July 15, 2021
Property Management: 4 Ways to Deal With Bad Tenants

If you want to know how to with bad tenants, read on. This post will give you a few tips to help you get through sticky situations with your problem tenants.

When you plan to rent out your investment property, you must have experience in proper rental property management. Tenant screening is one of the most important elements of managing a rental property. If you screen carefully and thoroughly, you will likely have no problem on your end. 


However, regardless of how carefully you evaluate your tenants, you may still encounter some people who will make your job as a landlord incredibly difficult. Fortunately, you can make your property management experience easier on yourself when you follow some essential tips. 


If you want to know how to with bad tenants, read on. This post will give you a few tips to help you get through sticky situations with your problem tenants.


1. Stay Calm, Objective, and Rational


Getting angry at terrible tenants will only worsen the situation. So, it would help if you do not let your thoughts become clouded by your emotions as you speak with your tenants concerning the problems they cause.


No matter how stressful the situation, always think critically about the right course of action that you must take. Ensure that you would still stay calm, objective, and rational when evaluating the next steps you can take. This will help you get your point across to avoid offending the other party and escalating the conflict.


2. Treat Tenants the Way You Want to Be Treated


Your tenants will likely treat you based on how you act. If you show them that it's okay to be late in paying rent, they will probably take advantage of you. Perhaps they will think that they can get away with the problems they cause because you are not strict with implementing the rules. 


Instead, you must stand firmly behind your rules and show them how they should treat you with what reflects in your actions. For instance, when they can't provide you with what you require, keep following up with them. By doing so, your tenants will know that you're not going to drop the issue unless they resolve it, and if they don't, they'll face negative consequences.


3. Maintain Thorough Records


You must keep all records for all home management transactions, especially records of situations you encounter with your tenants. If your means permit, record phone calls and verbal conversations, keep copies and take notes with all written communication. Through meticulous record-keeping, you'll be able to back all of your decisions and actions if you need to escalate the case to the legal authority.


4. Seek Legal Help


If you have already exhausted every strategy to inform your tenants of the problems they cause and correct their behaviour, your last resort is to ask them to leave. However, before you do so, you should consult with a legal authority. Eviction is a complex legal process, and a legal partner will help you comply with all the following requirements and procedures.


Conclusion


It is crucial to screen your tenants first so that you can prevent the headache of terrible tenants. However, if screening them is not enough that you still encounter problems with your occupants, you may consider these four tips to deal with bad tenants.


If you need experts to handle things correctly, you may consider opting for apartment management services in Ottawa. Our experts at Fahel & Co will help make your job as a landlord more manageable and more convenient. Contact us today for more information about our property management services!