How To Deal With Problem Tenants

The rental market in South America is at an all-time high – instead of saving money to buy a new apartment for decades, or taking a mortgage, more and more young South Americans prefer to rent property. This trend can benefit both the tenants, who receive an opportunity to get a nice place to live for a reasonable monthly payment, and homeowners, who get to make money with their property. However, conflicts between tenants and landlords are nearly inevitable, and today most landlords battle with how to deal with a problem prone tenant.

STUDY THE LAW
The relationship between the tenant and the landlord is regulated by numerous laws and policies, and the policies can differ from one area to another. Whenever you’re getting ready to deal with a problem tenant, first study your rights and responsibilities . Find out what you can do in each particular situation, whether you can evict the tenant before the rent contract is over, and whether a fine can be imposed on you as a landlord for terminating the contract. It’s best to have a copy of regional policies at hand, and supply your tenants with a copy as well, preferably before they sign the agreement.

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING
In order for you to have enough arguments and evidence for talking to the tenant, you need to have a case, which consists of every instance of the tenant violating the rental policies, as well as your actions in dealing with the issues. Every time you get a complaint from the neighbours or spot suspicious behaviour yourself, write it down , and include the date and time. Whenever you try to have a reasonable talk with a tenant, leave a note, or issue a warning, document those instances as well – eventually it will be easier for you to prove your point.

KEEP IT FAIR AND SAFE
Although you can be an understanding and loyal landlord, your safety, as well as the safety of other tenants, should come first. It means that you can’t let the conflict lead to a physical confrontation t hat can involve other people or do major damage to your health. If you feel like the conflict is about to go out of control, don’t hesitate to contact the police. And while the tenants can have different life stories that can explain their behaviour or late rent, you shouldn’t be compromising your rental policies for each particular case – you need to remain fair and unbiased to every tenant.

DAMAGED PROPERTY
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to a landlord is when he comes to the apartment only to find it in a completely unsatisfying condition. These problems, however, can be prevented – before you let the tenants inside the apartment, have them sign the lease agreement, and make sure to include clauses that explain the tenant’s responsibility in case the property is damaged. In case the damage is done, simply point to the corresponding clause in the agreement and make the tenant cover the expenses.

CONSTANT COMPLAINTS
It’s natural for tenants to occasionally make requests to their landlord – for example, when there are issues with conveniences or when they are bothered by the disruptive behavior of their neighbours. However, sometimes the complaints become so frequent that you simply don’t have the time to solve your own problems. In this case, sit your tenants down for a serious talk. Explain that you are always open for requests and suggestions, but you can’t spend 24 hours a day attending to their needs – usually this talk is enough to stop excessive complaints.

ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
This is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a landlord, especially if illegal activity has anything to do with drugs, since you never know what to expect. If you suspect illegal activity taking place in your apartment , or you received complaints from other tenants, we do not recommend trying to solve these issues alone. The best solution here is to contact the police and let them take care of the situation. In case your tenant is arrested, you’ll need to consult your legal advisor before deciding if you want to evict the tenant.

NOISY BEHAVIOR
Some tenants believe that they are free to do anything as long as they are inside their rental apartment, but in reality loud or disruptive behavior can be annoying for the neighbors, which is why you may get complaints. In order to avoid this situation, include behavior rules into the lease agreement, so that you could have a leg to stand on when it comes to negotiating with the tenants. If there are multiple complaints or multiple instances of disruptive behavior from your tenants, make sure to document every instance, including date and time, details, and your steps in solving the issue.

LATE RENTS
If you’re a landlord, rent is likely your primary source of income, and when a particular tenant fails to pay the rent on time month after month, it can seriously affect your financial wellbeing. Before renting out your apartment, be sure to outline your rent payment policies in the agreement. Don’t forget to specify what is considered to be late rent in your opinion – while you can ignore rent that is three days late, the tenant’s failure to pay the rent for several weeks is a completely different story.

Comments