Are You a Property Manager? Here's How to Manage Tenant Problems Professionally
- Author: Kelly Cooke
- Posted: 2024-03-14
However, they must not contradict what you indicated in the agreement or what is in the constitution. That includes giving every tenant a chance to give their side of the story before evicting them or taking any action against them. The following are some of the most common tenant problems and the ways to manage them professionally.
How to Handle Co-tenant Problems
Co-tenant problems are very common, and they can affect the amount of money you get if you don't take immediate action to stop the issue. For example, if co-tenants disagree on how much each one should contribute to catering to monthly expenses, they might not pay their rent on time. If several renters have this problem, your income will go down significantly.
However, if some roommates have delayed payments because of a conflict, stay out of the dispute first. However, if the problem continues, inform the conflicting roommates what the law states about such a situation. Let co-tenants know that they are responsible for lease violations and how they will all be affected by your action.
It would help if you also informed all your tenants to always notify you of their intention to share their house with another tenant. In such an arrangement, their roommate should provide you with their personal information, including their job history, credit history, and personal references. You should also advise them to formulate an agreement that will indicate their rent sharing formula and how long they plan to be roommates.
How to Handle Payment Problems
Before any tenant starts living on your property, inform them of the time you expect them to pay their rent. You should also include that information in the rental agreement and indicate your actions when tenants fail to pay their rent on time. According to the law, you can allow your tenants to settle their rent arrears around two weeks from the due date. However, if they will not have paid the rent and any accrued penalties after this period, you can take legal action against them.
However, if tenants withhold their rent in protest, they should write to you indicating the problem. Then, you should resolve the issue immediately, and the tenant should pay their outstanding rent within a few hours.
How to Handle Tenant Disputes
Your rental agreement should provide solutions to most of the disputes that might emerge between you and your tenants. For example, it should indicate what you should do when a renter damages property or when you fail to renovate your houses for some time. In addition, the agreement should specify how you will solve any conflict, including filing a case in court when you can't solve your issues out of court. However, arbitration is one of the best strategies to solve your disagreement because it will save you and your tenant a lot of time and resources.
How to Handle Damage or Repair Issues
The law indicates who should take responsibility for property damages. If the damages have been caused by normal wear and tear, it's your responsibility to repair it. However, if a tenant damages your property, inform them that it's their responsibility to take care of the issue and give them time to undertake the necessary repairs. But, if the renter does not have money to pay for the repairs, you can make the repairs and include the renovation cost in the tenant's monthly rent. A tenant can also pay for renovations and deduct the money when paying for rent.
If you neglect renovations for some time, a tenant can hire an inspector to inspect their houses and determine whether they are habitable. If the inspector finds out that the house is uninhabitable, the tenant should request you make the necessary repairs. However, if they make repeated written requests and you don't take any action, they have the right to stop paying rent until after repairing.
Wrapping Up
When managing rental properties, you will likely come across the problems above. The best way to deal with them is by understanding the law and ensuring that no measure you take violates tenant rights. If possible, always consult a lawyer who has experience handling rental property disputes for advice when dealing with different tenant problems.
