As a landlord or property manager, looking to foster a successful business relationship with tenants, it’s essential to build trust, and this can only be done via open and effective communication.
Whenever money, valuables, assets and legalities are involved, tensions can be high and entering into a long term transactional relationship can quickly turn sour if not managed correctly.
As a landlord, you need to take great care in keeping open lines of communication, and treating your tenants with respect; you can avoid disputes about lease policies, move-outs, security deposits or other issues.
If you would like to ensure your rental agreements are hassle-free try using these communication tactics with your next or current tenant.
How to effectively communicate with your tenant
Make it easy to communicate with you
First, you should establish an “open door” policy with your tenant and be willing to respond to their questions. Allow them the opportunity to ask questions about their lease, a request for a rent payment extension, or an issue with a different part of your facility. As a landlord, you should attempt to make tenants feel comfortable contacting you.
Respond quickly to repair requests
A landlord’s duties require juggling several responsibilities that come along with property ownership entails. Not all repairs are pressing, but emergency repairs should be responded to promptly. When a landlord is unresponsive to service and maintenance queries, tenants often feel that they cannot communicate with their landlord and begin to hide issues from them.
Provide multiple methods of communication
Different tenants have different communication preferences. Older tenants may prefer to talk to you on the phone, for example – while a younger tenant may prefer instant messaging and e-mail.
A landlord should give your tenants a list of different ways to contact, including a phone number, text messaging number, e-mail, and a full mailing address.
Be honest
When trying to establish a good relationship with a potential tenant from the moment they set foot in your rental property, the truth is of utmost importance. When putting up advertisements and listings for your property, be honest about its condition and amenities.
Finally, always ensure that you are truthful about the terms of your rental property and that you communicate the expectations to your tenants from the outset.
Send Alerts to Tenants Before Repairs, Maintenance, and Showings
While you may own the property, it is still the tenants home for the time being. Do not surprise them with personal visits or by handymen and contractors, or agents who are showing your property to other prospective tenants.
While it is not always legally required to give a tenant warning before a showing or to alert a tenant about a scheduled repair or service call, it is still a small courtesy that a tenant would appreciate.
Avoid unnecessary misunderstandings
By setting the ground rules and ensuring each party knows where they stand regarding various issues that arise. While having an open platform to communicate can save you a lot of pain and money in the long term and can very often save you from having to enter the eviction process.
Make sure your eviction process is legal
Evictions are never easy and should always be seen as a last resort, always try to come to terms with your tenant before moving into the legal process of eviction. If however, you feel like you have no choice, it is best t contact a professional eviction lawyer who can guide you through the process of a residential eviction.
Contact us
If you need advice on your eviction case or would like us to represent your eviction case, get in touch with Le Roux Attorneys
Hi. A tenant of mine requested to leave one month early from his lease expiration date. A day before the date he was meant to move out, he stated he cannot move and has to move only a month later. By this time, I had secured a new tenant to move in and lost the tenant and the lease agreement for a year since she could not move in. What are my rights to recoup losses here?