Simple Tips
Landlord Tenant Relationships
Mutual goals for both the Landlord and the Tenant
Both tenants and landlords have a mutual goal – to maintain a friendly relationship that will do them good. Tenants are looking for a comfortable place to live and a landlord that won’t bother them a lot. On the other hand, landlords hope for tenants who are responsible and want to stay for a longer time. However, maintaining a friendly relationship with someone you don’t know well is sometimes challenging. People tend to be suspicious of strangers, which makes it sometimes difficult to trust them and try to be as positive as possible. Well, some tips will help you have a better landlord-tenant relationship, and you’ll find them in this article.
Start On The Right Foot
The way tenants and landlords act first when they meet will probably shape their communication later. The first impression is incredibly important in every relationship, and so is the one between tenant and landlord. Both of them should act naturally and be friendly. Landlords need to try to welcome their tenants with a smile, show them around and offer their help to the people who are just moving in. Tenants, on the other hand, should also try to show that they are looking for a home they want to enjoy rather than an irrelevant place to stay. Responsibility and openness are traits that every landlord will appreciate.
Remember: finding a perfect balance between friendly and professional is the best way to go. Avoid extreme behaviors, as you shouldn’t be too friendly or too strict with your tenants. It’s important to be positive and reachable, yet introduce clear rules about the rental.
The first impression is essential to get off on the right foot.
Agree on the details
Even though you should be friendly, take this relationship seriously and remember to be professional. This relates to the details of your lease agreement and the expectations you might have from the other party. Depending on the building and its location, the home you rent may include some specific rules or guidelines, so be sure to disclose them to your new tenants. Be clear about what you expect from them, and don’t forget to ask about their expectations as well. Also, if you’re a renter in Toronto looking for a place to live, be sure to know what awaits you in this process. Both parties should be transparent and open, as it’s better to know all the details of your agreement at the beginning to avoid potential misunderstandings and problems in the future.
Privacy is essential
In the same way, landlords have privacy in their own homes; they should also provide the same for tenants who live in the home they rent. This is one of the essentials for better landlord-tenant relationships. Respecting their privacy should be a top priority, as not doing so can cause big problems that can lead to losing good-quality tenants. Don’t visit the place unless it's absolutely necessary, and be sure to let them know in advance, especially if you need to do any inspections.
Make payments easy
Don’t make it bothersome for your tenants to pay your rent. Firstly, make sure you set the price right. If you set rent that doesn’t correspond to the location or condition of the place in the local market, you risk losing good, long-term tenants. Explore the neighborhood a bit so you set the price that fits the local market but still makes your expected profit. Finally, the way your tenants pay shouldn’t take away a lot of their energy and time. Instead of making them go across the town to pay rent, enable online payments, which are much more common and convenient nowadays.
Online payments can be the easiest choice for tenants and landlords.
Do maintenance on time
One of the things that bother tenants is not being able to solve an issue in their renal for a long time. If landlords are responsible for the maintenance of the place, they should be reachable and do the necessary repairs as soon as possible. Having to wait for everything to get fixed or solved can be frustrating, which may nudge your tenants into looking for another place to stay. If tenants do their responsibilities and payments on time, be sure to do your part as well. If you feel like you don’t have time to do that, it’s wise to hire property management. This would be a third party who will take care of the maintenance and unexpected repairs. This way, you save time without disappointing your tenants in any way.
Be open-minded
Both landlords and tenants have the rental’s best interest in mind, which is why they need to work together to make it a great place to live and ensure both parties are satisfied. Be open-minded to suggestions your tenants have that may be related to improving the space because some of them might be very good ideas. Both parties should welcome suggestions, and there shouldn’t be any hard feelings about them. This will make your relationship even better and friendlier, ensuring tenants stay in the rental as long as possible.
Be friendly yet professional for a good landlord-tenant relationship
Be helpful
The basis of every personal or professional relationship is being respectful of each other but also being helpful when necessary. As a landlord, you can offer to set up their new home but also give recommendations for local businesses that are trustworthy and professional. Experts from professionalmover.ca say that hiring teams to help you relocate your home is much easier when you get a recommendation from someone you can trust. Your tenants will surely appreciate the help and find you more approachable as a landlord.
Final words on a better landlord-tenant relationship
It’s not always easy to maintain a great landlord-tenant relationship, but it’s essential that both parties are happy with their choice to make it work. The key is to have open, honest communication, always making sure no boundaries are crossed. This will ensure tenants and landlords make the most of their connection and make this a great partnership.