How to Improve Your Tenants’ Experience

Why is it important to improve a tenant’s experience? Is it enough to just follow landlord-tenant laws in Los Angeles? What happens if you ignore a tenant’s overall experience?

Today, we are going to provide answers to these questions and more. But first, let’s understand what tenant experience is.

What Does Tenant Experience Mean?

Tenant experience refers to the overall quality of a tenant’s experience while living (or working) in a house or building. It encompasses several things, from the quality of the neighborhood and amenities offered to the availability of parking spaces or transportation and commute options.

When talking of tenant experience, you typically consider the following:

Security: Is your community safe in general? Does it have enough emergency exits and necessary fire prevention equipment (fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, etc.)? Do you feel safe while sleeping? Are surveillance cameras available throughout the property? Is the community gated or have security at the building?

Accessibility: Does the property have adequate access and egress means for residents and visitors alike? Does it have elevators (especially in a high-rise) and wheelchair-accessible ramps? Can you easily locate bathrooms in common spaces?

Amenities: Are in-unit washer and dryer available? Does the property have a gym onsite? 

Mobility: Is your building located in an accessible part of the city? What are your transportation or commute options? Does it have enough parking spaces for all vehicle owners?

Food and beverage options: Are there grocery stores, cafes, or restaurants nearby? Do you have convenient access to food and beverage suppliers? Are the establishments open even on weekends or late hours?

Wellness: How is the sense of community in your living space? Is there enough space for socialization? Is the neighborhood pollution-free? Are the grounds clean? Does it have amenities for exercise?

Entertainment options: If you have guests, does your building have spaces where you can entertain them? Does it offer community activities on weekends or special occasions and holidays? 

Sustainability: Does your building follow proper waste management and sanitation procedures? Is it energy-efficient? Does its management encourage sustainability practices?

Connectivity: Is your living space Internet-connected? Does it offer wireless access in shared spaces?

Now that you know the factors that affect tenant experience, let’s look at how you can improve it.

Ways to Improve Tenant Experience

Tenant experience improvement benefits renters, owners, and property managers too. A good tenant experience:

Encourages tenants to stay longer, leading to consistent lease renewals

Provides a steady revenue stream

Enhances your property’s reputation, thus piquing the interest of potential tenants

Here are several recommendations to improve your tenant experience. 

Facilitate a Smooth Move-In or Move-Out Process

Clean the unit thoroughly and make all the necessary repairs before inviting a tenant to move in. The unit should also pass the required property inspections and comply with regulations. Preparing the lease agreement for the tenant to sign is part of the process too.

In a nutshell, you need to ensure that everything is in working order, whether the deal is sealed or not.

Establish Clear Rules for Registering Cars, Guests, and Pets

Guidelines for vehicle and pet ownership should be clearly established and strictly implemented. Many high-rise buildings limit pet sizes to prevent elevator-related and other problems. 

Similarly, guest-related policies should be enforced, so everyone feels safe.

Provide Online Payment and Lease Renewal Options

Digital natives and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will surely appreciate this. It is always a plus for tenants to have several options to settle accounts and complete transactions. It is also easier to track payments digitally than keeping hard copies (which works both ways as you do not have to scour through file cabinets or boxes if an issue arises).

Ensure Open Tenant-Landlord Communication

Tenants should be able to communicate with landlords or property managers quickly and without much hassle. This helps avoid conflicts and resolve issues as soon as possible.

Offer Exclusive Discounts to Nearby Restaurants or Shops

Giving away occasional gift checks or discount cards to coffee shops or laundry stations in the neighborhood can go a long way in keeping your tenants happy. Partnering with local businesses will make it a win-win situation for both parties.

Commemorate Holidays and Special Occasions

Organizing activities on important holidays like Christmas or the Fourth of July can build camaraderie and increase the feeling of belongingness.

Implement a Reservation Policy for Using Shared Facilities

A surefire way to prevent conflicts, overcrowding, and abuse is to set up a reservation system for using shared spaces, amenities, and equipment like the gym, playground, swimming pool, etc.

At Tripalink, we specialize in helping people find coliving spaces, furnished apartments, or private rooms on rent. If you are looking for your next place, sign up today so we can help you.