Top 5 Tenant Complaints & How to Solve Them

Managing even one rental property means a landlord will naturally have to handle a host of tenant issues. And you can bet that owning multiple properties is only going to heighten the amount of concerns landlords are bound to shoulder, which is why finding solutions to these various complaints brings us to today’s topic. From your garden-variety disagreement about the return of a security deposit or the ins-and-outs of property access, to commonplace repairs and maintenance, tenant gripes have a tendency to challenge even the most thorough of landlords.

Still, whether the grievance turns out to be legitimate or not, there are roughly five complaints that seem to come from the majority of tenants, creating what those of us at Rentlit like to call “the perfect opportunity” for landlords to step in and save the day. This not only helps strengthen relationships, but allows the tenant to feel a sense of reward for keeping the landlord up-to-speed with what his or her property needs to stay well-maintained.

1. “The __________ is still not fixed.”  Often times, this is merely a miscommunication, but having a system in place that assists with organizing each maintenance request, helps landlords avoid any kind of situation in which they could be seen as inattentive. Also, providing the tenant access to the maintenance request(s) in writing has proven beneficial.
2. “Where are you? I haven’t been able to reach you.” Given “miscommunication” leads to the most common of tenant complaints, it makes sense then that quick, responsive and proactive communication is the best route to providing comprehensive care for your tenants, as well as your properties.
3. “The neighbor [i.e. fellow tenant] is out of hand.” It might seem unlikely, but conflict between neighbors can sometimes lead to actual aggression, and problems between those in adjacent units, or even in neighboring buildings, is something all landlords should avoid. Some of the most common complaints are nuisance related: loud dogs and/or tenants who “pump up the volume,” television or other entertainment systems at peak levels, etc. While these issues may not be your direct responsibility, making sure you’re practiced at offering some creative problem-solving solutions can only help you and your tenants in the long run.
4. “Blasted, bugs!” If your property has a rodent infestation, or some other kind of nastiness, call an exterminator – immediately! And, landlords, please don’t fall in the trap of blaming your tenants by calling them out for Jonny Cockroach. Most of the time, your tenant isn’t the reason for those pesky lil pests. In any case, it’s a wise move to have a pest service perform periodic or quarterly treatments. This also happens to be a no-brainer benefit for the property owner as well.
5. “Where’s my security deposit?” Generally, regardless of whether it’s a significant amount or not, it’s essential that landlords handle security deposits with kid gloves, and that they clearly outline how items or repairs will be deducted from their tenant’s deposit. Charging for general wear and tear, or even going as far as building a profit into repairs, is probably not the most ideal way to treat your tenants. Above all else, it’s important to have documentation, and to know your state’s laws!