As a property manager (otherwise known as “estate agent”, one of your most important responsibilities is to address complaints from tenants in a timely manner. Although some tenants may shy away from addressing their concerns, you should acknowledge them if they are legitimate. You can even set up an auto responder on your email to respond to tenants directly.
While it may be difficult to keep in touch with every tenant at all times, it is important to acknowledge their complaints. Managing tenants’ complaints as a property management professional requires that you be more responsive than usual. Responding quickly to tenant complaints will keep them satisfied. Tenants become frustrated and cranky when they do not receive the information they need to make their complaints go away.
Keeping them informed will help them feel more at ease and be more willing to give you their business. In addition, dealing with complaints will make property maintenance a breeze. According to this article, tenant retention is highly dependent on the level of customer service provided by landlords. If a landlord listens to their tenants, they are more likely to renew their lease than one who does not.
If a landlord ignores complaints, they will likely move on to a different property, and their landlord will have to spend more time searching for new renters. An estate agent can act as a liaison between landlords and tenants in these situations. Managing tenants’ complaints as a property management professional requires that landlords document all correspondence with their tenants in writing.
This includes receipts, correspondence, and maintenance requests. This information may be vital in a legal dispute. Tenants hate delays and non-response to emails or phone calls. To avoid tenant complaints, landlords should schedule time to check voicemail or emails. Also, they should reach out to tenants directly. Another common tenant complaint involves noise.
Sometimes this comes from noise caused by neighbors, fellow tenants, or renters in neighboring properties. If the noise is unbearable, meet with the sources and find ways to keep the area calm. If there are no solutions to these complaints, eviction or non-renewal of the lease may be necessary. It is always better to respond to tenants’ communications promptly than to ignore them.
Enforcing Laws
Regardless of whether you are a residential or commercial property owner, there are many laws that affect the relationship between landlord and tenant. These laws vary by state, but there is some uniformity between them. Some states don’t allow landlords to enter the property without proper notice, for example.
They may not increase the rent mid-lease without proper notice, either. However, mid-lease rent increases are sometimes allowed in some circumstances. Generally, tenants must pay their rent on time (www.hud.gov/tenantrights). Nonpayment of rent is the leading cause of evictions. They must also repair damage caused by negligence and use ordinary care to maintain the premises.
This applies to both landlords and tenants and their family members. Generally, landlords cannot retaliate against tenants who contact code enforcement. The landlord also has a duty to disclose any hazards or defects in the property to protect the tenants and property. A tenant can also produce copies of money orders, original receipts, or bank statements showing that the rent was paid on time.
However, the documents must include the date the rent was due, and they must be made payable to the landlord. If a tenant claims that he is in arrears, the landlord must prove that the money was spent on other, unrelated expenses. This way, the landlord is assured that the tenant won’t have a problem with paying back the rent. Landlords can also be held responsible for criminal activity on the premises leased to them.
They are legally prohibited from discriminating against tenants. Similarly, landlords are forbidden from violating the Fair Housing Act unless they have a warrant. While landlords have a privilege to enter the premises in case of emergency, they may be liable if criminal activity occurs on the property leased to them.
Landlords also have a legal obligation to provide tenants with proper notice of termination before the contract is broken. For example, if a tenant leaves the property after the first of the month, the tenant is required to pay the rent for the entire month of June, if the tenant did not provide proper notice. If the tenant does not give proper notice, the landlord is liable for the entire month of June.
Performing Maintenance
Performing property maintenance involves a variety of tasks, from cleaning to repairing or replacing broken items. Some of these tasks are routine and simple, while others are complex and require the expertise of qualified professionals. Some of the more common tasks include routine cleaning and painting, and pre-planned preventative maintenance.
Other tasks involve the replacement of light bulbs, changing toilet paper rolls, and inspecting plumbing and electrical systems. Performing maintenance regularly is essential to the property’s appearance and value. Another important task that estate agents must perform is performing regular maintenance.
They may hire individuals to perform this work, or they may fix problems themselves. Whether they do it themselves or hire professional contractors, estate agents must maintain a vast network of plumbers, electricians, and other professionals to keep the rental properties in tip-top shape. They also have to resolve tenant complaints regarding the efficiency of their rental properties.
To do this, estate agents must be adept at performing routine maintenance and repairs. Another important responsibility of companies like Rent360 Property Management is performing tenant turnover. After a tenant has moved out, they must return the keys, re-inspect the unit, and refund the security deposit. They also enforce the move-out deadline, and if necessary, they may need to charge a late fee.
It’s important to keep detailed records of every action that your estate agent takes, and keep a good record-keeping system. You should keep physical and digital folders for each property, and make sure to include dates when you install new items or services. Make sure to include the lifespan of new items, too.
