7 Ways to Raise Your Tenant Retention Rate

Want to keep tenants on your rental properties? Read this list of 7 ways to raise your tenant retention rate now!

It’s the priority of every landlord to keep high-quality tenants in their properties. Tenants that don’t cause trouble and always pay their rent on time. That said, however, you won’t be able to find perfect tenants every single time. Still, it’s also important to remember that tenant turnover is one of the most expensive parts of rental properties. As such, landlords generally need to avoid tenant turnover as much as possible. To help you with this, we’ve put together a list of 7 ways to raise your tenant retention rate.

Thoroughly screen tenants before accepting them
First up on our list of the seven ways to raise your tenant retention rate is finding good tenants in the first place. Screening your tenants before allowing them to stay on your property is the best way to ensure they won’t cause trouble and you won’t have to kick them out. So, do a background check, verify their income and look into some tenant references. When talking to the tenant references, ask them questions such as: were there issues with the tenant, did they pay rent on time and in full, how did they maintain the property, and would they rent to this tenant again? If you don’t like what you hear, it’s probably best to decline the tenant. Additionally, consider some staging tips for your rental property to attract tenants in the first place.

Thoroughly screening your tenants beforehand is an excellent strategy.

Keep rent increases consistent and fair
As a landlord, one of the priorities for your rentals is to bring in profit. As such, it’s understandable that, over time, you’ll increase the rent rates to stay profitable. However, prices rising suddenly and by too much can scare off a lot of tenants. Try to keep the increases smaller and introduce them over more extended time periods. Additionally, do market research and justify your reasons for increasing the rent. A good rule of thumb is to keep the rates lower than market rates and implement them slowly. Additionally, experts from Peasley Transfer & Storage advise that, if you do have to turn over a tenant, there are benefits to having a storage unit on standby. A bit of extra space never hurts.

Give incentives for lease renewals
One of the most important ways to raise your tenant retention rate is to give incentives for lease renewals. After all, your tenants renewing their lease means they will stay on your property, which should be a priority. The most effective incentive is, of course, a discount on the rent. However, this isn’t always an option, and you must get creative. For example, you can consider partnering with companies to offer your tenants deals and other similar things. Remember, you need to keep your tenants interested, so whatever offer you make, you need to make sure it’s something they’ll consider.

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Incentives are a great way to keep tenants interested in your property.

Keep an eye on the rental markets
Local amenities are a big part of retaining your current tenants. If your properties start to get outdated, tenants will look for better places to stay, and you will lose them. As such, it’s essential to constantly monitor the local rental markets and stay up to date with your properties. Remember, upgrades to your rental properties are investments and will pay for themselves in the long run. Of course, questions like should you install smart technology in your rental property are good to ask. But, generally speaking, the answer is usually yes, especially if other properties in the area are starting to do it.

Make maintenance a priority
Nobody wants to stay on a property that is falling apart, and that’s completely understandable. This means that you should always prioritize maintenance for your rental properties. Be proactive with your maintenance, and make it a routine that you stick to. If some unexpected problems occur, whether it’s a complete accident or the tenant’s fault, make sure to fix them as soon as possible. Of course, avoiding emergency repairs is the best way to deal with them, and if a tenant notifies you of an issue, it’s important to answer promptly and get it fixed. This also builds trust and shows that you are a professional, which are both excellent for tenant retention. Finally, if you need to change the flooring on your properties, consider how to choose the right flooring for your rental property. These things are going to keep your tenants happy and in place.

Proper and timely maintenance is excellent for tenant retention rates.

Provide quality customer service
No matter how you look at it, customer service is essential for all businesses, and rentals are the same. If your tenants feel heard and valued, they will likely stay on your properties. This starts as early as their move-in date. You must provide all the information your tenant needs to move into the property. From there on, make sure to listen to their requests and worries and reply promptly. If any sort of issue arises, answer them as quickly as possible and see that they’re solved just as quickly. And when dealing with problems or general maintenance, keep your tenants updated on the progress. Remember, everyone likes being heard and valued, and it goes a long way for your tenant retention rate.

Be professional but also personable
Every landlord has measures and punishments for damage to the property, missed payments, and other issues. It makes sense, as they need to enforce the lease rules to stay in business. However, remember also to be understanding with your tenants. For example, if your best tenant happens to miss a payment, try to check in with them. See what the problem is and try to find a solution instead of immediately resorting to punishments.

7 ways to raise your tenant retention rate – wrap up
Landlords need to ensure their tenants stay on their properties to avoid losing profit. Thankfully, there are quite a few easy ways to increase retention rates if you’re willing to put in a little effort. We hope that this list of 7 ways to raise your tenant retention rate helps you out.

Photos used:
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