How To Avoid Nightmare Tenants

How To Avoid Nightmare Tenants

Author: Kevin McDonnell August 19, 2025 Duration: 29:18
Kevin and his team share the various tenant issues they have had over the years. They talk about how to defend yourself against bad tenants including why referencing isn’t always enough and reveal the worst tenants they have ever had to deal with. However, let this prepare you, not put you off property as Kevin and his team mostly deal with perfect tenants! KEY TAKEAWAYS  Nightmare tenants usually have a honeymoon period before showing their ‘true colours’ Alcohol, drugs and visitors are often the start of many issues. Referencing is key as a first defence against nightmare tenants. Landlords may not always be completely honest about current tenants as they want them to move. If you can find potential tenants on social media that can give you more information to decide on whether to rent to them. Dealing with aggressive tenants is one of the biggest challenges, especially in a HMO situation. You have to deal with bad tenants swiftly or you risk losing the good tenants. Don’t give bad tenants an inch or they will take a mile. You need to be fair but firm. Regular inspections can help you combat issues early. BEST MOMENTS   "Most tenants are great but there is always that nightmare tenant that appears every so often” “We use a referencing company, but you will always find a landlord reference doesn’t always reflect the truth” “We have over 300 tenancies and very rarely do we have a bad one” “That’s not really a bad tenant, that’s a tenant with a problem and we as landlords aren’t social workers” “If you don’t deal with the bad tenant quickly the good ones will leave” "Cat fleas are worse than cats" VALUABLE RESOURCES MSOPI – Multiple Streams of Income: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST Kevin McDonnell is a Speaker, Author, Mentor & Professional Property Investor. He is an expert when it comes to creative property investment strategies. His book No Money Down: Property Invest talks about how to control and cash flow other people’s property to create financial freedom.   CONTACT METHOD https://www.facebook.com/kevinMcDonnellProperty/ https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressiveproperty YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g1KuusONVStjY_XjdXy6g Twitter: https://twitter.com/progperty LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/progressiveproperty Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressiveproperty/ Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/progressivepropertycommunity Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Progperty

Hosted by investor and educator Kevin McDonnell, The Progressive Property Podcast is a regular source of actionable strategies for navigating the UK property market. This isn't about generic theory; it’s a practical resource dissecting the methods that work for building a portfolio, from foundational principles to advanced scaling techniques. You’ll hear detailed discussions on buy-to-let, flipping properties, and creative strategies like deal packaging, all aimed at constructing multiple streams of property income. The focus is on leveraging knowledge-and often other people's capital-to build assets, emphasising how to move forward effectively even if your own starting capital is limited. Each episode is designed to condense years of experience, helping you avoid common pitfalls and make informed, strategic decisions that save both time and money. For anyone serious about property investment, from taking the first step to systematising a large-scale operation, this podcast serves as a direct line to the nuanced knowledge required for long-term financial freedom. Tune in for candid conversations that cut through the noise, offering the specific skills and confidence needed to progress in the complex world of real estate investment.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

The Progressive Property Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Raising Finance with Sean & Kevin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:46
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean and Kevin talk about how you can raise finance as a property investor. Kevin shares his decades of experience in raising cash including the two main ways to raise finance.…
How Rent-2-Rent & Deal Packaging Saved Me with Kevin McDonell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:16
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean interviews previous host Kevin McDonnell. Kevin shares his journey from a farm in rural Ireland to becoming a multi-millionaire property investor. He reveals his painful mi…
Is Reform UK the Answer to Britain's Housing Crisis? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:17
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean and Kevin discuss Reform UK party's housing policies as the UK approaches local elections. They challenge you to question your political allegiances and examine how Reform'…
Real Estate, AI and How it Affects the Property Investor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:18
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Kevin switches roles as he's interviewed by Miha "MJ" Jain, a university student researching artificial intelligence and virtual reality in real estate. They talk about how AI a…
Is Now a Bad Time to Invest or a Golden Opportunity? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean and Kevin tackle the burning question: is now a bad time to invest or a golden opportunity? Kevin shares contrarian wisdom about market timing, revealing why professionals…
How to Protect Your Portfolio Against Economic Uncertainty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:27
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean and Kev explore tactics for protecting your property portfolio, including creative financing methods and overlooked opportunities. Whether you're an experienced investor or…
Mindset & Conformity - Change Your Life Forever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:26
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean reflects upon the reasons why people might be stuck where they are and unable to move on to success. By sharing his deeply personal, but empowering story, he explains how y…
Sean's Success Stories: Get Out of Your Own Way with Willie Peterson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:24
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean interviews Willie Peterson, who learnt how to get out of his own way by training with Progressive. Willie shares how his life changed after meeting Kevin McDonald at a Prog…
Introducing... Sean Fitzpatrick! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:19
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean Fitzpatrick shares his property journey from a council estate in Northern Ireland to financial freedom through property investment. Sean candidly discusses how he went from…