Regardless of how well a property is maintained, you can’t completely escape from tenant complaints and issues. As a landlord, you or your property manager will always be busy solving one problem or the other. If you want to avoid this constant chaos, the best you can do is have a plan of action ready. In this article, we’ll discuss some common tenant complaints and how you can efficiently deal with them.
Common Tenant Complaints and How to Deal With Them
Complaints by tenants can be of various sorts and occur at the most unexpected times. We have listed some of the most common complaints that tenants make to their landlords.
Maintainance and Repair Issues
The most common tenant complaints landlords face are maintenance and repair issues. While minor maintenance, like changing lightbulbs, is the tenant’s responsibility, major ones are the landlord’s. These include plumbing, pest infestations, damaged roofs, broken locks, and appliances.
In such cases, make sure to address the problem yourself or through your property manager as soon as possible. To avoid them in the first place, try to stay on top of regular maintenance schedules. You can even explain basic maintenance to your tenants to avoid costly repairs in the future.
Landlord Turning Up Unannounced
While landlords have the right to conduct regular inspections of their rented houses, you need to respect the tenants’ privacy. That’s why, as a landlord, you are required to give the renters at least a two-day notice to come and visit.
This could be for maintenance, repairs, or even just a casual property inspection. If you don’t give notice and show up unannounced at the property, it may be considered harassment. Also, be mindful that you choose to visit the house during reasonable hours.
Noise Disturbances
Believe it or not, providing your renters with a quiet environment to live in is your responsibility. So, if they are facing noise disturbances from the neighbors, they may reach out to you. If the noise comes from another property you own, the solution is pretty easy. Just talk to the tenants of that property and request them to decrease the noise.
However, if the property isn’t yours, you’ll have to reach out to its owners. In the case that the disturbance is unavoidable, you could even have work done to soundproof the house.
Pest Infestations
Pest infestation is another major complaint that landlords often have to face. No one wants to live in a pest-infested house. Not only do they make the house unlivable, but they also cause health hazards to the occupants.
So, it’s your responsibility to take immediate action when you get the complaint. Call an exterminator as soon as possible or hire a property manager. They usually deal with this issue often and know reliable pest control services.
Conclusion
Being a landlord is hard work because your responsibilities don’t end after renting the property. You have to keep up with property maintenance and address tenant complaints as soon as possible.
Handling all these tasks along with your own personal life can be a hassle. That’s why you can leave the management of your property to us at Home Team. Our managers are trained to take care of all things related to your property. This includes marketing, finances, inspections, and even complaints.
