When you become a landlord, you’ve basically signed up for almost certain complaints. No matter how hard you try, there are some issues that you cannot predict. And, as in life, problems pop up from time to time. However, it is most often the landlord’s responsibility to solve them. Here are some common problems and solutions for landlords and tenants to help you prepare.
The tenant is late with payment
Let’s start at the beginning. This is quite a frequent problem, but don’t worry, it’s not unsolvable! It can be frustrating dealing with a tenant that is always late with payment. Most landlords let it slide if the tenant is late with the rent once. However, if that problem is recurrent, it will certainly raise your blood pressure. There is certainly more to being a landlord than collecting rent. But, rent is kind of a basic premise here, right? If the tenant is often late with the rent, then what is the point of renting out your property? You might as well just give it away.
There are, however, several solutions that landlords and tenants can look into together to preclude this. For instance, if the tenant has hit some hard times, you can always offer them to pay in installments. However, do this only if you know the tenant and if you haven’t had any previous issues with them! If the situation is vastly different, the only way to solve the problem is to strictly enforce the rules. That is, you need to follow up with the tenant as many times as you can.
Also, if they inform you they can’t pay, you can try to set them up with a roommate. That way, the rent will be more affordable, and you will get your money.
In order to prevent this problem altogether, screening is vital! Check the information of your future tenant before you sign anything to make sure that they have a good history of paying regularly. That is the only way to avoid further problems.
Noisy neighbors
This is a fairly common problem for landlords and tenants. However, it is also incredibly tricky. If you’re an experienced landlord, you might have heard various complaints. Basically, people complain of loud parties, barking, and even, in some cases, noise from the street. And usually, there’s not much a landlord can do (especially with the last example).
Again, communication is key. If you’re not the landlord of the person who is responsible for the noise, you can’t do much. However, you can encourage your tenant to talk it out. It is possible that the noisy neighbor is unaware that he or she is bothering anyone.
However, if they are difficult to work with, you may have to get more creative with the solution. You can offer the tenant that filed the complaint a new place. If you have another apartment in which you can relocate them, do so. You can even help them with the relocation. Simply go to evolutionmovingsa.com and introduce them to affordable, efficient and experienced movers. They will take it from there, and your problem is solved.
If the noisy neighbor is, however, your tenant, you can inform them of the complaint and urge them to reduce the noise. To avoid this problem altogether, you should always have a clause in the lease contract that restricts the noise amount. It is always better to keep many good tenants than one bad tenant.
Lack of communication
Good communication is beneficial for both sides. If there is a lack of communication, problems on both sides will simply not get solved. Both landlords and tenants can find numerous issues frustrating. But, without proper communication, there is no way to fix those issues.
Even before the lease is signed, a means of communication should be established. If you’re uncomfortable with giving out your personal number, you can always use email. Also, it is always best to have some written proof of any communication between landlords and tenants. That way, any further issues can be prevented.
Good tenants and good landlords are not that easy to find. In fact, finding a good tenant or a good landlord is a blessing. Good communication establishes a bridge of trust which significantly reduces the possibility of problems. So, don’t procrastinate, communicate!
Problems with maintenance
As a landlord, it is your obligation to handle the maintenance of the property. This includes regular maintenance, as well as fixing anything that may have broken down. Don’t leave the problem sitting for too long – that is what creates further issues for both landlords and tenants. You will get a disgruntled tenant, because they fell like you’re not listening to them. And, if that happens again, they will not want to rent from you once their lease is up.
Again, good tenants are really, really hard to find. So you should do everything in your power to keep them.
Always respond promptly to requests for maintenance. Also, make sure that you provide a time frame in which the issue will be fixed. If you discover that the problem is much bigger than you originally thought, inform the tenant right away.
Another thing. Once you’ve fixed the problem, it’s good to check whether the tenant is satisfied. It’s not that big of a step, but it does show that you actually care about their comfort. As the saying goes (and it’s definitely applicable here), a little goes a long way.
So, how to deal with common problems between landlords and tenants?
As stated earlier, it is vital to take some preemptive steps to avoid problems in the future. That is why your lease contract should be as comprehensive as possible. Also, it is vital to maintain a civil relationship between landlords and tenants through proper communication. As in many other spheres of life, communication is truly vital! These and many other problems can be solved simply with proper communication.