Performing the less desirable parts of property management takes a lot of knowledge and expertise. Even with the help of a reliable tenant selection plan, some troublemakers may still find their way into your homes, and unexpected problems may arise at any time.
Someone who has always paid their rent on time may suddenly find themselves in financial difficulty. A depressed renter could think that painting the apartment fluorescent pink is the best way to cheer up. Not to mention, there is currently no way to screen out the chronic complainers whose demands will drive you mad.
Naturally, if you have a strict screening process in place, you can probably eliminate the vast majority of troublesome renters. But besides that, don’t lose hope; there are ways to handle disruptive renters.
Here are a few tips on how to deal with difficult tenants.
Research and implement tenant screening
A lot of helpful information may be gleaned via tenant screening. However, several details need to be addressed. Many misunderstandings arise because of the tenant’s financial circumstances, personal situation, and emotional state. Landlords would be well to familiarise themselves with the most prevalent types of troublesome renters before entering any agreements with them.
Establishing legally binding tenant screening criteria for your team can help ensure that all applicants are being evaluated following the same standards. Once you decide what kind of tenant you want, send out a rental application to collect basic information like job and rental history. Credit ratings, tenant reference letters and background checks are good ways to learn about potential tenants.
Draft a concise tenant agreement
Spell everything down in a clear and concise lease: The lease agreement is your best defence against difficult tenants. Verify that all maintenance requirements are spelt out in the paper before signing it. Make sure your tenants understand the critical aspects of the lease by reviewing them with them.
Establish open communication
Tenants should be taught practical communication skills before any tense circumstances arise. New tenants should know how to contact you with any questions, problems, or concerns as soon as possible after signing the lease.
Avoid tenant disagreement by being forthright about your plans to address the problems and the timeframe within which you intend to do so. Tenant disputes can quickly escalate into dangerous situations when people start shouting and waving their fists around. Keep your cool and try to negotiate a solution to the problem while you have the talk.
Perform occasional inspections and keep records
Perform a thorough inspection of the place before letting anyone move in. Take pictures or a video of each room from every aspect feasible and file them away digitally. Take photos at the beginning, middle, and end of your lease to quickly evaluate how the property has changed. This will allow you to charge for any and all damages incurred legally.
Check things out regularly, and do not wait until the end of the lease to inspect the property. Seasonal or annual inspections should be performed. Look for any signs of damage or maintenance issues in the apartment and the rest of the building and take action quickly to fix the problems before they escalate into a catastrophe.
Deal with property damage efficiently
Landlords may incur expensive repair charges due to tenants’ carelessness. Unfortunately, if a renter causes extensive damage to the property before moving out, you may be responsible for paying a hefty sum to repair it. Natural deterioration of a building or other property is vastly different from deliberate destruction.
Regardless, it’s a good idea to keep records of the condition and document the property both before and after a tenant moves in. Insurance coverage tailored to landlords’ needs is probably the best approach to protect your investment. It will additionally protect you from financial loss in the event of a tenant or natural disaster-related damage to the building – while it is under your rental agreement.
Serve notice and evict according to the law
But how to get tenants out of your house in Ireland? Some problematic tenants can be removed from a property through the eviction process. “Cash for keys” is the easiest solution because it involves just offering money to the tenant in exchange for them leaving the premises. If you and the tenant are on the same page about ending the lease, it will go smoothly.
Ensure that you or your property manager adhere to all legal requirements while initiating an eviction. If your motives are different and yet you want to proceed with eviction, make sure to provide legal notice to tenants even when selling your house. If you don’t act quickly, the tenant might be able to stay in the rental unit for free. You may also be responsible for compensating your tenants if you initiate an unlawful eviction process.
Delegate your property management to a professional
Delegation is the greatest way to handle difficult situations. Working with a professional property manager allows you to delegate tenant interactions to someone else. Having a third party act as an intermediary between you and the tenant is also useful in enforcing compliance. Get in touch with us immediately to find out how our experts can assist you in dealing with those awkward circumstances and tenant disputes.
Trust WestCourt’s Experts to Manage your Property
If you’ve been a landlord for a long time, you’ve dealt with at least one eviction and all or most problematic tenant situations listed above. The reality is that we must all learn to deal with unpleasant events occasionally. Keep in mind that thousands of property managers before you have faced similar challenges and that there is plenty of helpful advice available for overcoming them.
At West Court, we serve large and small landlords in Ireland and worldwide, and we always prioritise what’s best for our clients. Consult our experts and let us draft a property management plan that meets your needs and expectations. Remember, as the adage goes, “prevention is better than cure,” and proper tenant management can save you a lot of headaches in the long run.
