Communication, communication, communication – that’s the secret to successfully managing your let property and keeping your tenants happy during lockdown.
Keeping in touch through constant face to face contact during these challenging times is not such a good idea, of course, but the vacuum has been filled by virtual communications (audio or video) in practically every walk of life.
Landlord-tenant relationships are no different. So, make sure you have each other’s telephone numbers, email addresses or social media handles and reassure your tenants that you – and your letting agents if appropriate – can still be contacted.
It is largely a question of using common sense. Following the government announcement of a full lockdown in England, the National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA) has offered some guidance.
In it together
It is also worth remembering that both you and your tenants are in much of the same boat when it comes to the pandemic – social distancing is required, otherwise normal working patterns (and income) are overturned or stop altogether, and finances become ever more stretched as periods of prolonged lockdown are imposed.
Since you are likely to be sharing similar challenges and hardships, now is probably the time to exercise greater flexibility in your role as a landlord and to consider ways in which you might be helping each other out.
If there is normally a perfectly understandable distance between you and your tenants because you have purposely chosen to manage the relationship through letting agents, it may be a good idea to make clear to your agents that you expect the same degree of flexibility and understanding – in other words, that they share at least some of your views during these times of crisis.
Formalities
Recognising the particular financial difficulties that might be faced by some tenants, the government has published several guidelines about the relationship with landlords during the pandemic.
You can visit the Government website here https://www.gov.uk/ to find the information you are looking for (using the search tool) as well as visit reputable websites such as the NRLA.
What if I have an unoccupied property and I cannot visit it because of Covid restrictions?
As you are aware, you have certain obligations under your landlord or unoccupied property insurance to make sure that your property is safe, secure, and regularly checked on if it is unoccupied.
Failure to meet these obligations could see the cover be restricted.
During lockdown, different insurers have different requirements as to you (or a representative) checking on your property. Plus, where your property is in the country will also be a consideration.
To ensure continued cover, please contact us for clarification – as ever, we shall be more than happy to help. Please telephone 01702 606301 or email us at cover4letproperty@alanblunden.co.uk.
