As a landlord, you’re regularly required to deal with tenants. Most of the time, they’re respectful, pay their rent on-time and cause minimal disruption, but not always. In some cases, you will have flat out bad tenants that are having a negative effect on your property and the other renters. This may seem like a nightmare situation, but there are certainly some steps you can take to fix and even prevent it altogether.
A Landlord’s Guide for Managing Bad Tenants
The Screening Process
There’s no tried and true solution that you can use to absolutely guarantee that none of your rental property’s tenants are going to be problematic. However, a thorough screening process is about as close as you’re going to get.
Most landlords have the wherewithal to conduct background and credit checks, as well as income verification, before approving renters. This process ensures that no matter how unruly the tenant could potentially be, they will at least have the funds to keep up with payments.
Otherwise, add more in-depth hurdles to the process. Ask for references and contact information of previous landlords. Of course, before you commit to a decision, always make sure to actually meet the potential renter face-to-face. Investigate further only if need be.
Following the Rules
Any tenant in a rental property must sign a lease before the unit becomes theirs. This signed agreement outlines all of the rules and regulations that the renter must abide by.
If you have a bad tenant that is ignoring the guidelines they agreed to, a simple explanation of their lease terms can sometimes do the trick. Furthermore, it’s also common for landlords to write-in policies about issues like noise, pets, smoking, maintenance, occupancy and even conflict resolution.
The Law of the Land
Just about every town, county and state in America has its own set of laws and regulation codes that concern the rights of landlords and tenants. Before taking any action to deal with rough renters, familiarize yourself with the extent of your powers as a landlord.
The last thing you want is a legal issue to arise from the way you handled a bad tenant. Educate yourself on renter rights, eviction procedures, special notices and any other relevant information that pertains to owning a rental property. A good source for this kind of intel is the U.S. Department of Housing.
Be Courteous
No matter what, it’s always important that you keep your cool and avoid losing your temper at all costs when dealing with unruly tenants. Try to be constructive and approach the situation with an open mind. Keep a positive attitude towards mending the situation instead of breaking it off altogether.
If, despite all efforts, you are still unable to resolve the conflict, it may be time to start taking steps towards a full eviction. However, that should always be your last resort. If you can turn that bad tenant into a pleasant one, you won’t have to go through the whole process of finding a new renter.
Bad tenants are the bane of some landlords’ existence. However, with a little finesse and conflict resolution, you have the chance to straighten things out. Although, if all else fails and local ordinances allow it, an eviction may be imminent.
