There’s so much more to being a landlord than collecting rent. At the end of the day, you want your tenant to take care of the place as if it were their own, which is why maintaining a good relationship with your tenant is crucial. Like any relationship, this one you will take a little work. Here are some tips and pointers for building the ideal landlord-tenant relationship.
Choose the right tenants
The foundation of building a successful relationship with your tenant is selecting the right person. To weed out tenants that may be problematic, it’s important to do your due diligence when searching for the right fit.
Once you have a prospective renter, your next step should be to screen your tenant. As a landlord, generally speaking, there are a few things to focus on during the screening process: credit history, criminal record, and previous rental behavior (including previous evictions).
Having access to this information will help you make a more informed decision when choosing a tenant. And, if you select that tenant, understanding their background will help guide you as you begin to build a relationship with them.
Set expectations
Once you’ve successfully found someone who fits your tenant needs, make it a priority to set expectations together. Starting the landlord-tenant relationship on a positive note begins with getting on the same page in terms of what you both expect of each other.
Start by giving them a little background about your experience as a landlord. Is this your first time? Are you a seasoned veteran? Give them some indication of how you handle tenant complaints, what your process is for resolving maintenance requests, and what they’ll be responsible for doing themselves. Let them know you’re happy to answer any questions they have and will do your best to help them get acclimated to their new space, ensure everything is in good condition upon move-in, and make yourself available to make any necessary repairs.
In turn, ask that they treat the space with respect. Remind them of any guidelines outlined in the lease, like specific quiet hours, and suggest they notify you as soon as possible if they find something is wrong with the home or apartment. Speak to them directly but respectfully; leaving your emotions out of it will start the relationship off on a professional foot.
Open communication is critical
Establish an open line of communication early on in the relationship by giving the tenant the phone number and email where they can reach you best. One of the worst things for a landlord-tenant relationship is radio silence. If you’re not answering your tenant’s inquiries in a timely fashion and addressing their concerns, they may grow frustrated and distrusting of you as a reliable landlord.
At the end of the day, being a landlord is a people business, and the most important thing to have when communicating with your tenant is compassion. If you see something like a rent increase or potential eviction on the horizon, give the tenant as much notice as possible so they have plenty of time to process it and deal with the situation. While you have to be firm when needed, make sure you’re also treating tenants with respect and dignity.
Along with choosing the right tenant and laying out expectations, having open communication with your tenant and treating them with respect are good ways to cultivate your relationship with them.
Ready to start building a great relationship? Get started with Zumper to find quality leads, screen tenants, and collect rent payment.
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