subject: Private Landlord Advice - How To Avoid Problems With Tenants [print this page] Unfortunately for private landlords, tenant problems are increasing.
Tenants move in and are "the perfect tenants" for a couple of months. Then it starts...
Suddenly all manner of problems arise with the property the tenant starts withholding amounts from the rent for "repairs", wants to reduce the rent because of the poor condition of the property, maybe threatens legal action and just becomes a real source of pain for you.
Here's the good news, not many landlords do this and this situation is just so easy to avoid. If you have a digital camera great, if not get one (most likely will be tax deductable). It doesn't have to be a whiz-bang super-duper camera just a regular compact digital is fine. Make sure the camera records the date and time on the images or even just the date, most cameras have this capability.
Ok so now you have your property ready for rent, go and take detailed photographs of every room, the exterior and the yard.
If there are areas that are marked or damaged in any way make sure you cover these too. The more photographs you take the better. In less than 30 minutes you can take a couple of hundred photos, but it is time well spent.
A side benefit is that you can probably use some of the shots in your marketing campaign.
Download your photos to your PC or go to your local camera printing place. Either way get the photos copied to a CD or DVD and keep a copy for your records.
THIS IS IMPORTANT
Give a copy of the photos on a disc to the tenant when they sign the lease. In your lease or tenancy agreement add a clause to say that the tenant acknowledges receipt of the disc that has the photos of the property at the time of the commencement of occupation. Make sure you point out the clause in the lease to the tenant.
This has benefits for you as a landlord and for your tenant. When your tenant vacates the premises at the end of their lease, they have proof of the condition of the property at the beginning of the lease so it resolves any issues with the return of their deposit.
It means they feel protected from any unfair claims by you as the landlord that things have been marked or damaged since occupying the property or that the property is in a poorer condition than it was at the beginning of the lease.
There are a number of benefits for you as the landlord apart from you having a record of the condition of the property at the time of the new lease, your tenant KNOWS you have a record. They know they don't have a leg to stand on if they damage the property for any reason.
If there are any questions raised at the end of the lease you have photos you can refer back to, to verify any changes.
And if the worst happens and you end up in court you have physical evidence you can produce to show the "before" condition.
I have found this tends to stop the ongoing issue of tenants withholding amounts for "repairs" or wanting to reduce the rent because of the poor condition of the property.
It makes for a better relationship between you and the tenant, they see you as protecting their interests, getting their deposit back at the end of the lease is always on their minds.
