LANDLORDS JUST DON’T CARE

Or so I’m told by disgruntled tenants. But I think that’s a little unfair. Sure, many successful investors own property, but they don’t all treat you like you’re about to land on Monopoly’s Park Lane.

A good number of landlords are mum-and-dad investors who have taken a big leap to purchase their first investment property.

In their early years, they too started out renting and now are looking to shore up their retirement (with all the mortgage stress and associated costs that property investment brings).

I think tenants can often have a bad impression of landlords because, as the owner of the property they rent, it’s easy to label them the bad guys when an issue arises.

Here are some of the major concerns we get from tenants:

The landlord won’t fix anything

If a hot-water system packs it in, then it SHOULD be fixed immediately. That’s the law. But requests for air-conditioning or a new front fence can take time. Many landlords have budget constraints (like all of us) and mightn’t have immediate funds to address a tenant request.

I can’t put up a picture

Some landlords DO have a blanket rule that no walls can be touched. Often, this has come about after countless hooks have been haphazardly scattered across every wall in the home without permission (costing a fortune to patch and repaint). Discuss your picture placement and they may well agree to a compromise.

I can’t have pets

Many landlords fear the damage that can be done to a house (or yard) by animals and can be cautious when pets are mentioned. But many are pet owners themselves and fully appreciate how fur babies are a big part of your family. A good property manager will perfectly match the right tenant with the right house or unit.

Like any relationship (and that’s what you have with landlords and tenants), good communication is the key.

If you have an issue as a tenant, contact your property manager and discuss available options to have the problem addressed quickly and cost-effectively. A solution that benefits both parties could be a simple email or phone call away.