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How to Make Your Short Let Home LGBTQ+ Friendly

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LGBTQ+ wooden letters with colors

According to Booking.com’s research involving 3,052 LGBTQ+ travelers, it was found that 65% think about their safety and wellbeing as LGBTQ+ people when picking where to go. Also, 58% feel that being LGBTQ+ means that some destinations are off-limits. This statistic proves the growing demand for inclusive and safe spaces in the travel industry.

If you rent out a vacation home, making it a place where these travelers feel welcome can make your rental stand out. This article will help you make your rental a place where LGBTQ+ guests feel really comfortable and valued. We’ll talk about different ways to make sure every guest, no matter who they are or who they love, feels at home and respected.

LGBTQ+ couple holding a pride flag

What does LGBTQ+ mean?

LGBTQ+ includes people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning. It also covers other identities like non-binary and pansexual.

There are more terms, but this is a basic idea to help you welcome different kinds of guests in your vacation rental.

Many in the LGBTQ+ community still face or worry about discrimination while traveling. As a host, you can really help make their holiday better and have a positive impact on their lives.

Why is it important to welcome LGBTQ+ guests?

Everyone deserves to feel safe and welcome when they travel. Welcoming LGBTQ+ guests is not just about avoiding discrimination, but it also has many positive effects.

Firstly, it’s about supporting equality and human rights. Showing that you’re inclusive tells everyone that you don’t tolerate discrimination and that you care about all guests, no matter who they are. Your welcoming attitude can help make society more tolerant and accepting.

Also, having LGBTQ+ guests makes your rental community more diverse. This lets people share and learn from different life experiences, creating a place where everyone feels included.

Plus, by being a gay-friendly host, you set an example for others in the tourism industry, gradually making it more inclusive for everyone.

Finally, by welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers, you open your doors to a wider group of potential guests. Studies show that the LGBTQ+ travel market is worth billions and is growing faster than other areas. An inclusive space attracts guests who value such environments. Happy LGBTQ+ guests often leave good reviews, come back again, and tell others about their experience. This can be great for your business.

How to make your rental more LGBTQ+ friendly?

LGBTQ+ friendly

1. Educate yourself and your staff

To make your rental more LGBTQ+ friendly, start by educating yourself and your team about the community’s issues and challenges. Learn about various sexual orientations and gender identities to foster empathy and understanding.

Next, actively train your staff in appropriate language and responses to potential issues, ensuring a respectful atmosphere for all guests.

Finally, diversify your team. Hiring people from different backgrounds – not just in terms of gender or sexuality, but also age, race, religion, and abilities – is crucial for making everyone feel welcome.

2. Review your house rules

Check and update your house rules to make sure they’re fair and considerate of everyone. Make sure your rental is a safe place where no one is treated badly because of who they are or who they love. In your rules, clearly say that you stand for equality and welcoming everyone.

3. Use gender-neutral words in your communication

Gender-neutral pronouns like ‘they/them’ don’t specify a gender and are helpful for people who don’t fit into the traditional ‘male’ or ‘female’ categories.

When talking to guests or describing your rental, try to use language that doesn’t assume someone’s gender. For example, use ‘partner’ instead of ‘husband’ or ‘wife.’ This helps create a welcoming space.

If a guest tells you their preferred pronouns, remember to use them in all your conversations. You can also ask guests about their preferred pronouns to show respect for their identity.

4. List your short let on gay-friendly OTAs

To reach LGBTQ+ travelers, consider listing your rental on gay-friendly online travel agencies (OTAs). Misterb&b is known as ‘the Airbnb for the LGBTQ+ community’ and is the largest of its kind, with over 1 million listings in 200 countries. This includes everything from private rooms and apartments to LGBTQ+ friendly hotels, increasing your rental’s visibility to a wide audience.

Another platform is Fabstayzs, which aims to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for travelers who seek a fabulous vacation without worries about acceptance.

Additionally, these platforms often offer resources like master classes to help hosts understand the challenges LGBTQ+ travelers face and how to accommodate diverse guests.

5. Gender-neutral amenities

Enhance your rental with gender-neutral amenities to better serve LGBTQ+ guests. Consider providing unisex options like aprons, toiletries, or even bathrooms.

Providing these amenities shows that you’re thoughtful about the diverse needs of your guests and helps create a comfortable and inclusive environment for everyone.

6. Create a guide of LGBTQ+ friendly places

Research and list welcoming restaurants, bars, shops, clubs, and gyms. Include these in a welcome book, on your website, or in a blog post.

Also, add contact information for supportive organizations, including local police, for safety. This shows your guests that you understand their concerns about discrimination or potential harm, and that you care about their well-being during their stay.

7. Always ask for feedback

Encourage them to give reviews and ideas for making your rental more inclusive. Listen to what they say and make changes based on their suggestions. Doing this shows you’re dedicated to getting better and builds trust with your LGBTQ+ guests.

8. Display LGBTQ+ symbols

hands holding different flags of LGBTQ+

Think about adding LGBTQ+ symbols, like rainbow flags or equality stickers, in your rental in a subtle way. These symbols can show guests that your place is open and friendly. Just be sure to do this honestly and not just as a way to attract more guests.

Also, use photos on your website and in your ads that include everyone. This will let your guests know that they will be treated with respect in your rental. Remember, being true and sincere is very important.

9. Treat every guest with respect

To be an excellent host, it’s crucial to treat every guest with respect. However, because discrimination still happens, your LGBTQ+ guests will especially value feeling welcome and safe in your home. Making an extra effort to ensure they feel comfortable shows your commitment to being a thoughtful and inclusive host.

Conclusion

Making your vacation rental LGBTQ+ friendly is more than just offering a nice place to stay. It’s about creating a space that values diversity, is welcoming to all, and respects the specific needs of LGBTQ+ guests. By implementing these practices, you contribute to a world where everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, feels safe, respected, and at home.

If you need more tips on how to make you short let a welcoming space, take a look at some of our other guides! Or, if you feel ready to outsource your property management to an expert, check out our services! 

How to Attract and Evaluate the Best Tenants

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As a landlord, protecting your property means finding trustworthy tenants. This involves not only seeking those who can manage rent payments but also thoroughly screening them to reduce property management risks such as delayed payments, evictions, and damages. New landlords often ask, “How do I check a tenant’s background?” This blog will guide you.

happy tenants

Tenant screening is essential. While horror stories about difficult tenants abound, many of these situations could have been avoided with better upfront screening. It’s not just about trusting your instincts; it’s about the data. For those looking to maintain steady rental income, a detailed screening process is crucial, covering credit reports, criminal backgrounds, and eviction histories.

Read More: How to Find the Perfect Tenants for Your Rental Property

Rushing tenant screening due to vacancy fears can be costly. Effective screening services are both quick and detailed. Let’s delve into why screening matters:

  1. Know Your Applicant’s Finances: Beyond just a credit score, a detailed credit report highlights a tenant’s financial standing, revealing debts and credit behaviors. For applicants with limited credit history, options like requiring co-signers can be considered.
  2. Ensure Payment Reliability: A majority of landlords express concerns about new tenant payment issues. Comprehensive credit reports and checks with past landlords and employers can illuminate an applicant’s payment and employment stability.
  3. Protect Property & Community: Criminal background checks are crucial. Evaluating potential tenants’ histories ensures you don’t compromise property or community safety.
  4. Eviction Prevention: Knowledge of an applicant’s eviction history is vital to sidestep future problems. Detailed eviction reports can give insights into past tenant behaviors.
  5. Peace of Mind: Regular screening procedures, including credit, criminal, and eviction checks, increase the chances of acquiring reliable tenants. Services like Houst offer swift, dependable results, saving time and resources. Proper screening increases the likelihood of securing long-term, responsible tenants.

Lastly, adhering to fair housing laws ensures you treat all applicants equitably and stave off legal issues. All UK landlords should familiarize themselves with these laws to ensure a just and inclusive rental process.

Key Responsibilities in Tenant Management

Equal Treatment: UK landlords must ensure fairness throughout the rental process, avoiding discrimination from property advertising to tenancy management.

Advertisement Guidelines: Property listings should comply with anti-discrimination laws, focusing on property features, not potential tenant characteristics.

Objective Tenant Selection: Choose tenants based on rental history, creditworthiness, and references, steering clear of discriminatory practices.

Accommodating Disabilities: Landlords should make necessary adjustments, like wheelchair ramps, for disabled tenants unless they’re excessively burdensome.

No Harassment: Tenants exercising their rights under housing laws should never face harassment or retaliation. Always promote a respectful environment.

Implement Anti-Discrimination Policies: Regularly update and enforce policies in line with fair housing laws. Ensure all staff are trained and aware.

Maintain Records: Keep detailed records, including applications and accommodation requests, as evidence of fair treatment.

Read Next: Important Renting Rules for Landlords and Tenants to Follow

Tenant Screening Process: With digital applications rising, rental fraud has increased. Thorough tenant screening is essential. This involves:

  1. Credit & Background Checks: Evictions are costly and time-consuming. Effective tenant screening can mitigate these risks.
  2. Gathering Essential Details: Collect comprehensive details including full name, contact, employment, and references. Ensure all provided information is complete and transparent, keeping legal guidelines in mind.

Read Next: How to Vet Your Airbnb Guests Before Approval

Income & Employment Verification

employer reference check

A TransUnion survey found 84% of landlords cite payment issues as their primary worry, with eviction costs sometimes reaching $10,000. Ensure tenants have stable incomes to afford rent by checking income, employment, and obtaining recent pay stubs. Positive references, both personal and from employers, reinforce a tenant’s reliability.

Rental History Insights

Examining a tenant’s past addresses offers a glimpse into their rental behaviors and history. Landlords can gather insights about timely rent payments, property upkeep, and tenant-landlord relations by contacting previous landlords.

Importance of Landlord References

Landlord references are invaluable, revealing:

Rental Behavior: Insights into rent payment punctuality, property care, and lease adherence.

Reliability: Assesses trustworthiness in fulfilling rental obligations.

Tenant Interactions: Feedback on their conduct with neighbors.

Potential Red Flags: Past issues like late payments or property damages.

Truth Verification: Ensures honesty in provided details.

Checking Employment & Personal References

Evaluating an applicant’s character and financial stability is crucial. Personal references shed light on character, while employment references validate current employment and financial capacity to pay rent. Always use official channels for verification to ensure accuracy.

Read Next: Should I Rent My Property to Students?

Eviction History Consideration

Be vigilant of a potential tenant’s eviction history. Overlooking this can result in expensive, time-consuming evictions. A thorough tenant screening, including eviction checks, prevents future issues. It’s wiser to preemptively address concerns than tackle them down the line.

Lease Agreement Overview

handing keys over

For new tenants, set move-in dates, tenancy duration, and monthly rent. New landlords can refer to this guide. A lease agreement is a legal contract detailing the rental’s terms, protecting both landlord and tenant. Essential components in a lease include:

  • Parties involved: Landlord, co-lessors, and all tenants’ contact details.
  • Rental Unit Description: Property’s full description, including address and parking.
  • Tenancy Term: Start and end dates, renewal process, and termination procedures.
  • Rent: Due date, amount, payment methods, and any late fees.
  • Utilities: What’s included or excluded.
  • Deposits: Outline deposit use and refund.
  • Smoking Rules: Where it’s allowed and penalties for breaches.
  • Insurance: Tenant’s required coverage.
  • Rental Unit Changes: Permissions and restrictions.
  • Maintenance: Responsibilities and accountability.
  • Subletting: Rules for subletting or assigning the lease.
  • Additional Terms: Other terms, e.g., pet policy.
  • Agreement Modifications: Rules for making changes.
  • Signatures: Spaces for all parties to sign and date.

Creating a Lease Agreement

Craft it yourself or use online templates. For a foolproof lease, consult a real estate lawyer to ensure legal adherence and protection.

Breaking a Lease

Landlords must have a valid reason. Ensure provisions are in the lease for potential changes. For month-to-month leases, give 30 days’ notice. Open communication and “cash for keys” agreements might also be strategies.

Tenant Screening Tools

Rentberry:

  • Free for landlords.
  • Offers background and credit checks.
  • Pros: Accessible on multiple platforms, 24/7 support, free tenant screening.
  • Cons: No free trial for paid features.

Rentme:

  • Free services for landlords.
  • Combines background and credit checks in one report.
  • Pros: Free for landlords, 24/7 support, wide pool of potential tenants.
  • Cons: Mainly web-based.

Both services simplify the landlord’s experience, offering comprehensive tenant information.

Keey: Your Ideal Rental Management Partner

Choose Keey for a streamlined rental management experience. Keey offers powerful tenant screening tools and manages your property with care, from listings to contract management. They prioritize creating attractive Airbnb listings, maintenance, and cleaning. Rely on Keey’s expertise for competitive pricing strategies and tailored services, regardless of your experience level as a landlord.

How to Handle Airbnb Guest Damages

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Every Airbnb host takes pride in their property. From fresh paint to new appliances, hosts invest time and money to ensure their space is welcoming. But what happens when you discover damages after a guest’s stay?

How can hosts safeguard against potential financial setbacks due to unforeseen accidents in their rental?

plate damage

1. Accepting the Inevitable

Regardless of how pristine you keep your space, not every guest will be as considerate. Some might break a dish, others might leave marks on the walls, and some might track dirt inside. While these incidents can be frustrating, they’re often minor and part of the hosting experience. It’s also essential to differentiate between minor mishaps and general wear and tear. For instance, an old carpet with a new stain might not warrant significant concern.

Examples of wear and tear include:

  • Scuff marks from luggage
  • Aging appliances malfunctioning
  • Makeup stains on towels
  • Limescale in showers
  • Worn-out rugs or curtains

2. Defining ‘Serious Damage’

Clear-cut cases of damage might include a guest spilling nail polish on a sofa or accidentally damaging the floor. Theft of property items or significant landscape damage also falls into this category.

3. Addressing Damages with Guests

Many guests will proactively report and offer to pay for any damages. However, if they don’t, or if their compensation offer doesn’t cover the costs, it’s crucial to address the issue. Always communicate through the Airbnb platform for transparency. Begin by discussing the damage with the guest. If a mutual resolution isn’t reached, consider using the Airbnb resolution center.

Read More: How to Better Your Communication with Airbnb Guests

4. Preventative Measures

  1. Inventory: Maintain a detailed list of items in your property, supported by dated photographs. This documentation helps track wear and tear over time.
  2. Guest Screening: Choosing responsible guests can reduce potential damages.
  3. Secure Valuables: Remove sentimental or valuable items from the property to prevent potential loss or damage.
  4. Airbnb Security Deposit: This feature allows hosts to claim damages up to 14 days after a guest’s departure.
  5. Host Guarantee: Airbnb offers a host guarantee covering damages exceeding the security deposit, up to $1,000,000. However, it doesn’t cover certain items like cash, jewelry, or personal liability.
  6. Additional Insurance: For complete peace of mind, consider comprehensive insurance tailored for vacation rentals.

Read Next: What You Should Do When Your Airbnb is Damaged

Keey’s Support Keey offers Airbnb management services, including guidance when challenges arise. If you need assistance managing guest expectations or addressing mishaps, our team is here to simplify the process for you.

How to Make Your Airbnb Suitable for Business Travel

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As Covid restrictions slowly start easing up in many countries, people find themselves travelling for business again. Whether it’s to meet clients, for conferences, or meetings, business trips are always taking place. It’s becoming more common for those travelling for work to stay in an Airbnb instead of in a hotel. Airbnb even has a separate search specifically for business travel. 

So how do you make your rental space appropriate for people travelling for business? There are lots of things you can include in your space to create a comfortable work environment.  

Good Wi-Fi 

Of course, Wi-Fi is one of the most important things to include in your Airbnb. For those working from the rental space, they need to be able to connect with their colleagues online. Without a strong Wi-Fi connection, likely, they won’t be interested in your rental. 

Steady, fast access across the whole property is important to keep a business customer satisfied. You can take a step above some hotels too by ensuring a constant free connection.  

Read Now: Why Great Wi-Fi in Your Short-Term Rental is Essential 

Convenient Location 

You want to ensure that your Airbnb is easy to get to, and is easy to travel to and from. If someone is travelling for work, they will likely have to go to business hotspots or conferences, so travelling should be easy. 

Be sure to mention the distance to the closest town centres or popular areas near your rental so they can plan ahead.  

For example, if you are based in London, include the closest bus stops and tube lines in your listings. If you are situated somewhere easy to travel to with direct access to other areas, people will be more likely to stay at your rental. People travelling for business want an easy and stress-free experience, so make sure you are trying to provide that. 

Business Workspace 

Providing your guests with a specific area to work from will help them to feel more secure in your rental. If guests are travelling specifically for work purposes, they will only choose rentals that accommodate this. 

Think about what you can include in your Airbnb to make it more suitable for someone who needs to work. This can include: 

  • A clear desk space 
  • An office chair 
  • A desk lamp or bright lighting 
  • Multiple plug sockets or extension cords 
  • Pens and paper 
  • Tea and coffee facilities  

If you are travelling for work, you don’t want to end up working from the bed or sofa. By providing a clear space to work from, with all the necessary amenities, your guests will feel more comfortable and more productive.  

Laundry Facilities  

If your guests have meetings or conferences, they won’t want to show up in a wrinkled suit that has been stuffed in a suitcase. Make sure you provide basic laundry facilities so they can look and feel their best.  

Include some hangers inside the wardrobes, as well as an iron and ironing board. This will help to air out anything that has been stuck inside of a suitcase so it can look more presentable. Also, consider providing a washer and dryer. Those who are staying for extended periods will likely need to wash their clothes eventually, and this will prevent them from having to overpack.  

Read Now: How to Hire a Cleaning Service for Your Airbnb 

Leisure Space  

Whilst your guests primarily need space to work, business travellers will also need areas for leisure, so they can relax after their hard work. There should be a work-life balance within the rental, including comforting areas like a lounge or outdoor seating.  

You can even include complimentary drinks and snacks to make your guest feel more at home. 

Consider leaving a list of entertainment and dining venues around your location that they can visit for their own pleasure. If a guest is working a lot, they won’t want to have to spend time searching for the best bars and restaurants themselves.  

Read Now: Airbnb Interior Design Advice: How to Create a Cohesive Space 

Conclusion 

If you follow these simple tips, your Airbnb will become a haven for business travellers. Airbnb can often be more cost-effective than a hotel and can make your guests feel more at home, so make the most of this! 

For more information about adapting your rental space to suit your guests, contact the team at Keey today.  

How to Choose Between Long-Term and Short-Term Lets

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Letting your property can be a lot of work. It is best to decide whether a long-term or short-term letting period is right for you.  

When done right, letting out your property can be very profitable, but it’s also very time-consuming. There are a lot of differences between each letting model and this can affect your legal responsibilities and your potential income. 

Keep in mind that one letting model is not necessarily better than the other, they just require some different steps. Different types of letting are appropriate depending on what you hope to achieve with your property. So, doing your research ahead of time is a good start! 

The team at Keey has broken down this task into three options to help you determine which is best for your situation.

Teams Description automatically generated
Different rental types work better for different people.

Short-Term Rentals  

There are many upsides to managing a short-term rental property. 

Short-term rentals are characterised as a rental period shorter than six months. However, most tenants will prefer a period of one night to a few weeks when choosing this option.  

In conjunction with the popularity of Airbnb, this option has opened up more possibilities than ever before for a low-cost and low-commitment business model. It provides a lucrative opportunity if you can guarantee high occupancy and high rates.  

However, there are also downsides to this option. Statistically, short-term lets can achieve 30% higher rates and yields than long term lets. With a short-term let, however, your property might be vacant more often as you will experience a turnover of tenants. Due to a high turnover rate, it’s pretty unlikely that you’d consistently run at full capacity. 

Managing a short-term property is also more demanding of your time and effort. So, you may need to hire a host management service or sacrifice more of your time to constantly seek out new tenants to ensure the successful running of the homestay property.  

Read Now: What to Know Before Investing in a Property for Airbnb

Long-Term Rentals  

 As a more traditional landlord, you can decide to let your property on a more long-term basis. This would usually be between six or twelve months.  

When you have tenants in the property on a longer-term basis, you tend to have a more stable experience. You have a consistent income every month, so you have less to worry about when it comes to earning a living. Renting out your home in this way is also beneficial as the tenants will cover the energy bills, and demand for long-term rental properties is at an all-time high.  

However, entrusting your property for an extended period means you need to trust your tenants. It is vital to screen people before they rent the property to make sure the risk of damage is low. This includes regularly inspecting the property to assess any issues and making sure the tenants are satisfied and continue to be a good fit for the property. 

Read Now: How to Manage Multiple Rentals – Long-Term Lettings

Flexible Letting Models  

There is a lesser-known third option when letting out your property. A flexible letting model is a combination of short-term, medium-term and long-term rentals to maximise your revenue and letting potential.  

By taking a wide range of bookings, you can maximise occupancy rates and create the most profitable solution.  

With current restrictions on short-term stays due to the ongoing pandemic, you can fill up any available gaps in your annual calendar with medium and long-term rentals to ensure a steady, hassle-free source of income throughout the year.  

Read Now: 5 Things You Shouldn’t Do As a Landlord

To Sum Up

Now that we’ve looked at short and long-term letting options and how to use these methods to your advantage, it’s time to move forward and apply them to your business plan. Keep in mind the distinct pros and cons of each, so you can potentially combine them to get the best of both worlds when renting out your property.  

If these options appeal to you and you want assistance planning the best method for your letting business, Keey can help you. Contact us to find out more about our flexible letting models and hospitality management services.  

How to Manage Airbnb Guests Bringing Extra Visitors

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One of the major frustrations that Airbnb hosts face is when guests sneak in more people than they booked for. Airbnb guests do this to save money, and this can come at the expense of the host. Guests bring secret extra visitors to avoid the extra person fees or to ignore the max occupancy of your rental.  

As a host, you should be proactive in discouraging guests from doing this because it will add to the wear and tear on your property and increase your utility costs.

How to Manage Airbnb
Make sure you are controlling how many guests are visiting your rental.

 

How Will I Know if a Guest Brought Extra People? 

If you use self-check-in, you might not know if guests are ignoring your maximum occupancy. To ensure you’re always aware of the number of guests in your Airbnb consider installing an exterior camera.  

If you don’t have a camera, your cleaner will usually have a good idea of how many people stayed. They can judge by the amount of mess left behind, the number of linens that need washing and how many provisions need replacing.   

Read now: What You Should Do When Your Airbnb is Damaged 

How Can I Know for Sure? 

If you’re running a self-check-in listing, you should invest in a camera for each entry door of your Airbnb for security reasons. Once you have a security system set up you can also use this to monitor how many guests are using your Airbnb.    

With extra people staying in your rental, they’ll be increasing the wear-and-tear on your property, using extra provisions at the cost to you, and increasing your liability. As the number of guests increases, so does the risk of an injury or accident on your property.  

What Should I Do if They Bring Extra People? 

It can be daunting to approach a guest who has broken the house rules, after all this always comes with the risk of a bad review. However, it’s best to confront them anyway as they’re breaking the rules they agreed to when they booked with you. If they do write a retaliatory review, you can contact Airbnb to have it removed. 

Read now: How to Prevent Guests Throwing Parties in Your Airbnb 

The best way to confront a guest is to give them the benefit of the doubt. People are more likely to respond well if you approach the situation by assuming their rule-breaking was an honest mistake.   

For example, you could say: “I’m sure it was just an honest mistake, but I’ve noticed you have more people staying than the booking allows.”  

By handlining the situation this way guests will usually be apologetic and agree to the extra person charges relatively easily. If guests have brought a lot more people than the max occupancy, the next step is to contact Airbnb to cancel the reservation and assist you in asking the guests to leave. 

house
Don’t be afraid to confront your guests!

How To Avoid The Situation 

Not all Airbnb properties will encounter the issue of extra guests. But if your rental is quite spacious people might be more likely to bring air mattresses for extra guests. Or, if your listing is particularly cheaper than other similar properties, it might attract guests who will try to avoid the extra person fees. 

To discourage guests from bringing extra visitors add the following rule to your house rules: 

  • Any guests beyond the number listed on your itinerary will be charged a penalty of £50 per person per night.
  • We reserve the right to terminate your stay without a refund if you exceed the maximum occupancy. 

This should reduce the number of guests sneaking in visitors. If you add the rule to your automated check-in messages, any guests who have unknowingly missed the rule will be able to disclose their guests to you and adjust their booking accordingly.   

Read now: How to Avoid Troublesome Customers Booking your Airbnb 

Unapproved extra guests in your rental can be frustrating for hosts to deal with, follow the steps above for a simple stress-free guide on how to manage it.  

For further advice for managing your Airbnb speak to one of our advisors today at Keey. 

Top 8 Reasons Your Tenant Can Legitimately Sue You

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It’s easy to forget that lease agreements not only protect landlords and their properties but the tenants living in the rental too. It’s essential to know that those written lease agreements are legally binding. They protect not only the rights of landlords but also those of tenants. 

Landlords and tenants do not typically enter into their relationship looking for conflict. Sometimes, however, problems develop that cannot be easily fixed by a phone call or email. In these situations, a tenant may consider suing their landlord to resolve the issues in court. 

To help you prevent this from occurring, we have compiled a list of reasons that your tenant can legitimately sue you so that you can avoid them.  

Read Now: 8 Tips on How to Have a Healthy Tenant-Landlord Relationship 

Reasons Your Tenant Can Legitimately Sue You 

  1. Illegally Keeping Your Security Deposit 

As a landlord, you cannot… 

  • Take deductions for normal wear and tear on the property 
  • Hold onto your security deposit after your rental agreement is over 
  • Fail to return security deposits and claim falsely that the tenant violated the terms of your lease.  

If you do these things, your tenant may have grounds to sue you.  

Read Now: 5 Things You Shouldn’t Do As A Landlord 

  1. The Property is Uninhabitable 

If your tenants can’t live in your rental because it’s dangerous or poses a health risk, it may be considered uninhabitable. 

For example, suppose your rental has mould due to water damage, a rat infestation, or even storm damage that has wrecked the property. In that case, you will need to resolve the issue immediately. 

If your property is declared uninhabitable and you refuse to make repairs, your tenants might sue you.  

  1. Wrongful Eviction Proceedings 

Your tenant has the right to challenge the eviction notice. Landlords must also remember that tenants are protected by the Eviction Act 1977  which ensures the correct processes and notice periods are adhered to.  

If you’re looking to notify your tenant that you’d like them to leave your property, you must serve Section 21 or Section 8 notice under the Housing Act 1988. 

Section 21 notice of possession  

This gives ‘notice of possession’ to the tenant. You can take back control of your property at the end of a fixed-term tenancy agreement or trigger an agreed break clause.  

Importantly, you don’t have to provide any reason to claim possession when you serve a valid Section 21 notice. 

Section 8 eviction notice  

This is served when you have grounds for eviction.  For example, the tenant has not paid the rent, damaged the property or is causing a nuisance.  

You can terminate the tenancy during its fixed term if the tenant has breached the tenancy agreement. But your tenant may dispute it, and it could go to court, where you’ll need to evidence the reason for the eviction. 

  1. Housing Discrimination 

It is illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants based on race, gender, disability, sexuality or religion. 

This means that the following acts are prohibited: 

  • Renting a property to certain tenants on worse terms than other tenants. 
  • Treating certain tenants differently when setting policies regarding facilities. 
  • Evicting or harassing certain tenants because of their race, gender, disability, sexuality or religion. 
  • Refusing to incorporate reasonable demands in a tenancy agreement which are necessary for a disabled person to live at the property. For example, problems could occur if a landlord held a ‘no pets’ policy and did not offer to alter it for a blind tenant with a guide dog. 
  1. Not Disclosing Lead Paint or Mould Issues 

Landlords are required by law to disclose any known mould or previous or existing lead hazards at their properties. Because these issues can cause long-term health problems, it is illegal for landlords to hide them from tenants.  

If your tenants find out you failed to disclose this type of information, they can rightfully sue you. 

Read Now: How to Better Your Communication with Airbnb Guests 

  1. Failing to Reimburse a Tenant for a Repair 

Sometimes tenants will perform repairs in a rental property because a landlord refuses to do so in a reasonable amount of time. When this happens, you must reimburse your tenants for the money spent on the repair.  

This is especially true if the repair was affecting the health and safety of your tenants and needed immediate attention. 

If you don’t pay your tenants for necessary repairs they perform on your behalf, they can sue you to recover the money spent plus damages. 

  1. Entering a Tenant’s Property Illegally 

Landlords usually have to provide reasonable notice to enter a tenant’s rental property, and they can only do so for legally allowed reasons. 

If a landlord violates these laws, the tenant can go to court to stop the landlord from entering and could be awarded damages.  

Read Now: Important Renting Rules for Landlords and Tenants to Follow 

  1. Injury  at Rental Property 

As a tenant, you could have a case for a lawsuit against your landlord if you are injured at the rental property due to a landlord’s neglect. For example, you slip and fall because there is no lawfully required bannister in the stairwell. 

You cannot sue the landlord if your injury is due to your own neglect. For example, your apartment is so dirty that you slip and fall in your apartment on a pile of your own dirty clothing. 

In Conclusion 

Don’t worry about facing your tenants in court – avoid the above situations and save yourself time and stress. There are laws set up to protect both landlords and tenants. While you might not be able to control whether your tenants follow the rules, you can make sure that you do.  

At Keey we have a range of management options as well as advice that will help your rental properties flourish. Get in touch with one of our experts today!    

How to Keep Your Neighbours Happy as an Airbnb Host

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All tenants are very different and have their own personality. Some may be rowdy, and some may be quiet. But all in all, making sure they interact well with your neighbour will allow you to run your rental stress-free. 

Implementing a few basic ground rules to benefit your neighbours will help you keep on good terms with your neighbourhood – without any complaints. 

The Airbnb community can also help if you need any advice from highly experienced hosts.  

Curfew 

A curfew which is not too severe will ensure your tenants aren’t coming back too late at night and disturbing any neighbours. It can also provide you with a lot more peace of mind as you know the door is locked, and nobody can just enter at will.  

By enforcing a curfew like this you are reducing the noise pollution and causing less disturbances within your neighbourhood. You must list this on your Airbnb beforehand, so the tenants know what they are getting into. 

Read Now: Top Tips: How to Promote your Airbnb 

Noise (Quiet Hours) 

Reduction of noise after a certain point in your Airbnb is crucial to keeping everyone happy. Make sure that you tell your tenants if they are being too loud especially if you are in an apartment complex or similar building. They should know this already as it’s the key to being a good tenant, but sometimes tenants can get a little carried away.  

Quiet hours should be attached to your Airbnb rules not only for you, but your neighbours. Usually quiet hours are between 10pm – 7am, but you could adjust according to your needs.  

You can also speak to your neighbours about how you have an Airbnb and let them know that if they have any complaints they can speak to you. Texting you is also an option as this can give you positive feedback to improve the way you run your Airbnb. 

Rubbish 

Your tenants may bring back food, or something similar if they go out. Now, every tenant should be respectful towards you, but also respectful to your neighbourhood, so make sure that they know which bin outside is yours.  

Don’t let them litter on your property, or outside of it and let them know that it could result in them being fined. This reduces general pollution and a reduction in pests too, but your neighbours are most important as maintaining a good relationship with them can be useful.  

Cleaning up after yourself is something that everyone should do but some tenants may not. It’s important that they do otherwise it will not only affect you but your neighbours too. 

Read Now: What You Should Do When Your Airbnb is Damaged 

Nice Interactions 

Your tenants should be friendly and pleasant towards your neighbours as if they are their neighbours too. If your tenants are disrespectful it could lead to complaints and potentially your Airbnb being shut down. In an Airbnb the tenants are only there temporarily, but you are there permanently.  

If your tenants build a great relationship with your neighbours, it could lead to them being happier and approving of your Airbnb. This could potentially give you a good review from their point of view.  

Choosing Tenants Wisely 

Make sure you check your tenants’ reviews before letting them use your Airbnb, as you might end up letting in someone who is toxic and not capable of being a good tenant. These people may cause more trouble than it’s worth so steering clear of them is wise.  

Obviously, don’t be too judgemental but it is truly up to you who you allow into your Airbnb. Just be warned that some tenants have a lot of red flags attached to them. 

Read Now: How to Avoid Troublesome Customers Booking your Airbnb 

Conclusion 

All in all, your neighbours are the key to a successful Airbnb. In worst cases, uncooperative tenants could lead to your Airbnb being shut down! Make sure to keep everyone happy: you, your tenants and your neighbours.  

Keep in touch with your tenants if you are hosting your whole house while you aren’t there. This way you can monitor if they are doing anything that can severely affect your further hosting. 

If you need any further help with anything Airbnb-related then feel free to contact us! 

How to Have a Healthy Tenant-Landlord Relationship

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Understanding how to deal with people is an important skill. As a landlord, you have a duty to support your tenant and cater to their needs. You should be mindful and attentive to their wellbeing and make sure that you are doing what you can to nurture the relationship correctly from the start. 

The relationship between landlord and tenant can vary from person to person. In some cases, the relationships may form effortlessly, while in others, the two sides just can’t seem to find common ground and might eventually have to move on. It takes considerable effort from both parties to create and maintain a good relationship. 

For the landlord, there are some things that you can do to help build and maintain a healthy and respectful relationship with your tenant.  

Below are some tips that you can take as a landlord to forge such relationships, and reasons why those steps are so necessary.   

How to Have a Healthy Tenant-Landlord Relationship 

  1. Be Accessible 

Ensure that you provide your tenant with a clear and direct line of communication with you in case they have any concerns about the property, or need to get in touch with you for any other reason.  

If your property is managed by an agent, you may still want to consider giving the tenants your contact details in case of an emergency. 

Doing this will demonstrate to your tenant that you genuinely care and will give them a sense of trust and confidence in you as their landlord. 

Read Now: Managing Your Airbnb: How to Create a Welcoming Space 

  1. Communicate  

It’s beneficial to take steps to maintain a communicative relationship with your tenant. Be approachable and available. This will help them feel comfortable discussing their concerns with you.  

Communicating these concerns will help build trust and loyalty between you and your tenant. Having a communicative relationship can help to resolve disputes easier, and can often help to avoid them altogether. 

Show your tenants that you are taking any issues they raise seriously by being open, displaying active listening skills, and asking questions. 

Read Now: How to Better Your Communication with Airbnb Guests 

  1. Be Understanding 

As a landlord, it is important for you to be understanding of your tenants’ needs. Although there may be times where you’re faced with difficult situations with your tenant and property, it is important for you to keep a level head and consider what is also best for the tenant. 

While you need to carry out your duties as a landlord, and you rely on that income from your property, some situations require a more delicate approach… 

For example, notifying your tenant about sensitive issues such as rent increases, rent arrears, or property inspections. 

Avoid being too confrontational or demanding. Situations like these may require a level of empathy, particularly with good tenants who are usually dependable. 

  1. Be Reliable 

As a landlord, one of your main responsibilities is to be reliable. Your property is not just an asset, but also someone’s home. Therefore, the job of landlord involves carrying out your responsibilities as best you can. 

As a landlord you should: 

  • Be attentive 
  • Take your tenants’ concerns seriously 
  • Make an effort to resolve issues as soon as possible. 

Always try to deal with problems within a reasonable time frame. For more lengthy, complex issues, such as severe repairs, you may need to explain to your tenant that the issue is being resolved and that it may take a while. You should also offer to keep them updated on any developments.  

  1. Use Multiple Channels of Communication 

Use multiple channels for communicating important information. Too often, landlords rely solely on one channel of communication such as an email or written notices to inform their tenants of important events, conditions or deadlines. These can be easily missed, leading to unpleasant surprises for both parties. 

Taking the time to call or visit in person, in addition to providing written notice helps build a better relationship with your tenant.  

  1. Respect Their Relationship with the Property 

Remember, it may be your property, but it is also your tenant’s home. That is an emotional relationship and as a landlord you should not forget that. 

You have to be mindful and respectful that this is the tenant’s place of belonging. Always ask permission and give notice when you need to enter the property.  

Read Now: Important Renting Rules for Landlords and Tenants to Follow 

  1. Update and Maintain the Property 

As a landlord you’re generally responsible for the upkeep of: 

  • The structure and exterior of your home – the walls, roof, foundations, drains, guttering and external pipes, windows and external doors 
  • Basins, sinks, baths, toilets and their pipework 
  • Water and gas pipes, electrical wiring, water tanks, boilers, radiators, gas fires, fitted electric fires or fitted heaters. 

As well as this, you have to ensure that your property is fit for human habitation.  

Your home might be unfit for human habitation if for example: 

  • There’s a serious problem with damp or mould 
  • It gets too hot or cold and can’t be regulated 
  • There are too many people living in it 
  • It’s infested with pests like rats or cockroaches 
  • It doesn’t have a safe water supply. 

Read Now: 5 Things You Shouldn’t Do As A Landlord 

  1. And… Remember that Your Tenants Are People Too 

At the end of the day your tenants are people just like you. Treating them with a bit of kindness and understanding goes a long way.  

If you view your tenants through that human lens, you’ll form strong, reliable relationships that benefit both your tenants and your bottom line.  

At Keey we have a range of management options as well as advice that will help your rental properties flourish. Get in touch with one of our experts today!    

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