Tips for Dealing With Bad Tenants

No matter what your screening process may be, there’s a chance you’ll still encounter bad tenants when managing your property. The first thought that comes across your mind when this happens might be an eviction. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Eviction takes time and energy and can be an expensive process. So what should you do when dealing with a bad tenant that is renting your property? We have a few tips that can help you and hopefully make the best of a bad scenario.

Stay Level-Headed And Be Like Water

Getting angry and blowing your lid at someone is never a good solution to anything. It doesn’t matter if your tenant is late on rent (again), the minute you lose your cool is the minute you lose them forever. When confronting a tenant who makes you angry try to stay calm, objective, and level-headed. Adapt to the situation and keep your cool, be like water. Tenants will have more respect for you if you come across as calm and level-headed. They will also be more willing to work with you on whatever problem is occurring if you have a calm mental attitude. 

So if you find yourself in a situation with a bad tenant where you want to scream at the top of your lungs at them, remove yourself from the situation, take a deep breath, and return when your more level-headed. 

Be Friendly, But Also Firm

In addition to being calm and level headed it’s also a good habit to be friendly to your tenant. Make sure you show them respect along with helping them feel like their at home on your property. This can be done through simple things like returning calls and emails promptly, trusting their word, and by being warm and inviting when you interact with them. By establishing this early on you reduce the chances of your tenant becoming a bad tenant quite significantly. However, they may see your friendliness as an opportunity to walk all over you. If this starts to happen remain firm with the terms of the lease and inflict penalties when violations occur. 

Keep Written Records of Everything

Bad tenants will sometimes try to dispute rules or regulations with you, so it’s always a good idea to keep written records. Make copies of important documents and agreements between you and your tenant just in case you have to bring them out to remind them of agreements they’ve made. In addition, keep written records of everything from lease violations, problems experienced, neighbor complaints and any other issues that arise. Finally, when delivering important documents use certified mail to deliver them. They may try to claim they never received them, but by using certified mail you can reference the article number and prove that they did, in fact, receive it. Having a good paper trail can thwart any attempt from a bad tenant disputing a charge or claim and keep you and your business safe. It’s extra work, but it’s worth it in the long run.

Be Familiar with the Law

When leasing out your property to tenants it’s a good idea to be familiar with the law pertaining to renting out your property. Familiarity with this will keep you from getting into legal trouble with your tenants down the road, as well as stop bad tenants from using your ignorance of the law against you. Bad tenants will try and use any unfamiliarity you may have with renter’s law to get away with violations of the lease. Make sure to study up beforehand so you don’t give them the option. It’s also generally good to know someone who is experienced in this subject to call upon when trouble arises, preferably an attorney.

Hire a Property Management Firm

Dealing with bad tenants can be a time-consuming process that takes you away from other duties you may have. If it seems that is the situation you’re in, then consider hiring a property management firm to manage your property. The beauty of this is that the property management firm will be the ones handling bad tenants. That means when a bad tenant is violating the terms of the lease the property management firm will handle the situation, not you. Saving you time and energy you can spend taking care of other tasks on your list.