When we deliver property management in Orlando, Celebration, Kissimmee, Tampa, West Palm Beach, or any of the communities we serve, tenant relationships are a big part of what we provide. We invest in positive, professional, and respectful relationships with residents because our years of experience have taught us an important lesson: happy tenants lead to happy owners. The entire rental experience is improved when residents feel supported, heard, and respected.
So, what happens when there’s a dispute with a tenant? That dispute might be between two tenants, especially in an apartment building or a multi-family home. It might also be a conflict that comes from a complaint that the tenant has – about the property or its management.
Disputes will happen. When you’re renting out a property, you’re likely to find that tenants will occasionally be unhappy. Sometimes, you’ll be able to solve the problem. Sometimes, you won’t.
Whatever the dispute, you need to know how to manage it and prevent it from escalating.
Establish Solid Tenant Relationships
Having a good relationship with your tenants will serve several purposes. First, you’ll be more likely to collect rent on time from tenants with whom you have a professional, respectful relationship. There’s also a better chance you’ll retain those tenants. Residents who get along well with their landlords are more likely to report maintenance issues and take care of the home they’re living in.
Good relationships also make disputes easier to manage and conflicts easier to resolve. Everyone can talk to each other respectfully and with care. There’s no need for yelling, personal attacks, or accusations.
Solid relationships lead to solid management practices. Establishing a good relationship with your tenants is something you need to do before they even move in.
Strong Lease Agreements Provide Value and Direction
A lot of the disputes that occur between landlords and tenants or tenants and neighbors can be prevented with a careful study of the lease agreement. Every lease in Florida will set forth what’s expected during the tenancy. If there’s a dispute over what you’re charging a tenant when rent is late, you can point them to the rent collection policy that is surely included in your lease agreement and its statement on late fees. If there’s a dispute between tenants about noise, refer them to the quiet hours section of the lease agreement.
Your lease should address:
- Pets
- Parking
- Guests
- Smoking
- Noise
It should also address other potential areas of conflict and dispute. When your lease is clear, consistently enforced, and understood by all parties, you can avoid disputes and disagreements with and between tenants.
You’ll also want your lease agreement to include a policy on dispute resolution. Provide instructions on how to make a complaint or air a grievance. The lease agreement can tell residents how to share concerns about neighboring tenants or what to do if they feel they’ve been mistreated by someone (you, included).
Always acknowledge their complaint so they know you’re taking their comfort and safety seriously. If someone is feeling threatened or another tenant or neighbor is creating a hostile and unsafe environment, involve the police immediately.
Encourage Open Communication with Albuquerque Tenants
We always go back to communication when we’re talking about conflicts and disputes – communication can both solve problems and prevent them.
When a tenant complains about something or even complains about another resident or a neighbor, it’s possible they simply want to be heard. Listen to what they’re saying. Let them know that even if you cannot solve their problem, you acknowledge that it’s causing them discomfort, stress, or anxiety. Talk about potential solutions. This will make your residents feel like they’re getting the support they need from their landlord.
If it’s a dispute with a neighbor who is not your tenant, there’s not much that can be done. But, hearing what your tenant has to say and keeping a record of their issue can show them that you’re invested. It will also help you if the situation becomes a legal issue or a threat and law enforcement has to be involved.
You might find yourself with a tenant who has a dispute with you. Maybe, for example, they’re upset about the security deposit deductions you’ve made. That’s something you can always talk about.
There may be a dispute if one tenant keeps parking in another tenant’s assigned spot. If you have a process in place where you can communicate with both tenants, you’ll be in a strong position.
Investigate and Document Every Complaint
There isn’t a lot you can do about a bad neighbor, but you can be responsive to your tenant. Check in to see if things are better, worse, or the same. Always document the complaint in great detail in case it needs to be escalated.
You might get some third-party back-up if you’re renting out a property in an HOA or a condo association. In this case, you can go to the association board and ask them to intervene and talk to the neighbor who is causing problems. There are almost certainly rules about noise, quiet hours, and pet clean-up.
If you’re managing a dispute between two tenants of yours, you can easily reference the lease agreement and bring the offending tenant into compliance. You can also threaten eviction. But if you are only responsible for one tenant and not the other, you can only take things so far.
Avoid Disputes with Good Tenant Screening
You want to enjoy a peaceful tenancy that comes with very few conflicts or problems. One of the best ways to avoid disputes with and between tenants is by screening each resident carefully. You want to place tenants who are unlikely to cause problems or initiate conflict.
Your screening process needs to follow all fair housing laws and it has to be consistent. You will check credit and look for past evictions. You’ll make sure tenants earn enough income to pay the rent. You’ll run a criminal background check and confirm that all the provided information matches the data you collect.
Talk to current and former landlords, too.
Those landlord references are important. They’ll tell you whether tenants were easy to work with. They’ll let you know if there was property damage, unpaid rent, or lease violations. You can ask if they’d ever rent to that tenant again.
Struggling with tenant disputes? We can help. Please contact our team at Park Avenue Property Management. We work in Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, Kissimmee, Celebration, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, West Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, and throughout central Florida.
