Setting Higher Standards That Attract Better Tenants

Setting Higher Standards That Attract Better Tenants

Regular readers of our blog will know that at Iles & Jenkin we place significant emphasis on compliance, best practice, and consistency in property management. We regularly highlight the importance of ensuring that all legally required checks are completed, documentation is correctly served at the start of a tenancy, and ongoing statutory obligations are met throughout. But why do we focus so heavily on this?

The answer is simple. When a property is managed correctly and in line with current legislation, landlords are properly protected. Should possession ever be required, notices are far more likely to be valid and upheld by the courts. Thankfully, this situation is rare for our clients, but strong foundations are essential. And those foundations begin with you, the landlord, and the standard of your property.

When we carry out a rental valuation and discuss our services, we are not only assessing the market value of your home, we are also reviewing the property against a detailed internal checklist and considering whether it meets the standards we believe are necessary to achieve long-term success. Alongside this, we take time to understand your objectives as a landlord so we can determine whether we are the right fit for each other.

Some may question why a growing letting agency would ever turn away business. After more than twenty years of managing rental properties, we have learned that accepting a property that falls below our minimum standard often leads to avoidable problems later.

In short, poorly presented and poorly maintained properties tend to attract poorer quality applicants or result in frequent tenant turnover. Neither outcome benefits landlords or agents.

• Tenants who are not well suited to a property are statistically more likely to fall into rent arrears or neglect their responsibilities.

• Good quality tenants living in substandard accommodation are far more likely to move on, creating unnecessary void periods, re-letting costs, and disruption.

For this reason, several years ago we made a strategic decision to only take on properties that meet our required standard or where landlords are willing to carry out recommended improvements prior to marketing.

The results have been clear:

• Longer average tenancy lengths

• Better quality, more compliant tenants

• Improved property condition over time

• Greater stability and profitability for our landlords

By setting higher standards from the outset, we create an environment where everyone benefits. Landlords enjoy peace of mind and stronger returns, tenants enjoy safe and well-presented homes, and we are able to manage properties proactively rather than reactively.

Throughout 2026 we will be sharing further insight into how we help landlords improve the performance and resilience of their portfolios. In the meantime, if you would like a no-obligation discussion about your property and how we can assist you in achieving long-term success, we would be delighted to hear from you.