Renting is something most of us experience at some point, and the landlord running the property that you move into has such an impact on how that part of your life goes. Over the years I’ve rented all sorts of places. Various shared student houses during uni, a one bed flat when I first lived alone, a proper house once I had a full time job and another when I moved to a new city to start fresh. Me and my husband have now owned our last two houses and are now lucky to have found our 'forever home', but I'll never forget some of the properties that have lead to this point! The rentals all came with a mix of landlords and letting style, aome were helpful and on the ball, others less so and it's easy to see just how much difference it makes when a landlord handles things properly. Whether someone’s renting long term or just for a year or two, it’s not just the building that matters. The way the place is run can shape how secure or unsettled that time feels. There are always going to be bad landlords out there, but the good ones stand out for all the right reasons. If you're looking into renting for the first time, here are some of the lessons I personally learned along the way.
What is the repair reporting process like?
One thing that makes or breaks a rental is how repairs are handled. In one student house I lived in especially, getting anything fixed felt like pulling teeth. There was no central heating so it was absolutely freezing, just tiny storage heaters that did nothing. And then when one of the ancient windows cracked when I was pushing it open (it had been painted shut with layers and layers of paint!) I suddenly had a huge condensation problem in my bedroom. In fact, the window was like a waterfall where the house was freezing and the window was cracked. The landlord was hopelessly disorganised, and never actually got it sorted until a week before we moved out- months later. Compare that to my first flat, it was tiny but well looked after. There was an online system where you could log issues with a photo and description and this took a lot of stress out of the situation as things actually got done quickly. That kind of approach builds trust fast and saves everyone hassle. Tenants feel listened to, and landlords catch small problems before they get expensive. A good maintenance reporting system isn’t just a nice extra, it’s one of the first things that makes a tenant feel like they’re in safe hands so definitely something to enquire about.
Are pets allowed?
Landlords can be really funny about pets, which can seem extreme when you're a responsible pet owner but it's understandable really. The bad owners leave dogs barking or ripping up the property which can cause issues with the neighbours or a ton of damage that they might be left to sort if people just move out. For this reason, many wont allow pets but I've always had luck finding ones that do. I had my dog for 14 years and he came with me to every rental property I lived in. Landlords will usually ask about pets before accepting you as a tenant, if you don't have one now but want one in the future it's worth asking. Some landlords once they know you're a clean, respectful tenant that pays on time may change their mind and allow this later on. Others will ask for a larger or additional deposit.
What changes can be made?
Most tenants want a clean, quiet, reliable place to live- they pay rent on time, keep things tidy and don’t throw loud parties midweek. In all of the houses I've rented I've been exactly that tenants, never missed a payment and even left the house decor garden better than I found it. As a landlord, it doesn’t take much to make a tenant feel appreciated. Allowing them to add small touches like a new coat of paint or even just checking in now and then with a polite message goes a long way. The ones who are happy where they live are far more likely to stay put and take care of the place. If you’ve got someone decent, hold onto them. Find out if your landlord is ok with any small changes you want to make, although you have to be respectful about the fact that it's their property and changes should be put back to default before you move,
What inspections are done, and when?
There’s nothing worse than a landlord showing up out of the blue. Even if you're a clean and tidy person with nothing to hide, it feels intrusive. Legally, landlords are supposed to give 24 hours' notice for inspections or visits, but not all of them do. Being organised and upfront makes tenants feel respected and more likely to flag issues early instead of hiding them, so ask what the situation is here.
How is the rent collected?
Chasing rent isn’t fun for anyone. Most people will (of course) make paying their rent a priority so no payments are missed, but I’ve heard of people with nightmare landlords who would send personal messages at random hours asking about payments. When a proper rent collection service is in place, it takes a lot of the stress out of things. Payments are scheduled, everything’s documented, and there’s less chance of awkward conversations. If I were managing a rental property, I’d use a service like that straight away. A service charge agent is also a smart idea. They handle the admin side so landlords can focus on running the property, not chasing money. Even a small fee is worth it if it means things run smoothly and tenants take it all more seriously.
If you're thinking about becoming a landlord or already managing a property, there’s a lot to be said for doing it properly. The difference between a good and a bad landlord doesn’t come down to luck or personality. It’s in the systems, the communication, and the way people are treated. Tenants never forget the ones who made life easier.
