Illusion

Dealing with Tenants: Discovering the Easy Way





It may not seem obvious, but a landlord’s business is his property. Thus, it is only natural for a landlord to ensure that he is earning from his investment in the property. Being a landlord is difficult, especially since there are no uniform laws for tenant-landlord relationship here in Canada. Each province has its own law, and this is something that every landlord should know. If you have a tenant who came from another Canadian province who obviously has a different law, then you have to clear that out to the tenant below, to avoid miscommunication on both parties.


When dealing with different types of tenants, it is important to know how you could effectively deal with your tenants without causing too much trouble or problems. It is important for you to learn how to run your property to your best advantage. Here are some helpful tips on preserving a good relationship with your tenants, as advised by The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation:


• Know your territory. This means that you must learn the legislation of the particular province or territory that you are in when it comes to tenancy laws. Why is this important? That is because it helps you avoid committing mistakes when it comes to dealing with tenants. Take for example, security deposits. Most provinces and territories allow landlords to collect a security deposit, except for Ontario and Quebec. In Quebec, landlords are not permitted to get any kind of deposit from their tenants. Knowing these kinds of laws can help you be more aware of what you can and cannot do. This will save you from complaints and a heap of trouble.


• Repair terms. One of the most common root problems between tenants and landlords is repairs. Thus, as a landlord, you are mandated by the law to handle and pay for repairs. However, the problem arises when the property of your tenant was damaged within your property, and is caused by damage in your property. To protect yourself from these kinds of problems, it is important to require your tenants to purchase contents insurance. This will protect both of you from a lot of problems when it comes to your tenant’s damaged belongings due to an unrepaired part of your property, since this insurance will cover that.


• Be professional at all times. Whether it is a model or a nuisance tenant, always stay in control. Act professionally. Be courteous and polite, even if they do not show the same to you. This will show them that your property is your business, therefore, you are treating your relationship as a business endeavour. This will make them feel ashamed of their actions, since you have not shown them a single impolite behaviour.


• Maintain a good tenant-landlord relationship. Be diplomatic when it comes to dealing with tenants. Build a good relationship with them, mainly rooted in respect. Listen to them if ever they have complaints or suggestions, and act quickly if they have requests or repairs. This will show them that you are a responsible landlord, and they should be responsible tenants in return.


• Be consistent. Treat your tenants fairly. Not because the tenant from Door A pays on time and the tenant on Door B has a four-month balance, does not mean you will be more responsive and cheerful to Door A tenant. Be consistent when it comes to dealing with tenants.


• Act quickly. For delinquent tenants, the grace period when it comes to giving a tenant a Notice To Move depends on provincial laws. Some would allow you to immediately serve the notice, while others impose you to give it a 2-3 days grace. Either way, act quickly and don’t let your tenant get used to your being lenient when it comes to collecting rent. If ever the tenant ignores your notice, you can enlist the help of your provincial rental authority. This will make things more formal and will let your tenant realize that you really mean business.


Being a landlord is not easy, that is why it is important to develop certain techniques that could help you manage and handle different types of tenants the easy way. It takes a lot of patience and a strong, consistent managing skill that would help you let your tenants know that you are the one in charge of your business.




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