How to Find Your Ideal Tenant (and Keep Them Happy!)

At D B Roberts, as a leading property management company in Shropshire, Staffordshire & The West Midlands, we’ve got expert insights to help you secure a reliable tenant - and keep them happy!

As Chartered Surveyors with an excellent reputation, we uphold the highest professional standards, providing reliable, expert management.

1. Define Your Ideal Tenant Profile

Before advertising your property to let, think about the type of tenant you want. Are you targeting professionals, students, or families? Each tenant type has different needs:

Professionals may prefer modern finishes and proximity to good transport links.

Students might look for affordability and communal, sociable, living spaces.

Families will prioritise good schools, parks and safety.

Understanding your ideal tenant helps tailor your property accordingly. We understand that securing a tenant is just the start of the journey. Whether you own one property or multiple, your investments are important and DB Roberts' efficient, proactive property management services ensure you will achieve the best return in the rental market.

2. Create an Attractive Listing

Your advertisement is the first impression potential tenants will get of your rental property. To attract high-quality renters:

Use high-quality photos to showcase the property’s best features.

Write a compelling description and highlight unique selling points.

Be transparent about costs so include rent, deposit and any fees upfront.

Use relevant local keywords and phrases to ensure your rental can be found in searches.

No need to worry, though! We're experts at creating eye-catching listings that attract the perfect tenants, quickly. DB Roberts advertises your property on major portals like Rightmove and Zoopla, as well as through our own website.

3. Conduct Thorough Tenant Screening

Finding the right tenant isn’t just about who shows interest first. In the current rental climate, it’s likely you will receive many enquiries. So, a comprehensive screening process should include:

Credit checks to assess financial reliability.

Employment verification to ensure they have a stable income.

Previous landlord references to get insights into their rental history.

As an experienced letting agent in Shropshire, Staffordshire & The West Midlands, we handle all background checks, ensuring you get trustworthy tenants. We ask all potential viewers to complete a pre application form, which we will discuss with you as a landlord before commencement of viewings. We handle all viewings and conduct comprehensive tenant referencing to ensure we place reliable tenants in your property.

4. Build a Strong Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Once you've found the perfect tenant, keeping them happy is key. A satisfied tenant is more likely to renew their tenancy, saving you the cost and effort of finding new renters. Here’s how:

Be responsive and always address maintenance issues promptly.

Maintain the property regularly to keep tenants comfortable.

Offer flexibility when possible, such as small adjustments, like allowing pets or minor decorative changes as this can increase tenant satisfaction.

At DB Roberts, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding management services for positive landlord-tenant relationships. By choosing DB Roberts to manage your property, you and your tenants will have a dedicated property manager who offers ongoing support. They will ensure your property is properly maintained and your tenants are well taken care of, providing a smooth and efficient service for everyone.

5. Set Fair Rent and Clear Terms

Charging a competitive rent ensures you attract and retain quality tenants. Research local rental rates to stay competitive. Here’s what’s important:

Clearly outline tenancy terms to avoid misunderstandings.

Ensure compliance with legal requirements, from deposit protection to safety regulations.

Offer incentives for long-term tenancies such as discounts or minor upgrades as this can encourage renewals.

DB Roberts Property Management team can handle all aspects of rent collection, compliance and lease agreements, ensuring peace of mind for landlords. Renting out a property requires strict adherence to legal requirements. As your managing agent, DB Roberts will arrange all necessary safety certificates for your assured shorthold tenancy or your HMO tenancy, including gas, electrical, legionnaires disease, energy performance certificates and fire safety checks. We also provide a legally compliant tenancy agreement for added peace of mind.

6. Provide a Smooth Move-In Experience

A seamless move-in process sets the tone for a good tenancy, so ensure your rental is up to standard before the tenancy commences. Check the following:

The property is clean and well-maintained.

All appliances and utilities are in working order.

A thorough inventory check is conducted.

We assist landlords with all aspects of move-in preparation, ensuring your tenants feel welcome from day one. We prepare an electronic schedule of condition to document the property's state, as required before a tenant moves in. DB Roberts collects the security deposit and places it in an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme, as the law requires. The first months rent and security deposit is taken 5 working days before the tenancy start date to ensure the funds are cleared in our client account before we release the keys to the tenant.

7. Stay on Top of Property Maintenance

Preventative maintenance reduces costly repairs and keeps tenants happy. Regular inspections allow you to address issues before they escalate.

Regularly checking for damp and leaks.

Testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Annual boiler servicing.

DB Roberts provide proactive maintenance services, ensuring your property stays in top condition. Should any repairs be needed, tenants can easily report issues through our online system, available 24/7. You will have access to this system for your approval. You can provide us with an authorised limit if you wish to do so. Payments for repairs are paid directly from the rent. We work with pre approved, insured contractors, who are experts in Property Maintenance to ensure work is completed to a high standard.

What Next?

Finding the right tenant is about more than just filling a vacancy – it’s about securing someone who will treat your property with care and respect. With the right approach, you can ensure a positive and profitable rental experience.

At DB Roberts , we specialise in matching landlords with reliable tenants and managing properties with professionalism and care. Whether you're looking for expert letting agent services or a full-service property management company, we’re here to help!