Your stories: Going the extra mile

When tenants move on it can be a difficult time, as you face a potential void period along with the time and money spend on marketing it to new tenants – made even harder if you have  built up a strong relationship with them.

For Welsh landlord Helen Whalley, whose  tenants were  buying a property, she made it her mission to go the extra mile and help them every step of the way.

As someone who bought their first property when she was just 21, she had a fair amount of experience to pass on.

Originally from Leigh near Manchester, Helen has been working as a property developer and then landlord for more than a decade in Cardiff. These  tenants, they had been at one of Helen's properties for three years but purchasing a home  was not  straightforward.

"I had a good relationship with them. They were first time buyers, but they were a bit nervous about the process, so, I helped them," Helen told me.

Practical support

That help came in the most practical of ways. It meant looking at the survey the tenants had received for the property they had wanted to purchase and then linking them up to tradespeople who could do the work necessary.

"I'm certified in a number of different areas, including retrofit and energy assessments. So, I'm well versed in surveying properties, which lends itself to helping those tenants."

"People move on for all sorts of different reasons and I think it's good to be able to support people in their next steps, whatever that is."

Are you a landlord that goes above and beyond?

She is also keen to stress that all landlords provide value, offering places "for tenants to make their homes."

"There shouldn't be a 'need' for landlords to go above and beyond, however as individuals within a community I believe that we all should support one another where our skills and experiences allow us to help."

• Are you a landlord that goes above and beyond for your tenants or your local community. Perhaps you are involved in charity work or volunteering. If so, we would love to hear from you. Please email [email protected] to share your story.