What Tenants Want

In a competitive property market, renting is becoming a serious long-term choice for many Australians. So what do tenants look for in a rental property? We asked our Facebook fans what features (if any) they’d pay more for as tenants. Here’s how they responded.

Air Conditioning

We might be the sunburnt country but we hate being hot. Air conditioning came top of every renter’s wish list.

While most experts agree installing reverse-cycle air con won’t substantially increase your home’s sale value, it definitely makes it more appealing to tenants, so landlords can often charge slightly more for a place with air con.

With summer becoming more intense a prospect each year, it makes sense that keeping cool is a premium.

 

Pets

Coming a close second was pet friendliness.

Tammara-Lee expressed her frustration: “I’m so sick of rental properties not being allowed pets. ‘Great family home… no pets’. How is that a family home then?“

Renee said: “I wouldn’t pay more rent to be able to have a pet but I’d be willing to pay $$ towards a ‘pet bond’. I also have a reference from each real estate I rent through which states I am a responsible pet owner.”

Bec added: “It’s interesting how you can discriminate against people with animals and not people with children! I have seen far more damage in properties from children than animals.”

 

Clean & Tidy

We hear you, loud and clear: renters, like buyers, want a property that’s clean and tidy.

It doesn’t have to be the Ritz, but a well looked after and well-presented property is likely to attract more interest and command higher rents. Make sure your place doesn’t turn renters off before they sign the lease.

 

Modern Bathroom & Kitchen

As Hart Estate Agents told us: “We find that prospective tenants now days place a lot of emphasis on having a modern bathroom and kitchen.”

Anastasia felt strongly: “There ought to be laws against landlords renting out sub-par properties, i.e. kitchens circa 1970s, threadbare carpets and so on within metropolitan areas, just because they think they can.”

Judging by the comments dishwashers are also very attractive – we all like a little luxury and convenience.

 

Maintenance

Another hot topic was property maintenance. It worries both landlords and renters, with property managers and agents often becoming the ham in the maintenance sandwich.

Kirsty hit on a common problem for tenants: “Our air conditioning stopped working end of last year and even after many complaints no one has fixed it yet.”

Landlords are concerned too, as Anna said: “It really annoys me as a landlord to constantly chase the agent to make the repairs to the property that we have approved.”

Janine hit the nail on the head: “It seems to me what both landlords and tenants expect is good service for their hard earned money.”

 

A Fair Go

Discrimination is against the law. But pensioners and single people (particularly single mums) told us they felt discriminated against when applying to rent.

Kathryn said: “I had one rental agent straight up tell me that I would be unlikely to be considered, even for the houses on the lowest rent (and worst areas) because I am a single mum and ‘who knows what sort of people I might bring home and end up living with.’ Really?”

Alison agreed. “Even though I’m extremely house proud and work 45+ hrs a week there is still a real stigma with agents leasing properties to single mums,” she said.

Garry added: “Give pensioners a fair go as well, as I’m on the pension not by choice“.

It hardly seems right that we’d consider paying more to be treated fairly, but perceived inequity is definitely something renters aren’t happy to tolerate for less.

 

In It For The Long Haul

Many renters complained about the disruptiveness of having to move too often, not to mention the costs associated with cleaning, removalists and more.

Sharon said: “All I wanted was a landlord who didn’t make me sign a 12 month lease only to want to move back in 6 months themselves.”

And Shae agreed: “Somewhere that will allow me to rent long term 5+ years I hate getting all set up and comfy then have to move again.”

In parallel however is a trend that sees some renter wanting the freedom to rent month to month on ultra-short leases.

Paying for flexibility seems key.

 

Security

We don’t mean burglar alarms and grilles; gates, windows and doors that properly lock keep most renters happy.

You’d think it was obvious, but as Kelly said: “A house with doors! For some reason the landlord removed all the doors to bedrooms, lounge and dining room, in our current house – weird!”

 

Location

Renters – like buyers – look for location, location, location. Proximity to public transport, good schools, shops and parks are always good assets in a rental property.

Trish said: “I’m paying top dollar rent at the moment but I’m close to the school and shops.” Renters are happier to pay if they’re where they want and need to be for their lifestyles.

 

Home Comforts

Forward thinking landlords take note. Many of our readers said they really valued the little things that make a home more pleasant to live in – things you might install if you owned the place.

Flyscreens, washing machine, or a clothesline for instance, wiring to allow cable internet and TV, or solar panels to save on electricity costs.

 

The Great Outdoors

A garden or outdoor space was a top priority and some said they’d pay even more if a landlord included garden maintenance or lawn mowing.

 

Storage

Garages, carports or off street parking, sheds and built-in storage are all high on people’s lists.

 

A Good Landlord

Landlords want good tenants but tenants want a good landlord too!

Tarryn spoke for many tenants when she said: “There is a website where agencies record bad tenants, I am thinking of starting one for bad agents and landlords.”

But Sharon restored hope: “The place is clean and new and beautiful but made better because the landlord is lovely”. As it should be.

 

Information from Editor Emma Sorensen, published on realestate.com.au. Emma is a writer and editor who has published on topics as diverse as the arts, medicine, online classifieds, and property. The former Editor of Property Portal Watch, she now runs a boutique agency, Antelope Media.