One of the important task for landlord and property manager is to retain good tenants. Good renters make great assets to both the landlord and property manager.

Here are 7 things to do to keep good tenants happy and in no rush to move:

1. Respond quickly to complaints about broken appliance or HVAC issue, particularly during summer. Suggest landlord to purchase home warranty policy or consider hiring a HVAC contractor to perform seasonal tune up the HVAC system.
2. Schedule maintenance and repairs at times convenient for the tenants, and get tenant permission first before cvontractor entering the property.
3. Follow through on repair requests and other commitments. Recognize that all tenants want their repairs handled promptly, efficiently, and predictably. Many tenants are “renters by choice” who prefer to rent rather than own. Partly because they want someone else to be responsible for repairs. Have a repair and maintenance process that helps to consistently meet or exceed tenant expectations is important.
4. Give the tenants advance notice of upcoming inconveniences that you’re aware of. If you’re aware of upcoming road closures or a planned power or water outage, consider sending out a newsletter, email, or phone call informing the tenants ahead of time.
5. If you are allowing pets, make sure pet owner clean up after them! Tenant retention has been shown to improve if pets are allowed, and certainly there are some great tenants out there who are also animal lovers. If tenants are allowed to keep pets, make sure the lease outlines that the tenant is responsible for all pet damages and for cleaning up after the pets.
6. Be polite, courteous, and professional. Recognize that being a landlord or property manager requires great customer service skills. When the phone rings and the call is from a tenant who is paying thousands of dollars a year, speak politely and be helpful.
7. Create opportunities to appreciate the good tenants. Take time to say “thank you” or send thank-you cards when appropriate. Gestures such as these go a long way in making your good tenants feel welcome and appreciated.

Good tenants know they are good tenants, and they expect to be treated that way. It’s worth the extra effort to keep them. Especially when the rent is paid on time and the property is well maintained.