How To Build A Good Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Most landlords want to have a trouble-free relationship with their tenants. The same can be said of renters; almost no one likes to have running battles with the people who own the property in which they live.

If you’re a property owner and you’re keen on maintaining a good relationship with your tenants, here are six things you can do to achieve that.

Define Your Expectations

This is something you should do with your new tenants. Let them know what you expect them to do as renters– whether it’s treating the property with care, what kinds of repairs they’ll be responsible for, and how complaints should be communicated. Tell them what things you don’t want to have around the property, e.g. no pets.

These things should be clearly stated in your tenancy agreement, which you and your tenants will sign. Make sure the tenants are aware of them; communicate your expectations verbally too, just in case they haven’t paid close attention to what’s written in the agreement.

Be Clear About Costs

Arguments about costs are capable of derailing your relationship with your tenants. A lot of the time, they arise because fees weren’t spelt out clearly enough at the beginning of their tenancy. In other situations, it’s the tenants who have failed to study the agreement they’ve signed with their landlords (which typically details rental fees).

If you’re going to prevent conflicts over costs from driving a wedge between you and your tenants, you’ll have to speak clearly to them about the fees you expect them to pay. Break down the costs they’ll incur so that they’re aware of what they’ll be paying for, and why. Clarity over issues like this will reduce the likelihood of a clash between you and renters.

Communicate Regularly

It’s vital that you regularly communicate with your tenants. Make sure they have your contact details. Call them over the phone. Pay them a visit when you’re able to. Let them know you’re checking in on them. Show them that you’re concerned about their welfare.

It takes steady communication to build and maintain relationships. If your tenants know that you’re interested in their wellbeing, they’ll be more open to you about their concerns regarding the space in which they live (e.g. the need for fixes and upgrades, security, and other related issues).

When renters inform you about the challenges they’re having with the space and neighbourhood in which they live, do what you can to address them quickly. By responding quickly to your tenants’ concerns, you show them that you have their interests at heart. This in turn strengthens your relationship with them.

If your tenants’ problem is something that’s out of your immediate control, you should try to engage parties who are able to tackle it. For example, if there’s an ongoing security concern in your tenants’ neighbourhood, you should work with the representatives of security agencies to resolve it.

Be Trustworthy

Your tenants will respect you more if they find that you keep your promises– whether it’s about fixing damaged amenities, making arrangements for security, or addressing a dispute between neighbours. Maintaining your trustworthiness is key to sustaining your relationship with them.

As your tenants’ trust in you grows, they will be more open to sharing their concerns with you (much like what steady communication achieves). And when you respond by tackling the challenges they’ve told you about, they will trust you even more.

Perform Regular Maintenance

Renters may take on minor fixes that are relatively inexpensive. But if it’s something significant– such as fixing a water pump or mending broken fences –they’ll need you to deal with it. Insisting that these larger-scale repairs are tackled by tenants could put you on a collision course with them. This sort of outcome is never a good thing for landlord customer relationships.

Don’t hesitate to carry out upgrades where they’re necessary. Reconstructing sections of your building or painting old walls could improve the value of your property. It’ll also make your tenants appreciate their living space more, and regard you as a responsible landlord.

Final Words

Landlords need to nurture a good relationship with their tenants. They’ll likely be engaging each other for a long while; they won’t want those interactions to be soiled by animosity. If you’re a landlord, you can follow the tips we’ve shared here to build a decent relationship with your tenants.