subject: Problem Tenants And Problem Landlords [print this page] In any society, there are good people, bad people, and indifferent people. In the renting world, there are tenants who punch holes in the wall, put out cigarettes on the countertop, and allow their cute little puppies to eat the carpeting and furniture. Then, there are landlords who are unreasonable, unapproachable, and are interested only in the rent being paid on time. For this reason, rules and regulations abound, and both landlord and tenant are protected by the law.
Young people are a common source of problems because they havent yet learned to respect others property. Some people seem to think that because they pay rent, they can do as they please. Loud parties are common complaints of other tenants and landlords. If this is the case, the landlord is responsible for addressing that issue. There is no excuse for the landlord to allow one tenants bad behavior to disrupt the lives of others. The landlord is obligated to address this problem, and if he doesn't, then other tenants have the right to call the police to complain. This is especially important if crime, such as drug dealing, is involved. The downside here is that once a bad tenant is ensconced in a unit, evicting the tenant is both costly and time consuming. A great deal of damage can be done, and the landlord cannot usually retrieve both back rent and payment of damages. Sometimes, despite a landlord's best efforts, troublesome tenants will reside at a property. By remaining professional and polite, keeping written records of all communication and following the correct legal procedures you will hopefully be able to resolve difficult issues effectively and efficiently.
A landlord can be just as bad as the worst tenant. Remember, landlords are in the business to make money. Sometimes they own the building, and other times, they work for a rental agency, and could care less about the upkeep of the building or the issues of the tenants. If this is the case, tenants have the right to organize a tenant's association. This group can better deal with a poor landlord than an individual can. The law gives you the right to develop a tenant's association, and any landlord that tries to harass or hinder either the forming of the association or the individuals of the association are subject to prosecution. Plans for forming a tenant's association can be found online. But keep in mind that establishing a good relationship with the landlord is paramount in renting. Don't start the first month in your new home by making an enemy of the landlord! Still, keep in mind that renting should be beneficial to both you and your landlord, and your landlord has obligations under the law that he must fulfill. Always be sure to know your rights, always read the whole lease along with any rental agreements, and you have won half the battle.
Being a landlord is one of the toughest occupations in the world and renting can be the biggest hassle of your life. Owning and managing a rental property is a bit like running a business. If you deprive your rental property of passion or maintenance funds, it will naturally decay and die a slow death.
