What are the qualities of Difficult Tenants?
- Non-Payment of Rent
- Property Damage
- Disregard for Rules and Regulations
- Noise Disturbances
- Poor Communication
- Lack of Cleanliness and Hygiene
- Violation of Maintenance Responsibilities
- Frequent Complaints from Neighbors
- Unauthorized Occupancy
- Legal Issues
Introduction
As a landlord, dealing with a frustrating tenant can be an arduous and stressful experience. Covington and Newport KY are no exceptions to this challenge. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to screen tenants to avoid these kinds of issues entirely. Still, there are several steps you can take to handle a frustrating tenant effectively and maintain a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. The best advice I’ve ever been given when faced with a difficult decision is simply to ask yourself “Am I a business or a charity?” Businesses are professional and enforce leases, and charities listen to tenant stories and let things go, which are you?
Here are some top suggestions to handle a frustrating tenant in Covington and/or Newport KY:
Understand the Root Cause of the Issue
Dealing with a frustrating tenant can be a real headache, but it’s important to get to the bottom of what’s causing the issue. Maybe they’re always late with their rent payments, or perhaps they’re causing damage to your property. It could be that they’re violating the terms of your lease agreement somehow. Whatever it is, taking the time to understand the root cause of the problem is key to finding a solution that works for everyone involved.
“Understanding the cause of the issue” will enable you to formulate a more effective plan to address it, that is why we wrote this article. If you can’t identify the root cause of the problem, it’s worth having a face-to-face conversation with the tenant to get a better understanding of their perspective. We are not only experienced real estate buyers but also landlords ourselves so call us and we can help.
Communicate Effectively
Communication is key to resolving any dispute with a tenant. It is essential to establish an open and honest dialogue with the tenant. Make sure to listen to their concerns, and be clear about your expectations. If you wish to “Master Communication” with tenants, then follow our tips in this article.
When communicating with the tenant, it is essential to remain calm and professional. Avoid using accusatory or confrontational language, as this can exacerbate the situation. Instead, try to approach the conversation with a solution-focused mindset.
Enforce Lease Agreements
The lease agreement is a legally binding contract between you and the tenant. It is essential to enforce the lease agreement and make sure that the tenant is adhering to all the terms outlined in it. Here is what I do when it comes to leasing signing, I bring two copies, read one to the tenants, make sure all their questions are answered then have them sign both and we each get a signed copy. This way, they can’t say I didn’t read it, or I didn’t get a copy. This doesn’t eliminate issues but greatly reduces them.
If the tenant is consistently breaking the terms of the lease agreement, you may need to take legal action to evict them. However, eviction should be a last resort, and it is worth considering other options first. We’ve written a blog on “Tips on Enforcing a Lease” and it should be helpful to those with questions.
Set Clear Expectations
It is important to set clear expectations with the tenant from the outset. Ensure that the tenant understands the rules and regulations of the property, and what is expected of them as a tenant. Having units that a tenant wants is a powerful tool. When discussing lease renewal, remind them that your process is to evaluate the year and see if it makes sense. I have tenants who act better because they want to live in my units for many years.
“Setting clear expectations” can help prevent conflicts from arising in the first place, that is why we wrote this article. If the tenant is already causing problems, setting clear expectations can help to establish boundaries and improve their behavior.
Offer Solutions
When dealing with a frustrating tenant, it is essential to offer solutions rather than just pointing out the problem. For example, if the tenant is consistently late on rent payments, offer to set up a payment plan to make it easier for them to pay on time. I’m very clear that I don’t have a 5-day grace period on rents and after three days late, I give a 7-day cure or quit. Setting stern expectations about the timeliness of rents will make your life better. Sometimes the tenants make owning the property a horrible experience and in this video, we discuss how we helped “Tired Landlord Sell his Unwanted Property.” It should be quite helpful to you.
Offering solutions shows the tenant that you are invested in finding a resolution to the problem, and can help to de-escalate the situation. And another solution to your problem of having bad tenants is reaching out to Local Honest Homebuyer.
Document Everything
When dealing with a frustrating tenant, it is essential to document everything. Keep a record of all communications with the tenant, including phone calls, emails, and letters.
If legal action becomes necessary, having a detailed record of all interactions with the tenant can be invaluable. And we strive to help and have written a “Landlords Guide To Documentation” it should be quite useful to you at this time.
Seek Professional Help
If you are struggling to handle a frustrating tenant, it may be worth seeking professional help, Biggerpockets, real estate experts wrote a great article about frustrating tenants, give it a read when you have time. This could include hiring a property management company to deal with the tenant on your behalf or seeking legal advice on how best to proceed. We’ve written an article discussing all the “Professional Help Landlords Need For Their Frustrating Tenants“, its everything we’ve learned over the years and it should be quite helpful to you.
While seeking professional help may come at a cost, it can be worth it in the long run if it helps to resolve the issue and maintain a positive landlord-tenant relationship.
Be Consistent
“Consistency is key” when dealing with a frustrating tenant, that is why we wrote this article. Make sure you apply the same rules and expectations to all tenants, regardless of their behavior.
If you are inconsistent in your approach, it can create resentment and frustration among tenants who feel that they are being treated unfairly.
Stay Calm
Dealing with a frustrating tenant can be incredibly stressful, but if you stay calm and “Keep Your Cool“, you will find any situation is made better so read our blog on this topic when you can. If you can’t stay calm, then hit the help button right now.
Local Honest Homebuyer
And here is an offer that is hard to refuse, reach out to us and we’ll HELP you. We are local real estate buyers and we can answer your questions. Check out our Google reviews, LOCAL HONEST HOMEBUYER GOOGLE REVIEWS