Your relationship with your landlord may be a match made in heaven. More likely you regard your landlord as a scrooge who who won’t give you a penny without a complaint.
But there are ways to penetrate that thick veneer of cheapskate. Here are some questions I am often asked:
Q: Why are landlords generally presumed to be miserly old penny-pinchers?
A: Probably because it’s a tough job, and it takes a strong and determined personality in order to see success as a property manager.
Remember that getting the rent paid in full on time is the primary job of the landlord. If the rent is not paid, the entire rental process comes to a grinding halt.
Q: Paying your rent is fairly obvious, but all tenants have requests from time to time. What can I do to get a favorable response to my requests?
A: There are several things you can do to get more than your share of positive interactions with your landlord. Here are four suggestions:
— I know we just said this, but it is critical: Always pay your rent on time, and never ask if you can be late.
Nothing irritates a landlord more than a tenant who frequently pays late. Usually the rent is necessary in order for the owner to pay the loan payment and the taxes and insurance on the property itself.
When the rent is late, it can cause major headaches for the owners, and they take it out on the landlord. From the landlord’s perspective, you should have known that the rent was coming due, so why can’t you pay on time?
— Be specific about requests and don’t complain about the little stuff.
If you want to paint the living room, say so. Don’t complain about how awful it is.
If your light bulb burns out or you run out of bathroom tissue, do not call the landlord.
You would be amazed at the stupid things some renters expect from property managers, who then have to waste their time telling you “no.”
Most landlords want you to go ahead and take care of the little stuff on your own. Leave the big stuff to the owner. Remember, the primary beneficiary from any upgrades or repairs that you make is, in fact, you yourself.
On the other hand, if the water heater fails or a water pipe bursts, call the landlord immediately.
— Be the “eyes and ears” of the landlord.
At least once a year, you should conduct your own safety inspection looking at typical maintenance and safety items. Smoke detector, furnace filters, lawn maintenance are all items that improve your quality of your own residency in the property. Send a copy of your inspections to the landlord.
And if you have any reason to believe there may be illegal activities occurring on or near your rental, make sure you notify your landlord in writing. By notifying your landlord in writing, you are separating yourself from any possible illegal act, and better yet, you are putting the landlord “on notice” that there may be a problem. If you see something, say something.
Q: And your final piece of advice to make our landlord more likely to do what we want?
— If you live in an apartment complex, offer to be helpful in any way you can. Be the kind of tenant your landlord wants to keep around. For example, if you face a rent increase, ask for a discount with a two-year lease. Most landlords want to lock tenants in and are willing to bargain to get a longer lease. That’s especially true with a good tenant.
The takeaway here is that landlords love rent and hate vacancies. If you can establish a reputation as a “good tenant,” your landlord will move mountains to take care of you, if they can.
Atlanta native John Adams is a veteran real estate broker, investor, and author. He answers real estate questions every Sunday at 11 am on WGKA-am(920). He welcomes your comments and questions at Money99.com, where you will find an expanded video version of this column.
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