Landlords come in all shapes and sizes and although some will basically leave you to your own devices, others may not. Knowing what sort of landlord you have and how best to deal with them will go a long way towards ensuring this relationship remains amicable.
Fortunately, there are ways to deal with a difficult landlord. Top of the list is to be a good tenant, which means you abide by the rules and pay your rent and utilities on time.
Issues which are likely to upset some landlords could include:
n Overcrowding. This is quite a common problem and one that is going to cause trouble, particularly if the maximum number of occupants is clearly stated in the lease.
n Unkempt gardens. Tenants who don’t maintain the garden or who don’t mow the lawn regularly could run into problems.
n Cleanliness. A landlord has every right to inspect the property now and again. A dirty, unmaintained home could upset a demanding landlord and lead to friction.
n Noise. Landlords do not like having to deal with complaints of this nature from neighbours or body corporates.
Having a landlord who seems obsessive about his property is only part of the equation and another area which can prove problematic is having a landlord who ignores maintenance issues.
Also read: Tenant vs landlord – who fixes what?
Don’t cry wolf
One of the most important things to remember is to not be petty and regularly complain about minor issues which you could either repair yourself, or which don’t really need to be repaired at all. Demanding that the kitchen cabinets be replaced because the doors are slightly skew is only going to annoy your landlord.
Likewise, insisting that the landlord repaint the interior because the previous tenant has knocked a couple of nails into the wall probably isn’t going to sit well. In other words, be reasonable, document everything when conducting an ongoing inspection, but above all, don’t go overboard when asking the landlord to maintain the premises.
Be patient
It’s not always a landlord’s fault that things don’t get repaired in a timely manner. The landlord may, for example, not be able to get hold of a plumber or an electrician immediately and although this may be annoying, it doesn’t automatically mean that the landlord doesn’t care or isn’t trying to rectify the problem. Likewise, landlords aren’t mind-readers and need to know how serious the problem really is. Again, document everything in writing, emphasising the seriousness of the issue if necessary.
Communication
Speak to your landlord and ask questions if you’re unsure of anything. Ask what modifications can and cannot be made, and check if he has a preference as to what sort of nails he would prefer you to use when hanging pictures. It may seem a little over the top, but something as small as this makes all the difference to your working relationship.
q Information courtesy of Private Property.
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