Del Condominium Rentals

Toronto Condo Rentals and Property Management Blog

6 Tips to Increase Tenant Retention for Your Rental Property

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Tenant Retention

As a landlord, you probably already know that some aspects of the job are less fun than others. One of the least enjoyable tasks is trying to fill an empty unit. Not only is searching for tenants time-consuming and frustrating, but it can also be fairly costly.

The longer your unit remains vacant, the longer you have to wait before the next monthly rent check. A vacant rental also comes with additional costs such as marketing, repairs, tenant screening reports, and so on.

In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how you can increase your tenant retention rates, and encourage the same tenants to stay for years to come. By minimizing your turnover rate, you’ll be amazed by how much time and money you can save.

  1. Create a Good Relationship with Your Tenants

The best way to keep your tenants in your unit beyond their lease agreement is to ensure you create a good relationship with your tenants. This means being respectful and professional in your communication, following Ontario’s tenancy laws, being quick with repairs, and going the extra mile to make sure your tenants enjoy living in the apartment. Crucially, it also means being respectful of your tenants’ privacy.

Find out more about how you can create a great tenant-landlord relationship here.

  1. Know Your Market

While a good relationship is crucial, it won’t make much difference if your tenants find a more affordable, more stylish apartment down the road. Just because your units were highly attractive ten years ago, this doesn’t mean your units will still appeal to the current market. Be sure to stay up-to-date on market trends in your area.

Find out the typical demographic of renters and research what they look for in a property. We recommend determining the average monthly rent price in the area, and making sure you aren’t asking for too much relative to your area.

  1. Think About What Improvements Can Be Made

Just because you think your tenants will stay in the unit for another year, this doesn’t mean you get a free pass when it comes to making improvements to the unit. You could even check in with your tenants to find out whether they have any requests for maintenance or appliance replacements. Be sure to schedule a unit review to test the fridge, the washing machine, and the other appliances to see if they can or should be replaced. If not, simply making simple improvements like repainting, reflooring, and eliminating mould can make a huge impact on your tenants’ satisfaction.

  1. Start with Professional Tenant Screening

A good tenant retention rate always starts with tenant screening. By ensuring you select good quality tenants, you can instantly increase your chances of finding tenants who are likely to stick around beyond the end of the first lease. A good tenant screening will include references from previous landlords, information about job security, and financial information. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to choose tenants who are less likely to experience a dramatic change in financial circumstances.

  1. Nurture Your Personal Relationship

While it’s important for you and your tenants to have a positive professional relationship, it can also help to develop a personal relationship, too. This works best in buildings where you are a live-in tenant, or in smaller apartment buildings.

Keep track of your tenants’ names, children, jobs, and interests. This way, you can strike up a friendly conversation when you are visiting the unit. Your tenants will develop a greater sense of trust and respect for you if you take the time to get to know them as people.

  1. Let a Property Manager Do the Hard Work

In many cases, the reality of being a landlord is too time-consuming to do properly. Many landlords find that they simply don’t have the practical means to nurture relationships with all of their tenants, see to timely repairs, and make necessary improvements. As a result, their tenant retention rates may begin to suffer.

Here at Del Condominium Rentals, we offer a full property management service so that you don’t need to worry about your tenants or your vacant units. Instead, our team of experienced property managers will take care of everything. We offer professional marketing, tenant screening, and legal advice, in addition to dealing with repair requests and property visits.

Our team knows how to make your tenants feel comfortable, safe, and taken care of, so that they’ll want to stay in your unit for as long as possible. Are you ready to simplify the landlord experience? Contact our team today by emailing us at sales@delrentals.com or calling 647-952-3644.

Are You Interested in Working With Del Condominium Rentals?
Submit your info below to download a FREE eBook and learn more about our services, management cost and more


Everything You Need to Know About Managing a Rental Property

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Rental Property

Turning your condo into a profitable rental property is very enticing and appealing to many rental property owners. The real estate market in Toronto and the GTA represents a valuable opportunity for investors to generate significant ROIs from properties they purchase and rent.

But being a landlord requires a lot more expertise than being a property owner. There are many things that you’ll need to consider if you want to do it right. The idea of sitting back and collecting rent payments may seem easy, but there are a lot of moving pieces you need to be aware of.

And if you decide to self-manage your property, you’ll want to be familiar with all of these factors. Here are just a few of the most important things that go into managing a rental property:

Tenant Management

Your tenants are the people who pay you rent every month. If you want to profit, it’s essential that you find long-term, suitable tenants who will respect your property and treat it as their own. This means that marketing your condo in the right places and screening tenants is a very important process that requires time and knowledge.

After finding suitable tenants, you will need to regularly communicate with them and make sure you collect rent at the start of every month.

Tenant management is a very important, ongoing job that can be difficult and stressful for landlords. Remember to keep your relationship professional, provide any essential services as required by the law, and minimize disruptions by being attentive to their needs.

Knowing the Market

Understanding the rental market that you are in is an integral part of making the most out of your rental property. Deciding on a rental price and what’s to be included is a major decision you’ll need to make even before listing your rental and talking to potential tenants.

You should ensure that there is a market for your property and that it is rented quickly. However, you also want your investment to be profitable based on the time, effort, and resources you’re putting into it. Knowing the rental market is a big part of owning a rental property.

Property management companies often help you get more value out of your property because they understand market rates, what premium features drive additional revenue and more.

Property Maintenance

Property maintenance and repairs to damages are something that you will have to deal with eventually. After all, wear and tear are unavoidable.

Staying on top of repairs, potential damage, and everything else is an ongoing job. You’ll need to be ready when the time comes and be prepared to act quickly. This means having preferred contractors readily available, resources to carry out the repairs, and the right protocols in place to avoid invading your tenant’s personal space.

Regular check-ins and renovations are an important part of lessening the cost of things and can directly impact the profit you earn from owning a rental property.

Understanding the Law

Tenants have rights, and so do you. Understanding and enforcing the law is something that should never be overlooked when managing your own rental property. It could end up in major penalties and the need to pay large legal bills eventually.

It can take someone a long while to get a solid grasp on the legalities surrounding renting out a property so they can be sure to follow them. On top of this, the rules are constantly being changed and amended, so it’s an ongoing process for the property manager to stay on top of it.

Accounting

Just like any business, it’s important to keep proper records and manage the property’s finances. Saving money for maintenance, paying fees associated with the property, and keeping track of everything is another job that will take up a good chunk of time for the property manager.

If there ever was an issue with a tenant and they sought legal help, you would be expected to have kept records of things in association with your condo and the tenants. By not keeping records, you are taking a huge risk that could come back to haunt you down the road.

Del Condominium Rentals – Reliable Property Management You Can Count On

Self-managing your own property is a big job that should not be taken lightly. If you have a full-time job or manage multiple properties, you may struggle to do the job effectively and efficiently.

That’s why so many people seek the help of a property management company like Del Property Management. We have over 30 years of experience working with our clients throughout Toronto and the GTA.

Let Del Condominium Rentals simplify the landlord experience for you. We can help you find tenants, maintain your property, and keep you in good standing with your condo association.

Are you interested in learning more? Get in touch with the Del Condominium Rentals team today by emailing sales@delrentals.com or calling us at (647)-952-3644.

Are You Interested in Working With Del Condominium Rentals?
Submit your info below to download FREE eBook and learn more about our services, management cost and more


Tips for Following Health and Safety Standards in Your Rental Property

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While owning a condominium in the GTA can be a lucrative business investment, there are a vast number of province-wide regulations that you need to follow when you lease your rental property. Some of the most important laws to be aware of are those that relate to the health and safety standards for all rental properties in the GTA. 

Failing to comply with these rules can get you into serious legal and financial trouble. We’ve put together a set of useful tips that are designed to help you follow these regulations—so you can reduce your risk and turn your property into a powerful investment tool.

Keeping the Property in Good Repair

The Residential Tenancies Act (sometimes known as the RTA) states that landlords in Ontario are required to follow certain guidelines for the health and safety of their tenants. The most important regulation, and the one you are most likely to come across as a landlord, is that the property must be kept in good repair. 

This means that it is your legal responsibility to repair any damage caused by reasonable wear and tear for your tenant’s safety. This can include: 

  • Replacing broken appliances. Be sure to check the lifespan of all of the appliances in your rental unit. Most appliances have a lifespan of around ten years. However, this can vary. Do your research before an appliance breaks down. 
  • Fixing leaking faucets. Leaking faucets are a matter of safety for your tenants as water leaks can lead to dangerous and expensive mould build-ups.
  • Repainting walls with peeling paint. Peeling paint poses a health danger as it can create lead-contaminated dust.
  • Dealing with clogged pipes and drains. Clogged pipes can also create an unhealthy atmosphere in the home. If left untreated, they can also damage your property.
  • Providing a suitable supply of utilities. Unless it is specified in the lease, you cannot start charging for utilities. 
  • Maintaining clean and hazard-free communal areas. As the owner of the entire building, you are responsible for keeping areas like the garage and communal hallway clean and free from hazardous materials.
  • Preventing and removing pest and insect infestations. You may be surprised to learn that pests and insects are also your responsibility—however, if your tenant reports an infestation, it’s your job to hire a pest control company. 

All of these responsibilities are in place to ensure your tenants live in safe and healthy conditions. It’s important that you are aware of which repairs and utilities you are responsible for to avoid the legal repercussions that come when you fail to comply. 

It’s always best practice to stay on top of your repairs and maintenance in order to keep your property from falling into a state of disrepair. If you are new to being a landlord, you may be surprised at how quickly “wear and tear” can occur. For this reason, schedule regular inspections where you can keep an eye on what is safe in the unit and what is not. 

The Most Common Legal Repercussions 

When you fail to keep your rental unit safe by neglecting any of the issues mentioned above, you can quickly run into legal difficulties. 

Here is what you can expect to occur when you don’t maintain healthy living standards for your tenants. 

  • After issuing a letter to you, the tenant can contact the Property Standards department. 
  • An inspector will make an appointment and order the necessary repairs with a deadline.
  • If you fail to comply in time, you will be fine or event charged with an offence.

It’s important to note that even if you do comply, the tenant can apply for an abatement of rent until the repairs are made, so you may lose your rent money until the home is safe and healthy. Be careful to request the official documentation proving that your tenant has applied for this abatement in an official capacity. 

Del Condominium Rentals: Helping Landlords in the GTA

Staying on top of your property’s compliance with health and safety standards is both a time-consuming and an incredibly important part of your landlord duties. If you fail to stay on top of the crucial repairs listed in this article, you may find yourself in legal trouble for failing to ensure the health and safety of your tenants.

That’s where we come in. At Del Condominium Rentals, we offer a full range of property management services. We shoulder the burden of repairs, rent collection, tenant screening, and more—so you can sit back and wait for your monthly rent cheque. 

Find out more about our services or contact us at 647-952-3644 or by emailing sales@delrentals.com
Are You Interested in Working With Del Condominium Rentals?
Submit your info below to download FREE eBook and learn more about our services, management cost and more


About Del Condominium Rentals

Del Condominium Rentals (DCR) is a full service rental management company. For more information about our program and how to have your suite professionally managed, please contact our Head Office at 647-952-3644 or email us at sales@delrentals.com

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