Andy Shaw, from Hamlet Homes, gives out advice for how to avoid signing up problem tenants

Question: I have had three tenants in two years in my rental property in Warrington. Not long into their tenancies, problems started to arise – months of non-payment, damages, etc. Why am I attracting these tenants?

Answer: You’re not alone – so don’t let this put you off. In Warrington, we have huge demand for rental property – so you can be fussy with the type of tenant you would like. Here are some steps to take.

Viewings are key. Do not let to anyone without meeting them (not someone on their behalf) at the property to show them round.

You can ask questions that sound like chit chat, but determine whether this is the right tenant. I let them know we conduct a credit check, income and previous landlord reference, to see how they react. These are necessary to paint a clearer picture about the kind of tenant who may be moving in. Any deception is a worrying indicator.

It’s important to listen to any gut feelings.

You might also want to visit them at the property they are currently renting to see how well they look after it, or even try typing their email address or mobile number into the search bar in Facebook. You can then browse their profiles to build a better idea of the type of tenant you might be moving into your property.

Once you have a tenant, schedule annual/bi-annual inspections of the property. Any issues and repairs can be dealt with there and then.

n If you have a property question email andy@hamletwarrington.co.uk.