The Perfect Tenant
Traffic Wardens make great tentants despite assumptions (c) Zorilla
Halifax Landlord Insurance surveyed 1,000 UK landlords in order to determine the characteristics of an ideal tenant. The results are … so predictable. They should definitely require adding explanations as well next time. Now that would make one fun read!
If you are a female medical professional, aged between 36 and 45, living in London – congratulations! Most landlords think you’ve got what it takes to be their perfect tenant.
77% said they preferred female occupants in their properties
Almost 25% thought Londoners made the best tenants
32% of landlords are in favour a tenant commanding a salary of between £20,000 and £30,000
Most desirable professions:
24% see a GP as an ideal profession of the tenant
9% think a nurse or a carer would be nice
Least desirable professions:
19% said HGV drivers
15% said taxi drivers
15% said traffic wardens
10% said shop workers
67% of respondents valued maturity and were not keen on renting to people aged 25 and under.
Via: HomeMove.co.uk
Interesting survey. I agree that explanations would be useful. Historically there has been this categorisation of ‘Professional’ and ‘non-professional’ tenants – agents will advertise or promise Landlords the former – and that seems to to have influenced the respondents in this survey.
Presumably the distinction initially arose as an indication of the ability to pay and a perceived trustworthiness but the line has become more blurred these days. A bank clerk is deemed to be professional where as a bricklayer is a tradesman but probably earns significantly more.
It would be interesting – although very un-PC – to survey the same Landlords but in relation to the nationalities of tenants. That still seems to be one of the first questions that many Landlords ask – albeit usually in a roundabout way.
“Almost 25% thought Londoners made the best tenants.” An explanation for this would definitely be interesting! Especially in light of the recent Deposit Protection Service research, which found London was the worst UK city for landlord-tenant disputes over property damage/neglect (we’ve just posted about the tenant damage ‘postcode lottery’).
(Is it possible that 250 out of the 1000 landlords surveyed were actually letting property in London? That would explain the lean… they’d hardly prefer someone in Cornwall.)
Good points, Justin. The “professional” tag has really lost it’s meaning.
Nationality and race are very important factors for many landlords but it’s a very delicate subject which noone dares to touch. I remember one ARLA survey where they asked: “How Difficult Is It to Obtain References on Immigrants From New EU Member States?”
Here it is: http://www.royalsofrent.com/all-eyes-on-tenants-from-new-eu-member-states
Jess – you’re probably right about those 250 being from London:D