8 Ways To Be A Better Landlord

Just because a person adheres to all the tenancy rules and regulations, it doesn’t make them a good landlord. Being a good landlord will mean that not only do you fulfill the basic requirements expected of you, but you also go above and beyond.

You should note that once you have happy tenants, your experience as landlord will become much more stress-free, and even if you feel like you are currently a good landlord, you can become an even better one. Here are 8 tips that will help you achieve this:

#1. Help them get settled in

If your new tenants are not from the area, showing a little kindness to them, by giving them directions to the grocery store, the pharmacy and other places they may need to know about will not be a legal requirement but will surely go a long way to creating a good relationship between you and them.

#2. Maintain strictly professional relationships

Even though you are trying to be a very friendly landlord, you should be able to draw the line at a certain point, so that your tenants do not take you for granted. Regardless of what line of work you are into, mixing business with pleasure is never a good idea.

#3. Safety

As landlord, your first priority should be the safety of your tenants, and therefore you should go out of your way to keep them safe. For instance, if you have a family with young kids moving in, get railings built around the swimming pool.

#4. Communication

There should always be an open communication channel between landlord and tenant. This helps to prevent misunderstandings, and will help ensure that any problems or needs that may arise will be handled properly and on time.

#5. Respect their privacy

Even though they technically live in your house, you should always learn to respect the privacy of your tenants. You do have the right to inspect the property, but legally you are required to inform them ahead of time.

#6. Follow the lease guidelines

Whenever you encounter a problem with your tenants, it is better to follow the stipulations of your lease agreement and whatever clear provisions that are stipulated by law, rather than taking matters into your own hands.

#7. Listen to their complaints

Whenever your tenants come to you with a complaint or an issue, you should give them a listening ear, and help them solve it if you can or point them in the right direction. It could be a problem that was not properly tackled before they moved into the house, or something they simply don’t understand.

#8. Be accessible

Although you may have other jobs that you do, it is good to be available to your tenants. If for some reason you may not be available at a particular time, you can get your agent or someone else to stand in for you.