9 Things That Enhance the Tenant Experience

What kind of experience do your tenants have residing at your property? Renters who are pleased with living at your building are more likely to be the kind of long term tenants that you want to have. This is why it’s so important to devise strategies that enhance the tenant experience.

Having a strong focus on a positive tenant experience adds a layer of value. When tenants value their rental property they pay their bills on time and don’t cause damage to the unit or issues with their neighbors. Take steps towards improving the sentiment of renters at your property with our top 9 ways to enhance the tenant experience.

1. Proper Maintenance

Make the most of what your property has to offer with proper maintenance. Even if your property has everything tenants want, it won’t perform if it looks rundown and dated. Have a proactive maintenance procedure in place which includes inspections, routine maintenance, and upgrades.

Enhance the tenant experience by ensuring that no part of the property is being neglected. Proper maintenance is important both within the units and also outside. Take care of the building itself as well as public spaces so that tenants can feel pride in where they live and enjoy all the amenities that your property has to offer.

2. Improve Accessibility

Proper accessibility should be a priority in any multi-family building. Adequate and well placed wheelchair accessible ramps are a must and these should be well lit and kept clear at all times. In some buildings it may be necessary to install an elevator in order to provide safe and appropriate means of access and egress for residents as well as visitors.

3. Responsive Landlord

Tenants want to know that their landlord will help them if they experience trouble. Enhance the tenant experience by being the kind of landlord that tenants can rely upon and trust. If renters have a problem they should feel confident going to their landlord knowing that their concerns will be taken seriously.

A landlord should always have time to listen to tenants and respond appropriately and in a timely manner. Never disregard what a tenant is saying as unimportant or not feasible. Do what needs to be done to address tenant concerns and if it’s impossible to resolve then explain why this is the case.

4. Online Tools

Enhance the tenant experience by giving renters access to online tools that will help them manage their account and their home. Payments, lease renewals, and maintenance tickets are just some of the functions that tenants should be able to access on their own. Along with the added convenience, the ability to view their payment history and correspondence online means less paperwork to deal with.

5. The Right Amenities

Property managers know that the amenities of the building can improve tenant satisfaction and financial outcomes but not all amenities are created equal. Some can be costly and incompatible with the lifestyle of your renters. It’s important to invest in the right amenities to enhance the tenant experience.

The types of amenities to focus on will depend on the features of your building, location, budget, and the type of renters that your property attracts. If most of your tenants are students from the nearby college then installing playground equipment would be unlikely to yield positive returns. Some amenities such as laundry facilities and adequate parking are generally universal and should never be overlooked.

6. Connect Tenants With The Neighborhood

A good strategy for enhancing the tenant experience is to help renters make a connection with the neighborhood they live in. Send a newsletter sharing local places of interest, historical tidbits about the town, and fun facts. Include information about upcoming local events and things to do in the area.

Partner with local vendors to offer your tenants a discount on products and services in the area. This is a good strategy to get your renters exploring the neighborhood and making a meaningful connection with the place they call home. It’s a nice perk for your tenants and advertising for businesses in the community.

7. Value Feedback

Many of us are conditioned to view feedback as a negative thing and that can cause landlords to avoid it. Retrain your brain to see feedback as an opportunity to improve. Not all comments are constructive and useful but increasing the amount of feedback you get improves the odds of gaining valuable insights.

Be proactive and solicit opinions and even encourage criticism from your tenants. You might learn something new or gain a perspective you didn’t have. At the very least your tenants will feel that their opinions matter and that they’re being heard.

8. Help Tenants Feel Safe

For most tenants safety and security are top priorities. Consider crime rates in the community and consider if your renters are likely to feel safe in their homes. Proper locks on all exterior doors are always a must and adequate lighting, surveillance cameras, and onsite security can help too.

Safety isn’t just for deterring crime. Ensure that your building has a proper fire escape plan and that it is clearly posted in high traffic areas. Adequate fire prevention equipment such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers are also an important part of safety.

9. Build A Tenant Community

Good neighbors can enhance the tenant experience while fulfilling the human need to belong and feel safe. Social experiences with other people in the building can ease feelings of alienation and loneliness. Building trust and camaraderie among neighbors improves the perception of safety.

An online tenant hub can help develop a tenant community within the building. This tool can help you share news and encourage open communication among renters. Property managers can also organize building events such as a meet and greet or holiday parties to foster a feeling of belonging.

Enhance the tenant experience without adding to your workload with Property Matrix. This powerful suite of tools will streamline and simplify the management of your properties. Find out how Property Matrix can take care of routine tasks and put you back in charge of more important business such as optimizing the tenant experience.