As a landlord, your residential property is your bread and butter, and should be kept spick and span at all times. Residential renovations due to regular wear and tear are usually easy to carry out. These usually don’t require the residents to move out of the premises. When carrying out major renovations such as simultaneous bathroom and kitchen renovations, the nature of the project could make living in the house untenable. In these cases, having the residents of the house vacate for the duration of the renovations would be ideal. Some tips to make this easy include:
Get It Done When The Property Is Vacant
If the previous residents have just vacated the premises, you could use this opportunity to carry out major renovations before putting it back in the market. This is usually the most convenient way to make major renovations. The property will be easier to let after the project is complete since its quality will have improved.
Discuss With Tenants In Advance
Planning for major renovations to rental property has to take into account the tenants’ rights. Current occupants have to be involved in the decision-making process. Long before you start the renovations, you will need to explain your intentions to them, and then come up with an agreement regarding how they will vacate the property once the renovations are bound to begin. You may also need to go through the lease agreement to get information such as the stipulated grace period given when you give tenants notice to vacate the property.
Offer Alternative Temporary Accommodation
If the renovations are critical, it would be difficult to simply kick out the current tenants and then invite them back in when the project is done. Part of the discussion about the project with them should include how their accommodation will be addressed. Ways to do this include offering them vacant units where they can stay until the work is done, renting them temporary homes or paying for hotel stays for the duration of the renovation. This could be considered a part of the cost of the renovation. The key to getting this right is involving the tenants in the decision-making process so that they are comfortable with the temporary residence. Otherwise, you may face legal challenges and may have the renovation delayed due to refusal to move.
Assurance That Property Will Be Secure
A major renovation project may require that the residents leave the property, but this does not necessarily mean that they have to move with all their belongings, which is cumbersome. If the project is being done in the kitchens and bathrooms, for instance, there may be no need for tenants to move with items from the living rooms, bedrooms and other areas of the house since they may be untouched. When embarking on a major, specialized renovation project, you can let the tenants leave these items behind. You will need to make guarantees that they will be safe. Working with a trusted service provider gives you the assurance that the job will be well done, and that any property in adjacent rooms will be left untouched.
Not having to move with their belongings is just one more way to make tenants more receptive to the idea of temporarily vacating the premises so that you can carry out renovations.