tenant packs up and moves out, and there is no way to get a hold of him or her, you run the risk of walking into a damaged unit. Some tenants will leave before the rent is paid or at night, and they leave behind a lot of damage. Having an effective tenant-screening process is the best way to find tenants who will care for the property.
No. 3 – Stolen Appliances and Other Property Theft by tenants moving out of rental properties is very common. In fact, “a poll of 2,000 adults by landlord insurer Direct Line for Business found tenants have removed items such as fridges, freezers, light fittings, televisions, and even sinks. Tenants estimate that the overall value of items they had taken from a property stands at more than $500.” It can feel devastating when a tenant steals your property upon moving out of the rental.
However, to avoid issues such as this, you must obtain a FULL tenant reference check before you go ahead with a tenancy. This will provide you with detailed information on their financial security and place of work, which will assist in giving you peace of mind that you have selected a suitable tenant.
About Keepe: Keepe is an on-demand maintenance solution for property managers and independent landlords. The company makes a network of hundreds of independent contractors and handymen available for maintenance projects at rental properties. Keepe is available in the Greater Seattle area, Greater Phoenix area, San Francisco Bay area, Portland, San Diego and is coming soon to an area near you. Learn more about Keepe at https://www.keepe.com.