#4 Common Issues Tenant Bring Up And How To Address Them

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4 Common Issues Tenant Bring Up And How To Address Them

Being a landlord or a property manager in California requires patience, diplomacy, and understanding. Problems will arise no matter how well you take care of your property. Thus, it’s important to prepare for possible scenarios. You should be ready to take responsibility for whatever will happen to your property as well as the tenant who resides in it.

There are common issues that tenants bring up which can be handled peacefully. Though, it would be helpful to know some general tips in presenting yourself as a landlord first before you learn the common renter concerns so you can address them efficiently.

Be concerned. Like anyone else, your tenant would only like to stay in a place with decent living conditions. They would understandably want things to be in their best state. As a landlord, always put yourself in their shoes first to be able to show genuine concern whenever they raise something. It will help you to be mindful enough that you wouldn’t automatically judge them as someone who’s only overreacting. Dismissing them or neglecting their concerns would certainly turn your relationship sour and such an attitude will affect tenant retention. It is your responsibility to hear them out and do everything in your power to fix their problem.

Be quick. Before anything else, make sure you are accessible during certain business hours that you must’ve already clarified. This initiative will not only make your tenant respect your time as the boundaries are clear but it will also help you present yourself as someone who’s willing to attend to them when needed from the get-go. Another important thing is that you should be able to fix whatever issue they are having in a timely manner. The quicker you solve the problem, the better. It will be removed from your worries and your tenant will be happy.

Be professional. Remember that you are running a business and emotions must not cloud your judgment. It will be challenging since you’re dealing with a major part of your tenant’s life—shelter. Still, you should conduct yourself in a professional manner and feel good about the fact that you’re helping someone live a good life. Have the initiative to talk with them about their rights as a new tenant and listen intently to their questions or concerns to build rapport.

Being able to handle their concerns in the right manner can go a long way, establishing your position as a capable property manager. Now that the basics are covered, let us look into the most common issues that tenants usually have and how to efficiently address them.

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Lack of communication. Everyone has their own problems. You wouldn’t and don’t need to know the current circumstances of your tenant. However, keeping in mind that they are dealing with something you do not know would hopefully help you be more understanding as you communicate and deal with the complaint at hand. Inform them of California real estate laws as well for it is a good basis of what they can expect from you, making your correspondence quick and productive. Respond to their emails or text messages as soon as you can to let them know that you’re willing to listen to them. They’ll surely do the same when you have anything to raise. Check in on them from time to time and avoid delayed or nonexistent communication. Your objective is to deal with the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Maintenance issues. This is probably the most common problem that any tenant has. The simple answer to this is an effective complaint resolution system which should be laid out in the lease. There are different types of maintenance issues so you better prepare for each scenario before even thinking about being a landlord. Doing so will save you a lot of time and unnecessary stress. Identify all the necessary steps to be taken and keep all communication in writing so you can track and have receipts.

Pest infestation. Help your tenant as soon as possible when they report pest issues. Immediately call an exterminator and assess the situation afterwards. Follow through to make sure that it’s completely resolved. It’s best to have preventative measures in place such as scheduling pest control treatment periodically. As they say, prevention is better than cure.

Noisy neighbors. If you already installed new carpeting or soundproofing, there’s nothing else to do but talk to the person directly. You can try to encourage your tenant to amiably deal with the situation themselves. If that doesn’t work, you can then assert yourself as the property owner and try to work out a solution that everyone is comfortable with. Come up with different warning levels just so it’s clear that you wouldn’t be tolerating dismissive and delinquent attitudes.

Being a landlord is a tricky job. All you can do is to really keep your cool and be professional to prevent or reduce any conflict. When things are getting unsafe, report to the authorities as soon as possible. Try to build a good working relationship with your tenant and find joy in the work that you do. After all, it is “living” that we’re talking about here.

by Kat Sarmiento

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