Landlords Reveal their Perfect Tenant in New Study
Landlords Reveal their Perfect Tenant in New Study
Landlords have revealed their perfect tenant in a new study of 500 investors by Intus Lettings.
According to the poll, the most desirable tenants are couples with no children, which 29% of landlords put at the top of their lists. The least popular tenants are students, with just 1% of landlords choosing them as their favourite.
The second most perfect tenant is a single young professional, which a quarter of landlords favour, followed by families, which only one in five landlords prefer.
The results of the survey arrive as the latest data from the English Housing Survey shows that 4.5m households now rent from private landlords – a total of 20% of all the homes in England and a 2.5m increase on 2000.
Hope McKendrick, the Lettings Manager at Intus Lettings, comments on the findings: “It’s likely that landlords opted for couples with no dependents due to the stability that it provides. They understand that finding the right tenant can save them time, money and stress in the long-term, and, with the number of people renting continuing to grow, they want to be reassured that those living in their properties are reliable.”
The study also revealed what landlords consider to be the most important aspect during the vetting process. Almost 40% of respondents agreed that references are most likely to sway them to sign on the dotted line, followed by the general attitude of the potential tenant. Age and marital status are the least important.
McKendrick continues: “As the survey results prove, negative experiences with previous landlords or poor references from your employer can impact where you end up living in the future. Landlords have more choice, as more and more people enter the private rented sector, so getting through vetting without glitches and making a positive impression is more crucial than ever.”
When it comes to landlords’ frustrations, damage to their property and furniture was the stand-out concern, followed by failure to pay the rent on time.
What’s your idea of the perfect tenant?