Published: Monday, 28 September 2015
Landlord Prakash Tanna talks about how what he learned on an accreditation course helped him resolve an issue with a tenant.
I've been a landlord for a long time now and currently own a substantial portfolio. I became an accredited landlord about eight years ago. I had applied for an empty property grant with Barnet Council and it was conditional on me doing the one day London Rental Standard course.
It taught me all about the dos and don’ts of being a landlord, and how to build a good relationship with your tenants. A lot of it’s fairly straightforward and common sense but it’s a good refresher as well.
On one occasion when a tenant left my property damaged, the London Rental Standard training meant I knew how to deal with the situation. Through information I’d learned on the course, I’d fortunately protected their deposit with the Deposit Protection Service. I was aware of the resolution process and how to make sure that there was a fair outcome.
I also learned a lot of things I didn’t know before. Stuff like tenancy agreements, checking references and how to look after tenants properly. The information on maintenance, repairs and condensation was particularly helpful.
Now when a prospective tenant comes to view a property I always tell them I’m in the scheme. They always seem quite happy to know that I’m a member. It gives them confidence that I’m likely to be a good and proper landlord. Many have horror stories about previous landlords who haven’t done the maintenance or repairs on time or have wrongly kept their deposit. So for potential tenants to know I’m accredited, for them it’s fantastic.
It does make a difference because the rental marketplace is very crowded in London. There are many properties out there at the moment so potential tenants have lots of choice. Personally, I think being part of the London Rental Standard just gives me that extra edge.
Join the London Rental Standard
It’s not hard to join the London Rental Standard. The one day course covers lots of useful information to help landlords learn all about managing properties and tenancies well. Just head to london.gov.uk/landlords to watch some helpful videos featuring landlords and experts, and get started.