About 70 percent of rental properties are owned by individual investors.
Managing a rental property can be a full-time job. Many responsibilities accompany being a landlord, including managing tenants and ensuring their safety.
Having bad tenants can be a nightmare for any landlord. Your tenants can cause damage to your property, increase utility costs, and decrease the value of your property.
If you are wondering how problem tenants can make your job as a landlord a nightmare and what to do about it, this short and simple guide is for you.
1. They Wreck Your Property
One of the most frustrating parts about dealing with bad tenants is that they can cause damage to your property.
Your tenants may take care of your rental unit differently than you would like them to. This could lead to expensive repairs that are out of your control.
To avoid this, ask for references from previous landlords before renting to a potential tenant. If you find out complaints about the tenant, it may be best to not rent to them.
2. They Don’t Pay Their Rent on Time
Tenants who don’t pay their rent on time can be a nightmare for landlords. If a tenant is late with the rent, it could mean that you cannot pay your mortgage or other expenses.
Always ask for income proof when interviewing potential tenants to avoid this situation. You can also implement late rent fees and penalties to ensure tenants pay their rent promptly.
3. They Throw Wild Parties
Tenants who throw wild parties can cause you a lot of problems.
The loud music and rowdy behavior of these parties can disturb other tenants in the building. It could also lead to property damage.
Always ask potential tenants about their lifestyles when interviewing them to avoid this situation. You can also ask for references from past landlords to see if they have had any problems with tenant parties.
4. They Break the Rental Lease
A tenant who breaks a rental lease is never a good thing. You will have to find another tenant or take legal action against them.
You can avoid this situation by thoroughly screening potential tenants before renting. Use these tenant verification services to make sure they’re responsible people.
5. They Sublet Without Permission
Subletting is when a tenant rents out their unit while they are still living in it. They could rent to anyone, and you won’t know who they are or what type of person they’re renting to.
You should have a clause in your lease that prohibits subletting without permission. You must take legal action against the tenant if you don't have a clause.
6. They Don’t Respect Your Boundaries
You are the landlord, and you can set boundaries with your tenants. If your tenants don’t respect them or they break them, it is time to take action.
You can avoid this situation by having an explicit lease agreement with your tenant. Include rules about noise, pets, smoking, and anything else in the rental unit.
If they continue doing it after you warn them, give them an eviction notice from Indiana notice to quit form.
7. They Have Poor Communication Skills
You need to have good communication with your tenants. If they don’t respond to your calls or emails, it’s challenging to contact them when you need something done around the property.
Have lines of communication set up with your tenants?
Use their phone number, email address, and social media accounts to contact them. This way, you won’t have any issues with your tenants not responding to calls or emails.
8. They Threaten You
When a tenant threatens you, it’s time to eliminate them. Threatening a landlord is never acceptable, and it can be dangerous as well.
If your tenant threatens you, give them an eviction notice and get them out of your property as soon as possible. You may also want to get an order of protection to keep yourself safe.
9. They Violate a No-Pet Policy
If you have a no-pet policy in your lease agreement, then you need to enforce it. If a tenant has pets and is not allowed in the building, get them out immediately.
This is a health and safety issue; immediately, you must take your tenant’s pets out of the building. You don’t want animals living on your property because they can cause damage and spread diseases.
10. They Damage Your Property
If you have a tenant who trashes your property, you must talk to them. If they continue damaging your property, you should take legal action.
They may do it intentionally or not realize their actions are damaging. Either way, you need to step in before things get worse.
You can file an eviction lawsuit against them if they don’t stop damaging your property.
11. They Make Unreasonable Requests
Tenants have a right to make requests but don’t have the right to make unreasonable ones. If a tenant asks you to do something that isn’t reasonable or legal, you shouldn’t do it.
You may need to explain why you can’t accommodate their request.
You should always record every request and how you responded to it. This will help you if there’s any dispute later on.
Bad Tenants Are Hard to Deal With
When you are a landlord, the last thing you want is to end up with bad tenants. They can be a source of great stress and make your life busier than it already is.
But if you are prepared, you can avoid this situation.
Screen your tenants and set clear expectations for your tenants before they move in. This will help you weed out bad renters and attract good ones who will take care of your property while they live there.
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