In a society that is mostly always sympathetic to the side of the story of the underdog, how a landlord goes about dealing with the issue of a problematic tenant is a dicey issue. These issues have to handled with tact, lest you be labeled a bad landlord. It is therefore imperative that landlords learn how to tread carefully in dealing with the problems posed by a troublesome tenant. Keeping it professional at all times is important and always resist the urge to take the law into your hands.
The problems caused by a tenant might range from defaulting in the payment of rent, incessant complains of loud noise from neighbors of the tenant, dubious characters coming around , loitering of the environment etc. As a landlord or estate manager, when you suspect a potential problem with one of your tenants due to several complaints or observations you have made yourself, it is importantly you wade into the matter quickly to diffuse the situation.
Be knowledgeable about laws and policies. You must keep your emotions in check and be professional at all times, endeavor not to get emotionally involved. Be familiar with all the tenancy laws and policies so you do not step out of line. A respectful conversation with your tenant may be enough to stop an issue in its tracks. When a non-legal issue arises, consider meeting them face-to-face. Be direct and specific in your discussion, and outline the issue and the consequences of not complying with the rules and policies. However, do not hesitate to involve the authorities if you have gauged the situation to be more than what you can handle or contain. For example, If your tenant is involved in illegal activities, contact the authorities and let them handle the situation. Once that has been addressed, you can then go ahead with eviction procedure, which is separate from any criminal charges.
When you prepare a tenancy agreement for your tenant to sign, make sure your rules and regulations are clearly stated and provide your tenant with a hard or electronic copy as well. In addition, walk your tenant through the provisions of the lease before they sign, answer any questions they might have.
Your lease agreement should detail what tenants can and can’t do at your property, the amount of rent, when it is due and how it can be paid. In addition, you may want to include rules about noise if necessary, tenant-to-tenant conflict resolution, tenant responsibilities, landlord responsibilities, guidelines on additional occupants, guests, pets, smoking, property maintenance etc.
Lastly, treat your tenant in a way you would want to be treated if you were to be a tenant. Genuinely, listen to their concerns and treat their issues with confidentiality and respect.