If your relationship with your tenant goes sour or become combative, your ability to work productively together will decrease. On the positive side, there are many things you can do as the property owner to foster a positive relationship with your tenant.
Maybe the principal thing you can do to create a positive relationship with your tenant is to develop strong communication skills. Establish and maintain open lines of communication with your tenant. Whenever the tenant contacts you, respond quickly to their inquiries or concerns. If you are unable to personally field tenant calls, then it is important to hire someone who can do it for you.
A quality property manager will be able to communicate effectively with your tenant on your behalf. But regardless of who will be communicating directly with your tenant, be sure to give your tenant plenty of clear information, explain why things are happening, and provide advance notice when anything changes.
Another main component of a positive tenant relationship is trust. As the Groton property manager, you can encourage your tenant to trust you by following through on your promises. If you tell them that you will be somewhere at a specific time, show up at that time. If you inform your tenant about plans to fix or update certain parts of the property, give them a clear timeline for those repairs and then complete them as promised.
When a tenant builds trust for their landlord or property owner, they are more likely to work cooperatively to keep the property in good condition and tell you about minor repair issues before they become big problems.
Some elements of a positive tenant relationship include respecting boundaries. As a landowner, it is essential to set clear boundaries for yourself and your tenants. If you need to visit the property, be sure to give advance notice and set up a time that is appropriate for your tenant. The last thing you want is for your tenant to believe that to address your needs, you have violated their privacy or their quiet enjoyment of the property.
Lastly, you can foster a positive relationship with your tenant by listening to suggestions and documenting everything. Develop a path for your tenant to give you feedback on your rental property, and show them that you are considering those suggestions. It may be as simple as an email exchange, that would provide you an opportunity to communicate directly with your tenant and provide documentation of your conversation.
Irrespective of how you decide to communicate with your tenant, make sure to document everything. Keep all emails, letters, notices, and voicemail messages related to your rental property and your tenant. If an issue or misunderstanding happens, this paper trail will be an invaluable resource for settling the matter rapidly.
As a landowner, it is in everyone’s best interest to keep things friendly and professional. Your growth as an investor in real estate depends upon good tenant relations. Delivering value and consideration to your tenants will assist you to optimize your rental income for many years to come.
At Real Property Management Hartford Metro/Greater New London, we treat your renters and property with the utmost professionalism and respect. Call us at 860-436-9955 today, or contact us online to see what we can do for you!