The Importance of Relationships with Tradespeople as a Landlord

As a landlord, having access to good tradespeople is a must - but if you are new to property management, how do you go about finding someone you can rely on?

Dawn Clarke, director of lettings and property management here at Nock Deighton, has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry. And as regional representative of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, she knows how important it is to keep a rental property in a good state of repair.

Here are Dawn’s tips for finding a good tradesman to help you keep on top of the maintenance of your property.

“People who have owned rental properties for a long time have usually built up a good contacts book of plumbers, electricians and builders,” she says.

“As an experienced property management company, we have our own links with tradespeople, so landlords working with us have the benefit of that.

“Some landlords prefer to make their own contacts, which is of course absolutely fine, but people new to property management are often nervous about finding the right tradespeople to work with.

“There are a number of things to bear in mind. Firstly, word of mouth is always a good starting point, so ask your friends and local businesses who they would recommend.

“If you don’t live in the same area as your property, try looking for Facebook groups local to that area - many towns and certain areas of Telford for example have their own discussion groups where people are happy to talk about their experiences with local tradespeople.

“Then there are the commercial internet review sites, like Checkatrade.com, which are always worth checking out.

“A key bit of advice we give to our landlords is that it’s always good to have at least two people in your mind for each job - if you rely on one plumber and they are on holiday when the boiler breaks down you will be in a sticky situation.

“Having more than one contact for each trade will pay dividends in the long run.

“Ultimately, it’s about experience and asking for advice. Join your local landlords’ association, and ask your letting agent - sourcing good tradespeople is part of our daily job, so if in doubt, just pick up the phone and ask!”

For more advice about property management and lettings, contact the team at Nock Deighton on 01952 290163.