Being a landlord is not easy, and for those who rent a property out, it can be nothing short of a nightmare when you come across difficult tenants.
While most landlords will have their definition of what makes a tenant difficult, the majority will agree that a tenant that causes problems, doesn’t pay rent, and damages the property is likely to be at the top of the list, along with a tenant who does not respond when questioned about such problems.
While it is easy to become stressed about these kinds of issues, there are steps you can take to ensure that any difficult tenants are dealt with legally and that there will be no legal repercussions for yourself. In this guide, you will be introduced to 5 ways to manage difficult tenants.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
When you started renting your property, you should have taken out landlord insurance with a company like kbd insurance. If you have found that your tenants have damaged your property or are falling behind on their rent then, depending on the level of insurance that you have taken out, both of these issues will likely be covered for a short time. However, if you find that repeatedly your tenants cannot pay the rent, then you may have to proceed with legal advice.
Use the Tenancy Agreement
Suppose one of your tenants has violated the tenancy agreement and claims that they have not, the best thing you can do is to double-check the tenancy agreement terms and remind them that indeed these have been violated. If they do not adjust their behavior following the terms, you may need to seek legal representation to assist you. In most cases, this stance will be enough to persuade tenants to change.
Communicate
It is important to be open with your tenants, even if they have not fallen behind on their rent. This will ensure that an amicable relationship is formed and will allow them to feel that they can contact you should there ever be an issue with the property that they are in. That is not to say that you need to send each other Christmas cards or fruit baskets but having a good relationship with those to who you are renting a property is a good step toward preventing tenants from becoming difficult.
Don’t Be Aggressive
If one of your tenants is behind on a few months’ rent and is refusing to answer the phone, it can be all too tempting to go to the property and bang on the door and look for an answer. However, that will be considered harassment and will not look good should the case go to court. When communicating with tenants who have fallen behind on their rent, the best thing to do is to be polite and empathic. Suppose one of your tenants has recently lost their job, but wants to remain on the property, this can be an example of a difficult situation for landlords, but it does not mean that the tenant is difficult.
Pursue Legal Action if Needed
If you have a true problem tenant who is refusing to answer calls, pay rent, and is damaging your property, then you will need to call the police. You will then need to seek court action to have them removed from the property as soon as possible, but this should be a last resort, as it can be very costly.
