How to Have a Healthy Landlord-Tenant Relationship
Category Advice
Landlord-tenant relationships can considerably vary, from pulling-your-hair-out frustrating, to a lease agreement that turns into a friendship. Not all relationships will look the same, as some tenants will expect regular attention, while some may prefer strict privacy. In whichever case, it's your responsibility to respect that.
That being said, both you and your tenant may not want an active relationship, but you most definitely don't want a conflictual one. Here are some general guidelines to make sure you're doing your part to keep the peace, and potentially go as far as forming a pleasant relationship with your tenants:
Define your expectations
With the transition of a new tenant coming onto your property, it's wise to be clear from the beginning to avoid miscommunication or misunderstanding in the future.
Make sure you are on the same page when it comes to small issues (for example, who's responsible for replacing small fixtures like lightbulbs) to big matters (for example, exactly when rent is due to be paid).
Keep consistent communication
Although you need to put boundaries in place - to ensure you aren't infringing on your tenant's privacy - it is important to be consistent with communication. This enables you to keep any maintenance issues in check before they become a big problem, and allows you to stay on top of any other potential conflict or discontent.
To make communication easy for both parties, it could benefit you to get set up on an online portal that is especially built for connecting landlords and tenants. These apps allow your tenants to pay rent, make maintenance requests, and send out queries all in one place.
Manage your tenants like customers
This is an important pillar to a successful landlord-tenant relationship. Your tenants are paying you for a service, and so they are your customers. It is in your best interest to adopt a service approach. When you decide to become a landlord, you take on the responsibility of offering a tenant-first attitude.
This might mean being available between committed hours for any property related queries, or being quick to manage any maintenance matters that arise.
If you feel that managing property is too big a task to take on in your current season, it's not your only option. SAproperty.com offers professional and experienced property management services that deal directly with your tenants so you don't have to. Get in touch to start the conversation.
Author: SAproperty.com
