Do you have a beautiful secondary suite in your home that you want to rent? Certainly, you want to lease to a good tenant, especially since you and your renter will be living quite close to one another. Finding the best tenant for your secondary suite takes a little thought and effort. Here are some tips to help in your search.

Try word of mouth

You may be able to find the perfect tenant by putting the word out among your contacts. This includes your friends, family, coworkers and any community connections you have.

Maybe the pastor at your church knows of a couple who’ve just moved to the city and are looking for a rental unit. Perhaps a work colleague has a niece coming to Calgary to attend university. While it can help to have someone that you know vouch for a prospective tenant, remember you still need to do your homework and make a good decision.

Use a property management company

Paying a property management company to find a renter for your secondary suite can be helpful. These professionals will screen potential tenants, run background checks and handle setting up a lease agreement. This is one way to take some of the guess work out of finding the right tenant.

Advertise smartly

Think about where you want to advertise. There are many online platforms you can use. Alternatively, you could simply post your ad on a physical notice board at the grocery store or community centre.

Smart advertising also means describing your secondary suite accurately and in a way that attracts interest. Think about who you want the ad to appeal to and then write to that audience. A catchy title like “Modern one-bedroom studio with private balcony and parking in quiet neighbourhood” might entice mature singles to inquire.  

Request references

It’s important that you request references and complete reference checks before your tenant signs a rental agreement. Ask for the names of several people who you can contact to establish that the individual will be a responsible renter. Previous landlords and employers are good references to request.

Remember your rights and responsibilities

Make sure that you know about legislated landlord and tenant rights. The Calgary Residential Rental Association (CRRA) can provide helpful information about this and other matters. Once you find your dream tenant, you want to make sure they stay and that means being a good landlord.

As always, reach out to me if you have any questions about renting your secondary suite. I’m only too happy to help!