Tenants may want different things from the homes they let: some want lots of bedrooms while for others an open plan living style is preferable. Nearly all tenants want lots of light in the house or apartment they rent, however. This is because light and airy homes feel more spacious. By contrast, dark homes which rely on artificial lighting even during the daytime are much less desirable. You can help to maximise the rental income from the houses you let out to tenants by investing in good quality glazing – and it is not all about light, either. What should you know about the benefits of glazing as a landlord?

Integrated Living

One of the trendy things that tenants are demanding more and more in Australia is a home that allows them to integrate the inside and outside of their lives where the traditional boundaries between the exterior and the interior are blurred. Decks in the garden which are at the same level as the floors inside help to achieve this. From a glazing point of view, high-quality bi-fold doors do the same. When they are closed, bi-folding doors create an open vista onto the garden beyond. When fully opened, they really come into their own making the garden a true part of the home in a way that patio doors or French doors simply cannot compete with.

Skylights in Urban Settings

If increasing the amount of glazing in a property you own is a no go because the neighbour's dwellings are too close or because local urban planning regulations prevent you from adding windows, then look to skylights as the next best option. They bring natural sunlight into drab parts of the home without meaning your tenants will be overlooked from the street or from nearby buildings. Furthermore, skylights are a superb way of bringing light into a loft conversion which will allow you to rent out your property as a home with at least one extra bedroom.

Double Glazed Units

Many tenants demand double glazing in the homes they rent today. This is not just because they are better at keeping out noise from the outside but because they help to reduce heating bills in the winter months. Upgrade your property's windows for double glazed ones and your tenants will also feel more secure. New double glazing frames should be fitted with the latest locking mechanisms that help to deter break-ins. Doing so will also help you to attract the right sort of tenant when you next come to let your property out.