Renting a home has many advantages and some disadvantages, but the best way to make it a positive experience is by building a good relationship with the landlord. As a renter, you never know what kind of landlord you will get, some are great, and others can be difficult, but by taking the steps to be one of the good tenants, you can turn a situation around and bring harmony into your tenancy.
The best way to keep the peace while renting your home is by being one of the great tenants that landlords dream of. By following some simple rules, you can be one of those desirable tenants that landlords want to keep happy for a long-term relationship that everyone can appreciate.
To get a better idea of what great tenants do, take a look at some of the traits they have in common:
Pay Rent on Time
Everyone has bills to pay, even your landlord. One of the easiest ways to get on your landlord’s good side is by paying your rent on or before the due date. Having to track down a tenant and chase up payments is unnecessary and aggravating for the landlord and it will add stress in your life as well.
To avoid the hassle of missed or late payments, just set up reminders and make rent a priority. If your circumstances change and you are unable to pay rent on time, communicate with your landlord and explain your situation More often than not, they will understand and work with you to reach a viable solution.
Follow the Terms of the Agreement
Any time you are about to sign a contract, make sure you read it to understand what is expected of you. Every landlord will have a different set of terms in their agreement but the one thing that everyone will have in common is they will expect their tenants to follow the terms in the lease.
Read your agreement carefully and jot down any notes in the terms that will come up during your tenancy. By doing your due diligence, it will make sure there are no surprises for you or your landlord later on down the road.
Take Care of the Rental
Rental properties are big investments and there is a certain level of trust that is placed on the tenant to take care of it for them. Yes, a landlord is responsible for the overall maintenance and condition of the property, but the tenants are also responsible for some of the maintenance and care.
Treat every rental as though it’s your own investment. Let the landlord know of any major issues that you notice, but also take the initiative to care for and maintain the inside and outside of your home. Be careful not to damage anything and make minor repairs yourself.
Keep Everything Clean and Tidy
Another part of taking care of your rental home is keeping it clean and tidy both inside and out. Whether you are renting a furnished or unfurnished place, there is a general level of tidiness that is expected during your stay. Even if most of the items indoors are yours, if the landlord happens to stop by for repairs of an inspection, a dirty and messy home will make them wonder if you are taking care of their property or not.
Schedule a clean up once every week or two just to bring the place up to a neat and tidy level. Life can get stressful and busy, but a clean and tidy home makes a big difference for your mental health and it will keep you in the ‘great tenant’ category with the landlord.
Communicate with the Landlord
Open communication with your landlord goes a long way to building a good trusting relationship with them. Update them on anything that may be happening in the area or with their property, along with any major issues or repairs that you think will need their attention. They will appreciate the updates and like the fact that you care about their investment, giving them confidence it’s in good hands.
Communication is a great way to get to know the landlord and build on a strong relationship, but the most important thing to remember is that most of them only appreciate the occasional friendly email and general updates when necessary. They don’t want a call or message with every single update (unless they have stated otherwise). People are busy and don’t have the time to answer a ton of calls and emails from their tenants.
Be Self Sufficient
A landlord may own the property, but being a renter means you are leasing your home, so a certain level of independence is expected when it comes to taking care of things. Unless your agreement says otherwise, you should be able to set up and handle issues with your utilities, take care of general maintenance in and around the property, and keep the peace with neighbours.
Your landlord wants a mature tenant who can handle living on their own and generally don’t want to hear about every little issue a tenant may have unless they are part of the terms in the rental agreement. For example, if you would like to start a vegetable garden, you are often free to plant in containers without the need for permission, but making more permanent changes to the existing garden will require a quick message to the landlord.
Be a Good Neighbour
We live in a world where there are many different personalities and lifestyles, and this is where getting along with neighbours can become an issue. No matter where you live, being a great tenant also means being a good neighbour. Be friendly and keep the peace by being considerate of others in the surrounding area. No one likes a noisy annoying neighbour, so try to be the type of neighbour you want in your life.
If there are issues that pop up with your neighbours, try to find common ground with them to build on a good relationship of mutual respect. If the neighbours continue to be an issue, there is little your landlord can actually do to help, so in this case, knowing the local laws can be a big help if you have to make the big step to call in the authorities to give you a hand with bad neighbours.
