How to protect yourself as a rental owner
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of rental owners in Australia aren’t big corporations or hugely wealthy individuals with massive property portfolios.
They’re what’s commonly described as ‘mum and dad investors’ looking to secure their financial future by investing in property.
Often, they’ve worked incredibly hard to attain this investment, channeling their income and their energy into a property that is designed to provide income in the short-term and capital gain in the future.
So as a rental owner, how can you protect yourself to ensure this investment serves you well in the short and long-term?
Insurance
Any property is a major financial investment, and it needs to be protected with adequate insurance.
In the case of a rental property, this insurance should cater to a few areas, including:
- Public liability insurance in the event a rental occupier, guest or anyone else attending the property injures themselves.
- The replacement value of the building should something happen to it, such as a fire or natural disaster.
- More specific rental requirements, such as damage by a rental occupier or loss of rental income.
A range of insurers offer products for rental owners, but it’s important you understand the terms and conditions, including what’s covered and what’s not, under what circumstances.
A great property manager
A great property manager is one of the best ways you can protect your property against a whole host of risks.
They’ll help you find the right rental occupier, set the right price for the property, ensure the rent is paid on time, and also look after any property maintenance or repairs that might be required to ensure your asset retains its value.
Good maintenance
On that note, every property requires ongoing maintenance and the occasional repair. When you factor this into your budget as a rental owner and tend to these issues in a timely manner, you protect your income and your investment.
Basically, a well-maintained property that is in good repair:
- Is more likely to attract a quality rental occupier
- Is more likely to retain that rental occupier for longer
- Commands a high rental price
- Is less likely to have costly problems down the track
- Maintains its value in the long-term
A buffer zone
One really important thing to consider as a rental owner is the value of having a financial buffer for your investment property.
This helps protect you if something goes wrong or a situation changes.
A financial buffer:
- Ensures you can cope with interest rate rises on your mortgage
- Protects you should a rental occupier leave due to unforeseen circumstances
- Allows you to undertake any ongoing maintenance or general and emergency repairs
- Assists if your property sits vacant between rental agreements
- Allows you to absorb any changes in the market, such as rent decreases
The final word
Chances are you have an investment property as part of a strategy to secure your financial future.Â
And it’s important you protect this asset and yourself so that aim is achieved and the experience of owning a rental property is stress-free.
How we can help
Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both rental occupiers and owners.
We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here.
Alternatively, if you are looking to rent a property, you can view the properties we currently have available here.
