
5 Effective Ways to Reduce Tenant Turnover
November 17, 2021Tenant turnover must be a significant subject for developers, property managers, and landlords. Vacancy rates for rental properties should be below five percent to ensure a steady stream of tenants that will benefit the landlord and the management company financially. However, a high turnover rate can lead to difficulties in selecting new tenants who will maintain the occupancy rates at a desirable level.
Statistics show that, on average, a renter moves every five years, while long-term residents may stay for more than ten years. The motivation behind moving varies by geographic location, socioeconomic status, and personal preference. In some regions where homeownership opportunities are stronger than renting, people might stay in their homes for decades or even a lifetime.
For these reasons, landlords should think of effective and efficient tenant turnover strategies to avoid difficulties and expenses related to finding new tenants. Here are some ways on how to reduce tenant turnover:
1. Keep Rent Competitive
If you don’t have the capital necessary to purchase a rental property, consider applying for financing to allow you to expand your business and increase the supply of available units on the market, so you do not have a shortage of renters. There are ways to lower monthly rents by converting a two-bedroom into another one-bedroom if one is already occupied.
You may also reduce rates after finding out what percentage of each income bracket is willing to pay. Doing this allows you to maintain consistent occupancy rates because of the increased demand from prospective tenants looking for affordable housing without giving up quality amenities.
2. Update Your Property with Modern Amenities and Add Value
Modernizing current units may discourage existing renters from moving out the next year. You can increase curb appeal by landscaping or adding new flooring, paint, cabinets, and fixtures making the unit more desirable. A competitive rent price is also important because it shows that you offer an affordable home for potential tenants.
Moreover, consider updating the overall layout of the common areas to boost resident retention rates. Ensure to inform residents about these updates, so they can feel proud of their homes, knowing that you care enough to improve them every year. This is why famous property managers, such as Platinum Realty Group, attract many tenants because of this strategy. Consider adopting this technique to decrease the vacancy rate on your rental property.
3. Ensure Effective Management Practices
Many property managers have reported that tenant turnover is directly related to management practices. To avoid high rates of renter attrition, you must ensure the following:
- Ensure you are responsive to tenant needs.
- Be transparent about all information given to residents.
- Provide accurate rent payments.
- Act on repair requests immediately.
4. Hire a Property Manager
Doing all the work yourself may take up valuable time that you could use elsewhere and might result in mistakes that have serious consequences. These may include being fined by local authorities or sued for discrimination if you mistake rejecting a prospective tenant.
As a landlord, it is best to hire a property manager responsible for handling any tenant complaints while protecting your best interest. And at the same time, they make sure that they are dealing with your tenants within the confines of the law to avoid any possible legal issues. They are also responsible for maximizing profits by finding renters below market rates and increasing occupancy rates.
So, instead of worrying about finding tenants, you can now focus on running your business. Working with property managers also reduces no vacancies without having to worry about overcrowding because they will manage everything from rental agreements to maintenance requests. If you’re looking for HOA property management Boston area, you may visit Platinum Realty Group.
5. Stay on Top of Repairs
Losing tenants due to poor living conditions is one of the most common reasons they leave. As the landlord, this is a sign that you need to know when things are not working properly or risk losing renters who might complain about these issues with friends and family looking for a rental house or apartment.
Hiring a property manager who will make it their job to inspect units on behalf of the owner prevents this from happening. They can have the opportunity to fix the issue before it becomes widespread. You can also cut extra expenses and save time by keeping up-to-date with appliance maintenance and HVAC inspection appointments. You don’t want your tenants moving out due to device failure that could have been prevented if the unit had been inspected beforehand.
In a Nutshell
There are many ways to avoid the turnover of rental units, but these are the top 5 practices that you can do to make your life easier and maximize profits by keeping more renters in your properties longer. In addition, consider investing in a property management company that will provide these services for you while using your interests as their priority. You can also pay a maintenance team to handle any tenant concerns about the property’s condition.
Whatever you choose, following these simple yet effective steps will help keep tenants happy, so they have no reason to move out, allowing you to receive more income from your rental units over time. If you’re looking for real estate companies in Boston, Platinum Realty Group may help you with your rental properties.