It may seem like paying your rent on time makes you a perfectly good tenant, but there is much more to the picture than just the monetary transactions. Making sure you are a good tenant goes a long way towards having an enjoyable life in your rented home, and leaving your rented property with a good recommendation for the future.
To help you determine if you are a good tenant we have put together the following questionnaire. Answer each question honestly, then count your "yes" answers and match this total to the explanations at the end to find out if you are a good tenant.
1. Do you pay your rent on time and in full? 2. Do you respect the conditions of your rental agreement? 3. Do you report safety and maintenance issues promptly? 4. Do you keep your rented home clean? 5. Are you respectful of rented furniture and appliances? 6. Are you a good neighbour to those living in your area? 7. Do you know your landlord's name and contact details? 8. Do you keep a copy of your rental agreement? 9. Do you keep copies of all rent paid at a property? 10. Do you pay utilities and charges on time? 11. Do you meet all legal obligations of residential tenants? 12. If you can not meet obligations do you let your landlord know in good time?
"yes" to between zero and four questions
If you answered "yes" to between zero and four questions then you are most likely not a very good tenant. As a tenant it is up to you to meet the obligations set forth by law and your rental agreement, and if you can not meet these obligations then you must let your landlord know in good time. In addition to paying your rent, utilities and charges you should also take pride in keeping your rental home clean, neat and attractive. Being a good neighbour will also go a long way towards making your landlord view you as a good tenant. And make no mistakes, being seen as a good tenant will save you frustration, anxiety and possibly even money in the long run.
"yes" to between four and eight questions
If you answered "yes" to between four and eight questions then you may be a good tenant. It is likely that you meet all tenant obligations enshrined in legislation and your rental agreement, but you might not go out of your way to do much more. Don't let laziness or disinterest keep you from getting a glowing recommendation from your landlord. Set yourself a goal of implementing one new activity per month to become a better tenant and by the end of the year you may well find your landlord will do anything to keep you!
"yes" to nine or more questions
If you answered "yes" to nine or more questions then you are likely a good tenant. You understand that keeping your word, meeting your obligations and spending a little bit more time and energy on your rented home could net you great rewards in the future. Not only will you leave your current rented home with a great recommendation to future landlords, but by being a good tenant you have a stronger position from which to negotiate rents, repairs and upgrades with your current landlord. Don't give this up by becoming apathetic towards your rental home.
