Understanding how to deal with people is an important skill. As a landlord, you have a duty to support your tenant and cater to their needs. You should be mindful and attentive to their wellbeing and make sure that you are doing what you can to nurture the relationship correctly from the start.
The relationship between landlord and tenant can vary from person to person. In some cases, the relationships may form effortlessly, while in others, the two sides just can’t seem to find common ground and might eventually have to move on. It takes considerable effort from both parties to create and maintain a good relationship.
For the landlord, there are some things that you can do to help build and maintain a healthy and respectful relationship with your tenant.
Below are some tips that you can take as a landlord to forge such relationships, and reasons why those steps are so necessary.
How to Have a Healthy Tenant-Landlord Relationship
- Be Accessible
Ensure that you provide your tenant with a clear and direct line of communication with you in case they have any concerns about the property, or need to get in touch with you for any other reason.
If your property is managed by an agent, you may still want to consider giving the tenants your contact details in case of an emergency.
Doing this will demonstrate to your tenant that you genuinely care and will give them a sense of trust and confidence in you as their landlord.
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- Communicate
It’s beneficial to take steps to maintain a communicative relationship with your tenant. Be approachable and available. This will help them feel comfortable discussing their concerns with you.
Communicating these concerns will help build trust and loyalty between you and your tenant. Having a communicative relationship can help to resolve disputes easier, and can often help to avoid them altogether.
Show your tenants that you are taking any issues they raise seriously by being open, displaying active listening skills, and asking questions.
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- Be Understanding
As a landlord, it is important for you to be understanding of your tenants’ needs. Although there may be times where you’re faced with difficult situations with your tenant and property, it is important for you to keep a level head and consider what is also best for the tenant.
While you need to carry out your duties as a landlord, and you rely on that income from your property, some situations require a more delicate approach…
For example, notifying your tenant about sensitive issues such as rent increases, rent arrears, or property inspections.
Avoid being too confrontational or demanding. Situations like these may require a level of empathy, particularly with good tenants who are usually dependable.
- Be Reliable
As a landlord, one of your main responsibilities is to be reliable. Your property is not just an asset, but also someone’s home. Therefore, the job of landlord involves carrying out your responsibilities as best you can.
As a landlord you should:
- Be attentive
- Take your tenants’ concerns seriously
- Make an effort to resolve issues as soon as possible.
Always try to deal with problems within a reasonable time frame. For more lengthy, complex issues, such as severe repairs, you may need to explain to your tenant that the issue is being resolved and that it may take a while. You should also offer to keep them updated on any developments.
- Use Multiple Channels of Communication
Use multiple channels for communicating important information. Too often, landlords rely solely on one channel of communication such as an email or written notices to inform their tenants of important events, conditions or deadlines. These can be easily missed, leading to unpleasant surprises for both parties.
Taking the time to call or visit in person, in addition to providing written notice helps build a better relationship with your tenant.
- Respect Their Relationship with the Property
Remember, it may be your property, but it is also your tenant’s home. That is an emotional relationship and as a landlord you should not forget that.
You have to be mindful and respectful that this is the tenant’s place of belonging. Always ask permission and give notice when you need to enter the property.
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- Update and Maintain the Property
As a landlord you’re generally responsible for the upkeep of:
- The structure and exterior of your home – the walls, roof, foundations, drains, guttering and external pipes, windows and external doors
- Basins, sinks, baths, toilets and their pipework
- Water and gas pipes, electrical wiring, water tanks, boilers, radiators, gas fires, fitted electric fires or fitted heaters.
As well as this, you have to ensure that your property is fit for human habitation.
Your home might be unfit for human habitation if for example:
- There’s a serious problem with damp or mould
- It gets too hot or cold and can’t be regulated
- There are too many people living in it
- It’s infested with pests like rats or cockroaches
- It doesn’t have a safe water supply.
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- And… Remember that Your Tenants Are People Too
At the end of the day your tenants are people just like you. Treating them with a bit of kindness and understanding goes a long way.
If you view your tenants through that human lens, you’ll form strong, reliable relationships that benefit both your tenants and your bottom line.
At Keey we have a range of management options as well as advice that will help your rental properties flourish. Get in touch with one of our experts today!