|
7 Deadly
Landlord Mistakes and Landlord Problems Landlord Tenant Guide PART 2
If
you don't want to run into landlord problems, the quickest and easiest
way is to avoid making landlord mistakes. Find out how you can avoid
and fix up any landlord tenant problems in this Part 2 of our
Landlord Tenant Guide.
Have You Read
Part 1 Yet? If No, Click here
for Part 1
of this Bad Landlord Mistakes Guide.
Mistake 5:
Not
Knowing How to Handle Your Tenant's Rent Payments
Your
rent payment is the income and lifeline of your rental property so
learning the right way to collect and manage it is crucial for avoiding
any landlord problem.
Some
greedy landlords like to overcharge their tenants for late
rental fees. While it's acceptable and reasonable to impose late fees,
it has to be reasonable (usually 3 to 10% of the monthly rent). If your
late fees are more than 10%, your tenants are highly likely to complain
and you will run into landlord problems if they bring this matter to
court.
If
your tenants are always late in their rent payments and you are
thinking of evicting them, never accept a partial payment from them. In
the eyes of the law, this usually means that you have silently agreed
to carry on the rental agreement so evicting your tenants will be a
massive landlord tenant problem.
Mistake 6:
Entering Your Rental Property Without Tenant's Permission
Many
landlords think that just because they are the owner of the
property, they have to right to enter it anytime they want. However
it's against the law to do that in most areas as it is considered
a violation of your tenant's privacy rights.
Whether you
are
collecting rent, making minor repairs or showing your property to
potential buyers, you will have to inform your tenants of your arrival
at least 12 to 24 hours in advance to avoid any landlord tenant
problems.
However if you need to access your
property for emergencies and urgent landlord problems such as repairing
a burst water pipe, you are allowed to
enter your property immediately without permission.
To avoid any landlord problems, we recommend that you Click here to learn what are
the rights of landlords for managing tenants and property repairs.
Mistake
7: Failing to Refund Your Tenant's Security Deposits Correctly
Learning how to handle security deposits is important for avoiding
tenant complaints and landlord problems.
While
most landlords know they can retain a part of the security deposits if
the tenant leaves without paying rent or damages the property, they
do not realise that there are often strict rules regarding the use of
security deposits.
For full details on how to handle the delicate issue of security
deposit deductions, Click here for our
step by step tenant deposit guide.
If your tenant simply walks off and stops paying his rent, you will
have to try and look for new tenants first. If you have proof that you
were not able to find new tenants in time, then you will be allowed to
keep the tenant security deposits to compensate yourself for the lost
rent and landlord tenant problems he has caused.
If your tenant is leaving and you discovered that he or
his occupants damaged your property, you can claim repair fees by
retaining a part of his security deposit but you have to give him a security deposit refund
letter together with a security
deposit itemization form which is an item by item list of all
the repair and cleaning fees.
Read
what our visitors have to share below OR Scroll down to
add your own comment
What were Your Worst Landlord Problems and Landlord Mistakes?
Do you know or have stumbled upon any crippling landlord mistakes? Help everyone here avoid any potential landlord tenant problems and headaches by sharing your valuable experience here - We will love to hear your tips, comments and real life stories:
What Our Visitors Have to Say on Their Worst Landlord Mistakes
Click on the links below to read the valuable tips that our other visitors have to share:
My Fatal Common Landlord Mistakes
Not rated yet
I had a tenant who was pushy about getting into one of our properties and because the Property Manager "liked" her, I made the landlord mistake of accepting ...
My Mistake of Not Evicting Tenants Quickly
Not rated yet
To avoid landlord tenant problems, always enforce your late fees and 3 day notices promptly. After handing my tenant a 3 day notice, I would give him or ...
Landlord Problems of Being Too Chummy
Not rated yet
Over the years, I have had landlord problems with several tenants who seem to be looking for a spouse with a house... It's a little awkward because on ...
Do you want to learn MORE practical
must-know facts on
being a new landlord?
Return from
this Landlord Problems page to our First
Time Landlord guide
|