How to handle disputes with your tenant
As a landlord, you have extensive responsibilities and chances are, at some point you may be faced with issues that need resolving. We have compiled a few ideas that may be able to help you figure out things with your tenant and could possibly stop world war three from happening!
Keep positive
If you start your discussion off guns blazing it is never going to end the way you want it to. You need to believe that your tenants will be fair and will not be irresponsible or unpleasant. Thinking negatively from the start will likely create issues with them and will encourage them to be defensive. You thought they were great when you picked them to be your tenant, so keep that in mind as you proceed.
Understand your rights
If you don’t already know, look up what your responsibilities are, and know the laws. This way you will be in a much better position to handle your case. This is not only for you, but is something that your tenant should do too. A well informed discussion will help avoid misunderstandings, delays and disagreements down the line.
Always meet in person
As we all know, sometimes your words in texts, emails and answer phone messages may come across in the wrong way. To save another argument, just because of interpretation issues, you can meet in person to sort it out. There is nothing worse than someone getting offended by something that actually wasn’t there to begin with, so face to face communication will keep things as clear as possible.
Get a professional in
If you have tried resolving the issue and it’s still not working, it may be best to get a third party involved. A mediator will be able to get to a resolution quickly. They will have no emotional involvement and will be very experienced in issues like yours. A Surveyor is a good option for this type of dispute as they’ll have a wide range of knowledge, from legal aspects to structural considerations.
Get it in writing
If you feel like things are heading south, start your paper trail. Log down notes about your conversations together – times, who said what and who was involved. This way you won’t be left with a ‘he said-she said’ situation where you can’t do anything about it. Sometimes you may be surprised; if you send this to your tenant they may back off altogether.
Wait it out
The best thing to do is often to ride it out and learn from your mistakes. If your tenants have been a handful, think about that when choosing new tenants. You never know, they may give their notice and move out.
Whatever happens, always remember to treat your tenants in a fair and courteous manner, keep an eye on your legal position and keep a record of everything.
Have you had a hard time with your tenants? Let us know and share with us how you managed to resolve it.
For surveying advice, visit our website www.rightsurveyors.co.uk.
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