Problem Tenants and How to Deal With Them

As a landlord, you always do your utmost to provide your tenants with a safe and secure place to live, whether by maintaining the building and property, or by carefully screening prospective tenants. But there is one thing about which you cannot be absolutely sure – that your tenants will be problem-free. If you have a problem tenant, it can be extremely frustrating, and even lead to legal action.

Late payers, lawbreakers, self-proclaimed repairmen, hoarders, parties that never end – the list of problem tenant behaviors goes on. While breaking the contract sounds like a simple solution to most of those, it may not always be the best idea.

Below, you will find some tips on how to deal with problem tenants. The goal is to keep both the property and you safe while still maintaining the landlord-tenant relationship.

Late Payers

Paying the rent on time is one of the most important factors in a landlord-tenant relationship. However, everyone can get behind from time to time. Maybe they had to spend it on something else, or simply forgot to send their deposit. You may find yourself thinking to yourself "my tenant is not paying rent" and if that happens once, do not run straight for the eviction route as there may be a multitude of explanations. Instead, consider offering a late fee, a grace period for them to pay their rent, or simply let it slide in the first instance.

However, things change when you have to constantly ask your tenant for their rent. If you have warned your tenant that they are going to be evicted if they do not pay, and they have not paid after a while, it is time to take legal action. You have the right to evict them if they are not paying their rent, or have failed to pay it on time. In case you want some additional advice on how to deal with late payers, see more here.

Self-Proclaimed Repairmen

It is always great to have a tenant who can fix some minor issues by themselves. Replacing light bulbs, fixing leaky taps, and painting over stains are some of the most common DIY fixes that tenants take upon themselves. Sometimes, the allowed repairs are mentioned in the contract.

There are also some repairs that go beyond what a tenant is allowed to do. If they decide to embark on their journey to turn your apartment into a work of art, moving the walls and adding a new kitchen, it may result in the need for an inspection from the local building authority. This will cost both of you time and money, especially if these changes do not go through.

Hoarders

Hoarding on its own is not a crime, but it can be if the hoarder keeps hazardous materials in their house and fails to dispose of them properly. If you think that your tenant is hoarding, or they have been reported as such by colleagues, neighbors, or even a health inspector, it is time to take action and pay them a visit.

You need to talk to your tenant, letting them know that you are concerned about their behavior and want it to change for the better of everyone in the building. They may feel embarrassed or ashamed when confronted directly by a landlord. With that in mind, calmly explain how serious hoarding can be and how it affects not only the tenant, but their neighbors and property value as well.

Parties That Never End

Who does not like to party? Apparently, neighbors who have to put up with the noise. That is why avid partygoers can be a huge problem for your building. Again, it is not something that requires immediate legal action, but the longer they continue, the higher the risk of an incident happening – whether it be an accident at your place or the neighbors reporting you for noise violations.

As the landlord, you can always give the tenants a verbal warning about the problems that you have with their behavior. Many neighborhoods have their own rules according to which parties and the noise they make have to adhere. Failing to comply will result in fines and penalties, and having received such, it is up to you to handle the situation.

Lawbreakers

What is worse than a party that never ends is when the person throwing it breaks the law while doing so, and is not even concerned that they are, because it is only a rented place. Be it underage drinking or drug use, you may be held responsible if the police show up and catch them red-handed.

If you cannot change their behavior on your own, it is time to seek legal advice and speak with the authorities about getting involved in this matter. You are not responsible for what they do while living on your property, but if they get arrested or injured because of something related to it, you will have a problem that concerns both of you.

Subletters

Popularity of services like Airbnb and HomeAway has contributed to the increased number of subletters. There is a high chance that your contract forbids subletting, so if you notice that your tenant is doing it, you can confront them about breaking the rules and threaten them with eviction.

Breaking the contract is one thing, but exposing you to financial and legal risks by letting strangers into your property is something completely different. Depending on the area, such practices can require extra paperwork and tax payments, which the tenant is not always willing to do.

Final Thoughts

If you notice anything in your tenants' behavior that may be a problem, the best thing you can do is to talk to them directly. Most of the time, people are willing to change their ways when somebody points out how problematic they are being.

If talking does not work and legal actions need to be taken, do not hesitate to contact an experienced lawyer who will help you go through the eviction process. But remember, not everything you consider a problem is worth going to court over. So, use your best judgment and make sure that you are fully prepared before taking any steps.