How to Become a Green Landlord

Renting properties out is a great source of income, which is why many people have chosen to become landlords. Whether you have several properties to lease to tenants, or just one or two, you need to be mindful of a lot of responsibilities, such as the health and safety of your tenants and making sure your home is maintained to a good standard.

However, as concerns over the environment are increasing each year, now is the time to think about what you can do for the planet as a green landlord. If you haven’t looked at ways you can make your properties eco-friendlier already, below are some tips for you to consider.

Eco-friendly Appliances

A good place to start when making your properties environmentally friendly is by looking and the kind of appliances you have in them. Things like washing machines, dishwashers, stoves, microwaves, etc. Swap out energy-guzzling appliances for ones that have been designed to reduce emissions. Not only is this better for the environment, but your tenants will be pleased to pay to reduce energy bills as a result as well.

Eco Bathroom

Another area in your properties you can focus on is the bathrooms. It’s a lot easier to wastewater than you think, so looking at toilets, showers, and faucets that can reduce the amount of water used is worth doing.

A traditional toilet, on average, uses 6 liters of water per flush. An eco-toilet comes with two options, offering a shorter flush option that uses half the amount of water a traditional toilet does. You can also look at installing smart showers that can allow the user to control the temperature etc.

Use Responsible Services

As a landlord, you will require the help of a cleaning services company to keep your properties maintained. For example, when old tenants move out, you will need to have the home deep cleaned. Within London, you’ll find that a lot of people are moving on to different areas further afield. This is due to the rise in the cost of living in the capital. Battersea is a prime example of this, meaning that landlords here need to clean their properties at an increased frequency.

To help them out in this process, many landlords might call a company like this one that specializes in carpet cleaning Battersea, or other domestic cleaning services. When choosing a company to work for you, find out about their green policy and if they are doing the best they can for the environment. By supporting eco-friendly businesses, you’re helping to reduce your carbon footprint even further.

Solar Energy

If possible, consider installing solar panels on the roof of your properties. You might not be able to afford to do this all at once. But if you can do this over time, it’s another way you can make a difference. Generally, solar panels don’t require a lot of maintenance. They can help to reduce your tenant’s energy bills even further by producing a lot of electricity for your property.

Have Smart Meters Installed

Finally, one of the simplest ways you can move toward becoming a green landlord is by making sure you have smart meters in all of your properties. This will allow tenants to see how much energy they are using. Also, they will set timers and controls to reduce their energy waste. Most energy providers are encouraging their customers to do this, so you should easily find out more from your provider.

If you’re a landlord who wants to do more for the environment, consider the suggestions above and see how they can make a difference in your properties. You should also gently encourage your tenants to adopt a greener lifestyle if they don’t already, and make it easy for them to recycle by putting in the right waste bins in your properties. Do your bit for the planet and help others start doing the same.