Most tenants are good people; they pay their rent on time, follow the rules, and cause no trouble. But occasionally, you will come across tenants who drive you crazy. Some never pay rent on time, some are endless nitpickers, and some never think twice before damaging property. And if you are unlucky, you could end up dealing with criminal offenders. Here are a few tips to help you manage difficult tenants:
Dealing with late payers:
Late payment should be dealt with promptly. Remember to send an email immediately the day after the rent is due. If, after several repeated emails and phone calls, the tenant has not paid up, send a breach notice as prescribed by the residential tenancy laws in your area. A breach notice is usually issued when the tenant has breached a tenancy agreement, and your attempts to resolve the issue have failed.
Do not hesitate to evict:
Troublesome tenants are more difficult to evict than you think. Do not hesitate to evict the person if you think they are likely to create problems for you continually. I know, it is a situation most landlords dread, but it is sometimes a necessary action. If the tenant refuses to take corrective action within the stipulated time even after issuing the breach notice, you should be serving an eviction notice – after following the due process of law.
Screen, don’t scream:
You wouldn’t have to handle a bad tenant situation if you had tightened the initial screening process! Hire experienced property managers who have handled disputes in the past and can help you screen tenants. Landlord insurance can protect you against loss of rental income and other potential problems. Property investment mortgage brokers can connect you to insurance specialists who can help you with your insurance needs. Speak to your tenants regularly and stay updated on maintenance issues to resolve potential problems.
Call 1300 138 943 to speak to a Melbourne mortgage broker, if you’d like help in structuring your property portfolio.
