Tenant Relations

Right of Privacy
      The right of privacy in rental housing - from a legal standpoint - was discussed in Lesson 6.  Respecting and protecting your tenant's privacy is also important from the standpoint of good business relations and even civilized behavior. 

      One of the issues that tenants most often bring to RHOL discussion forums is that landlords do not respect the tenant's property or their privacy.  It seems that property owners often think that they can enter a rental home and invade the tenants' privacy at any time because, after all,  it is their property. As a result, many states have now enacted legislation that requires a reasonable notice before a landlord can enter a tenant's property without permission. Where there is not yet a statute, most courts have held that a landlord must give "reasonable notice" before entering a tenant's home.

      Your lease agreement should clearly state the likely reasons for entry of the landlord or his agents during tenancy and specify a minimum notice; either that proscribed by your state law or a reasonable period (24 hours is probably a good number to use) to be given for all non-emergency situations. Your notice to enter should also clearly state the reason why entry is necessary at the time requested.

Repairs & Maintenance
      Repairs and maintenance were discussed in Lesson 3 from the standpoint of how to do it and in Lesson 6 from a legal standpoint as related to the implied warranty of habitability.  However, it is just as important to properly maintain income property because it increases the probability of getting better tenants to begin with and it helps maintain a good relationship with them while they are in residence.  Landlords should respond as quickly as possible to tenant maintenance complaints and follow up with a phone call to check that scheduled work was satisfactorily completed. Failure to handle maintenance issues in a business-like manner invites expensive repercussions.

Be Friendly, Not Friends
      It is certainly a good idea to present a friendly face to your tenants, just as any person who makes a living dealing with the public should do.  However, it can be very expensive and perhaps even dangerous to become friends with your tenants - in part because it leads to involvement in their personal lives.
      Becoming friends, as opposed to acting friendly, has a potential for creating the following undesirable situations.

• The tenant expects the landlord to grant him leniency in enforcement of lease provisions
• The landlord does not enforce the lease provisions as he should
• Both parties neglect to document issues as both should do
• Other tenants notice the landlord's favoritism, which, in extreme cases can even result in discrimination charges
• Enforcement of lease provisions at the end of tenancy become even more difficult

      Thus, it is important that the landlord-tenant relationship be kept on a businesslike basis.

Summary
      The bottom line is basically the "golden rule."  Landlords should treat their tenants in the same way that they would like to be treated if they were tenants.  Landlords should always ask themselves if they are doing what they would expect a landlord to do for them, whether it be related to privacy, maintenance, or just plain good manners.