What do you look for in New tenants?

LirW

I'm so used to exactly this scheme and find electric showers odd. But different countries, I guess.

Anyway, 3 months rent as deposit is a norm back home, never had to pay any less. But it goes directly into a bank account that won't be touched unless there's something really damaged when you move out. Places are also unfurnished. The huge difference is the rent though: the average rent for a one-bed is significantly cheaper than it would be here in Ireland.
But getting the deposit together is indeed something people struggle with, especially when they don't have that much disposable income to start with.

Neyite

The_Conductor wrote: »

Its whats on offer from most corporate enquiries whenever any reasonable units come on the market. Many landlords in Galway and Dublin- are getting this as standard. Others are getting 2-3 months deposit- on top of rent paid in this manner.

I know many tenants in Galway who don't pay anything other than deposit and first months rent in advance. I have never met anyone in all my years living there who paid more than that, unless it was some sort of penthouse fancy pad.

The_Conductor

pilly wrote: »

Unfurnished accommodation will only work when we have a culture of long term renting in this country.

As a tenant why would you furnish a place that you're not guaranteed to stay in for any length of time?

I've bought some furniture in the place I'm renting but only pieces that will fit in anywhere.

Also a lot of young people and students don't want/need or care about quality furniture.

According to the RTB- our average tenancy lengths are shooting up- by almost 9 months per annum over each of the last 4 years (more a reflection of lack of opportunities for people to go elsewhere- than anything else I imagine- however, our perpetually short tenancies- really are being radically changed).

Our culture is changing- very very quickly.

LirW

pilly wrote: »

Unfurnished accommodation will only work when we have a culture of long term renting in this country.

As a tenant why would you furnish a place that you're not guaranteed to stay in for any length of time?

I've bought some furniture in the place I'm renting but only pieces that will fit in anywhere.

Also a lot of young people and students don't want/need or care about quality furniture.

Change the average lease to 3 years and in plenty of other countries people don't want to take care of the landlords clutter. It makes sense with short rental periods but people take good care of their own stuff.
I'd prefer my own furniture over someone else's, the strangest thing to me is the mattress that can be very old in places you rent here.
But I see how it makes sense for people that move fairly often.

pilly

LirW wrote: »

Change the average lease to 3 years and in plenty of other countries people don't want to take care of the landlords clutter. It makes sense with short rental periods but people take good care of their own stuff.
I'd prefer my own furniture over someone else's, the strangest thing to me is the mattress that can be very old in places you rent here.
But I see how it makes sense for people that move fairly often.

I'm the same, I have my own mattress as well but younger people aren't too worried about things like that. I wasn't either back then, I think we get more fussy with age.

pilly

On the other hand my son when he moved to Canada had some land when he rented a place with friends and there was no furniture. They hadn't a stick and between them they had to furnish the whole place, that's some expense for a 2 year stay (furniture being a lot more expensive over there), cheapest Ikea bed was 900 dollars.

They managed it by buying second hand stuff but I tell you it's worse than what LL's provide here.

Then again they're all lads and couldn't care less.

The_Conductor

pilly wrote: »

I'm the same, I have my own mattress as well but younger people aren't too worried about things like that. I wasn't either back then, I think we get more fussy with age.

I need a new mattress.......
Apparently they're supposed to be replaced at least every 8 years.
Wonder how many antiques we have out there!

When you're young you have wildly different priorities to oldies like us.........
By the time you've slipped a few disks- you'll begin to value a decent mattress.

John_Rambo

pilly wrote: »

On the other hand my son when he moved to Canada had some land when he rented a place with friends and there was no furniture. They hadn't a stick and between them they had to furnish the whole place, that's some expense for a 2 year stay (furniture being a lot more expensive over there), cheapest Ikea bed was 900 dollars.

They managed it by buying second hand stuff but I tell you it's worse than what LL's provide here.

Then again they're all lads and couldn't care less.

Did you look at the prices for beds on the Canadian IKEA website?!

The_Conductor

Neyite wrote: »

I know many tenants in Galway who don't pay anything other than deposit and first months rent in advance. I have never met anyone in all my years living there who paid more than that, unless it was some sort of penthouse fancy pad.

Two large Galway employers are actively approaching landlords who put properties on the market- and making the proposition, as outlined, to them. There are at least 2 regular users of this forum who have taken them up on this offer. The two units (that I'm aware of)- are well located high spec units- but by no means, penthouse fancy pads. Its very similar to whats happening in the greater Christchurch and Lucan/Leixlip areas in West Dublin/North Kildare. Its an approach that several (mostly US multinationals) are expanding on- in the main to find accommodation for non-national staff who wouldn't otherwise locate/relocate here.

Its a little bit of an abberation- insofar as its a subsection of the residential market- however, given how few units are coming up- its having a disproportionate effect on the market- as the perception is that companies are hoovering up large numbers of such properties- when the reality is more that there is just such a small absolute number of properties on the market.............

Anyhow- we digress. I need coffee.........

__..__

I have an apartment that is going to be empty In a couple of months in Swords. I was going to sell that as well but I decided to put it on Airbnb to try out Airbnb with it for a few months and if that worked out stay in Airbnb and if it didn't put it on the market then.
But it was Airbnb for 1 day and I got calls from two different agents representing two different companies and also from another company calling themselves. All had good offers. One was to take it for 6 months and the others wanted it for a year. I am at the moment in negotiations, but I have pulled it from Airbnb as the corporate let is better for me than the day to day of Airbnb.
Lucky I hadn't taken any Airbnb bookings yet that would have broken up the let period.
If I was doing it again I would probably skip advertising on Airbnb and send out a mail shot to all of the agents in the area that it's available for let to companies and did they have anyone interested.

solargain

Go visit the tenants at their current house to vet them & see how they keep that . If they are looking after their current place you should have no worries

K.Flyer

Just a thought..
The checks always seem to be coming down on the potential tenants side, what about potential Landlords?
Is there a system wherby a prospective tenant can do checks on a potential Landlord?
Can the landlord provide details of previous tenants to find out were there any issues regarding how the tenancy was terminated?
Was deposit returned?
Were issues / repairs during the tenancy dealt with in a fair and timely manner?
Can financial checks be done to make sure the banks are not on his case and the property is at risk?
Is the LL financially srable, fully registered, property insured and tax compliant?
Dealing through an agent or dealing with the landlord direct is no guarantee that all is or will be in order.

__..__

K.Flyer wrote: »

Just a thought..
The checks always seem to be coming down on the potential tenants side, what about potential Landlords?
Is there a system wherby a prospective tenant can do checks on a potential Landlord?
Can the landlord provide details of previous tenants to find out were there any issues regarding how the tenancy was terminated?
Was deposit returned?
Were issues / repairs during the tenancy dealt with in a fair and timely manner?
Can financial checks be done to make sure the banks are not on his case and the property is at risk?
Is the LL financially srable, fully registered, property insured and tax compliant?
Dealing through an agent or dealing with the landlord direct is no guarantee that all is or will be in order.

Absolutely nothing stopping you asking.for whatever garauntees you require.

The_Conductor

__..__ wrote: »

Absolutely nothing stopping you asking.for whatever garauntees you require.

+1 - ask for whatever information would reassure you, to your heart's content.
Akin to the manner in which a tenant may choose not supply requested information to a landlord- the reciprochal is that a landlord may refuse to cooperate in a similar manner.........

The RTB adjudication rulings are also a good resource- unless a case has specifically been removed from public view (which either a tenant or a landlord can request) there is a good history of cases- and you can check to see if any particular landlord features.

The bigger issue for a prospective tenant- is the landlord is liable to come back to you- stating they are entrusting an asset worth 300k (or however much to you) and they have a valid reason to verify your bonifides why should they reciprochate? The obvious answer to that one- is you'd like the reassurance that the property isn't going to be repossessed- and that the landlord doesn't have a history of improperly retaining tenants deposits. However- in the current market- where any given property can sometimes have over a hundred people chasing it- the imperative is to try and distinguish yourself from other prospective tenants- and sell your self to the landlord as a good reliable tenant- not how to antagonise the landlord- before you've even got the unit.........

If/when the property shortage is resolved- the boot may very well be on the other foot- and landlords may be presenting prospective tenants with letters of comfort from banks etc- stating the mortgage is up to date and not in arrears- and other items of likely interest to tenants........... That's going to take some time though............

the_pen_turner

Would data protection stop that

The_Conductor

the_pen_turner wrote: »

Would data protection stop that

Yes- however, there is nothing to stop the prospective tenants volunteering the suggested information in support of their application to get a property.......

Data protection- esp. with the forthcoming GDPR next May- is going to be a massive issue going forwards.

solargain

solargain wrote: »

Go visit the tenants at their current house to vet them & see how they keep that . If they are looking after their current place you should have no worries

And the door handle is wonky at their current house and you dismiss them, when actually they have been asking the landlord to fix it for 4 years and he hasn't.

Ask for a bank statement with their rent payments for the past 3-4-5 years, but redacted for everything else.

Its like a job interview. Don't invite 40 people for a viewing, pick 5 or 6 and interview them properly. What do you do? How did you meet(assuming its a couple), what hobbies do you have? etc. Within about 3 minutes you will get a feel for them and go on your instinct.

pilly

pilly wrote: »

On the other hand my son when he moved to Canada had some land when he rented a place with friends and there was no furniture. They hadn't a stick and between them they had to furnish the whole place, that's some expense for a 2 year stay (furniture being a lot more expensive over there), cheapest Ikea bed was 900 dollars.

They managed it by buying second hand stuff but I tell you it's worse than what LL's provide here.

Then again they're all lads and couldn't care less.

Pilly, you're post is full of holes. Heres a queen-size bed in ikea for $269

jsd1004

Deleted User wrote: »

And the door handle is wonky at their current house and you dismiss them, when actually they have been asking the landlord to fix it for 4 years and he hasn't.

Ask for a bank statement with their rent payments for the past 3-4-5 years, but redacted for everything else.

Its like a job interview. Don't invite 40 people for a viewing, pick 5 or 6 and interview them properly. What do you do? How did you meet(assuming its a couple), what hobbies do you have? etc. Within about 3 minutes you will get a feel for them and go on your instinct.

Perfect example. If they expect a door handle to be fixed and have left it for 4 years they have no pride in their property. Small jobs should be the responsibility of the tenant, I am a tenant and a landlord and treat my rental property the same as the ones i own.

K.Flyer

jsd1004 wrote: »

Perfect example. If they expect a door handle to be fixed and have left it for 4 years they have no pride in their property. Small jobs should be the responsibility of the tenant, I am a tenant and a landlord and treat my rental property the same as the ones i own.

Ha, yeah right. I know tenants who wouldn't change a lightbulb, (maybe some wouldn't know how to) let alone fix a door handle.
They expect their LLs to do these things as they are paying for it.

jsd1004

K.Flyer wrote: »

Ha, yeah right. I know tenants who wouldn't change a lightbulb, (maybe some wouldn't know how to) let alone fix a door handle.
They expect their LLs to do these things as they are paying for it.

We really need to go the route of commercial property in Ireland. All the regs are there. Just transfer them over. Rent a house/unit. Completely unfurnished. No kitchen. Nothing. Rent it and furnish it and have rights for life. Surely it cant be too hard to give commercial rights to residential tenants. Get rid of this nonsense of evicting people if they need to sell or occupy. This does not happen in commercial and should not happen in residential.

jsd1004

jsd1004 wrote: »

We really need to go the route of commercial property in Ireland. All the regs are there. Just transfer them over. Rent a house/unit. Completely unfurnished. No kitchen. Nothing. Rent it and furnish it and have rights for life. Surely it cant be too hard to give commercial rights to residential tenants. Get rid of this nonsense of evicting people if they need to sell or occupy. This does not happen in commercial and should not happen in residential.

Why would any property owner be willing to hand over total control to tenants. Sheer madness.

jsd1004

Ismael Thankful Clip wrote: »

Why would any property owner be willing to hand over total control to tenants. Sheer madness.

Why not? Its the norm in commercial. Its the reason why the residential market is dysfunctional. No one has control. Not tenants or landlords

GGTrek

jsd1004 wrote: »

Ismael Thankful Clip wrote: »

Why would any property owner be willing to hand over total control to tenants. Sheer madness.

Why not? Its the norm in commercial. Its the reason why the residential market is dysfunctional.  No one has control. Not tenants or landlords

I would love it. No RTB kangaroo court (go to proper court with proper procedure and pay costs), no human rights BS, right to re-entry if rent not paid, free to negotiate contract terms like adults without government interfering continously. Will it happen in Ireland: never! The socialists hiding behind BS human rights arguments will never allow it, there is a whole industry of political parties, NGOs, ... living on this.
However no commercial tenant has rights for life (unlike what they want to do the socialists with residential tenancies by stealth and life of a company is difficult to define), they usually get long leases with periodic rent reviews, a short background: https://businessandlegal.ie/termination-and-ending-leases

justfillmein

i have been renting in the same property for 8years. i get on fine with my landlord but i havent asked him once to paint the place since i have been here. i do it all myself, and i do a fine job if i must say.
i am a 'young parent', i dont smoke, i dont drink(so no parties), and i rarely have people over. no trouble ever with neighbours. i have kids and i regularly have to clean paw prints from the walls and run over them with a paint brush too, same with windows, inside and out(who wouldnt want kids!).
all of the furniture here is mine, there isnt even a curtain pole belong to him because the poles he had wouldnt even hold a set of curtains up. the oven, fridge and machine are regularly cleaned and maintained because that is how i like to have my home.

the neighbour next door is a nurse, and you can see mould all over her venetian blind in the front room and around the window sill. the back dooors are pure yellow from either smoke or from toasting her spices. the back garden by now nearly looks like chernobyl.

so yeah, a professional couple trumps a young family...

jsd1004

jsd1004 wrote: »

Why not? Its the norm in commercial. Its the reason why the residential market is dysfunctional. No one has control. Not tenants or landlords

The LL should have full control imo.

K.Flyer

I'm sorry folks, but there is a huge misconception that high rent and "professional" tenants equals clean, tidy well looked after properties, in exactly the same way there is the misconception that all people on HAP or whatever wreck the place.
I am in and out of rented apartments in Dublin every week, from the lowest to the highest and have seen almost everything inbetween.
Because of my work I get to see what most Landlords or people will never see, and it so surprising, good and bad, what is behind some of those front doors.

__..__

justfillmein wrote: »

i have been renting in the same property for 8years. i get on fine with my landlord but i havent asked him once to paint the place since i have been here. i do it all myself, and i do a fine job if i must say.
i am a 'young parent', i dont smoke, i dont drink(so no parties), and i rarely have people over. no trouble ever with neighbours. i have kids and i regularly have to clean paw prints from the walls and run over them with a paint brush too, same with windows, inside and out(who wouldnt want kids!).
all of the furniture here is mine, there isnt even a curtain pole belong to him because the poles he had wouldnt even hold a set of curtains up. the oven, fridge and machine are regularly cleaned and maintained because that is how i like to have my home.

the neighbour next door is a nurse, and you can see mould all over her venetian blind in the front room and around the window sill. the back dooors are pure yellow from either smoke or from toasting her spices. the back garden by now nearly looks like chernobyl.

so yeah, a professional couple trumps a young family...

its all about experience.
Your landlord will rent to someone like you in future and tell all his mates and websites such as boards to do the same.
The landlord next door will never again rent to someone like your neighbour and will tell all their mates and websites such as boards to do the same.
Eventually a pattern will arise in peoples experiences.

ELM327

davo10 wrote: »

See the trick is not to ask it/say it, the tenants themselves will you that info and you always say, yes I do accept HAP/RAS.

Names will do, if in doubt, don't take the risk. A lot of vexatious disputes being submitted, you don't want a tenant who does this, better to have an empty property than a bad tenant.

Agreed.
Taking a month sometimes with no income between tenancies is better than a bad tenant - witholding rent, damage property etc.

Agree with all the above posts re HAP/pets/families etc.

Currently on a break from property investments (I sold off stakes I had to aggregate my funds). But it's the right time to get back into the market now, I will be on the lookout for some good property (/ies) to rent out in desirable areas to desirable tenants. Having been a tenant in the past myself aswell as an LL, I've got a good working knowlege of the RTA from both sides and that's often half the battle.

ELM327

jsd1004 wrote: »

We really need to go the route of commercial property in Ireland. All the regs are there. Just transfer them over. Rent a house/unit. Completely unfurnished. No kitchen. Nothing. Rent it and furnish it and have rights for life. Surely it cant be too hard to give commercial rights to residential tenants. Get rid of this nonsense of evicting people if they need to sell or occupy. This does not happen in commercial and should not happen in residential.

As a previous and prospective landlord I would support this as an optional method. EG you can sign up for a "non furnished" lease with the above dictat, or you can offer a property as now, furnished.