How to Deal with a Tenant
Suggestion One
Decide what should be your responsibility and what the tenant should take care of. Be very careful in making your choices. List everything you can think of and ask other landlords what they cover. Remember, it's in writing and you'll be bound by the contract.
Suggestion Two
Be sure you do a walk-through with the new tenant before they take possession so everything that may be wrong is carefully noted and not a matter of contention later. If there is damage that you weren't aware of, get it repaired immediately. Make sure the house or apartment is thoroughly clean and ready before you advertise it.
Suggestion Three
Don't just drop by to check on the place without a good reason. Nothing annoys a tenant more than to have the landlord breathing down their neck. If the yard is piled with garbage or the neighbors have complained about a mess, it is grounds for you to check on the place. Tuesday is NOT grounds for checking, unless it is written in the contract.
Suggestion Four
When there is a problem, take care of it immediately. You expect the rent on time, the tenant has the right to expect repairs as quickly. Leaving your tenants in a sewage filled yard or with a leaky roof, or faulty electricity is not a good way to keep good tenants.
Suggestion Five
You can make friends with your tenants, but from personal experience, I can tell you that renting to friends or relatives isn't a good idea. They tend to take advantage of your relationship in several ways. For example, if they decide not to keep the yard clean, they get offended when you insist they mow the lawn or haul the garbage. If they're late on the rent (costing you the mortgage payment) they expect you to understand. I rented to some friends once who demolished the house and yard and then had the nerve to insist I give them back the deposit they didn't pay to begin with! It's a good way to lose friends.
Published by Don Lee
I'm a truck driver and cover most of the USA. My laptop is always near at hand so I can write whenever possible. View profile
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- Decide what should be your responsibility and what the tenant should take care of.
- Make sure the house or apartment is thoroughly clean and ready before you advertise it.
- When there is a problem, take care of it immediately.