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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.



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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



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