Top tips to attract tenants in the new year

January is a great time for a change of scenery, which is why the rental market is usually buzzing this time of year. If you’re a landlord looking for a new tenant in 2024, here’s how to get your property noticed this season:

Highlight your tenant criteria

It’s important to know what kind of tenant would be the most suitable for your rental property, as you’ll need to be able to highlight exactly what you’re looking for. This will help your estate agent to narrow down the search and find tenants more efficiently. They can also filter out anyone who does not meet your criteria and may be better suited to a different home. This is also a great opportunity to establish your stance on pets, smoking, and students.

Keep up with regular maintenance

Part of the allure of renting is knowing that all major repairs and maintenance issues will be taken care of by someone else, so having someone responsive to attend to your property is essential for drawing in tenants and keeping them happy long-term.

Make your property appealing

Tenants need to know that their potential home is worth what they’re paying for, so make sure it stands out above the rest. Create a winter maintenance checklist to ensure it’s looking its best in time for viewings. This might include replacing tired furniture, freshening up the paintwork and making minor repairs where needed.

Prioritise energy efficiency

Speaking of getting your money’s worth, energy efficiency plays a huge role in how much it costs to live in your property. As a landlord, you can help minimise your property’s environmental impact and save your tenants money on household bills by bolstering your EPC rating. This might include new insulation, replacing bulbs with LEDs, and installing double or triple-glazed windows. Energy efficiency is high on the priority list for many renters, so having your EPC in the green is a great way to attract tenants.

Rethink your demographic

If you aren’t having much luck with your target tenant, it could be worth considering a different tenant group. For example, if you have been marketing your property towards students, but it’s located too far from campus, you might have better luck marketing to young professionals instead.

Include desirable features

If you want your property to stand out from the crowd, it’s good to offer something desirable that sets your listing apart from the rest. An example of this is including bills in the rent, as this will attract tenants who need to budget carefully. Small touches like installing fast broadband will also go a long way, especially since there has been a huge influx of remote and hybrid workers in the UK.